What you're actually changing

Gmail has two separate email addresses, and which one you change depends on what you're trying to do. Your Gmail address is the one you use to sign in — the one ending in @gmail.com. Your recovery email is a backup address Google uses to help you regain access if you get locked out. Most people want to change their Gmail address itself, which means creating a new Gmail account and moving your mail over. You cannot rename the @gmail.com part of an existing account.

If you only want to change the recovery email on your current account — the backup address Google contacts if something goes wrong — that takes two minutes and keeps everything else the same. If you want a completely different Gmail address to sign in with, you'll need to set up a new account and forward your old mail to it.

Key Takeaways

  • You cannot change the @gmail.com part of your current Gmail address; you must create a new Gmail account if you want a different sign-in address.
  • Changing your recovery email (the backup address on file) takes minutes and keeps your current account intact.
  • If you're switching to a new Gmail address, set up mail forwarding from your old account so messages still reach you.
  • Update your new Gmail address in any accounts where you used the old one — banking, social media, work — so you don't lose access.
  • Keep both accounts active for at least a month while you notify contacts and services of the change.

Changing your recovery email on your current account

Open Gmail and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Manage your Google Account, then click the Security tab. Scroll down to "How you sign in to Google" and look for Recovery email. Click it, then click Edit. Type in the new email address you want Google to use if you need to recover your account, then click Save. Google will send a confirmation message to that new address — open it and click the link to confirm.

This change takes effect when ready. Your Gmail address itself stays the same; you're just telling Google a different email to contact if you forget your password or someone tries to break in.

Creating a new Gmail account with a different address

Go to gmail.com and click Create account. Choose For my personal use. Fill in your first and last name, then type the new Gmail address you want — the part before @gmail.com. Gmail will tell you right away if that address is already taken. If it is, try adding numbers or a middle initial. Once you find one that's available, create a password, add a recovery email and phone number, and finish the setup.

You now have two separate Gmail accounts. Your old one still works exactly as it did. Your new one is empty. The next step is making sure mail sent to your old address still reaches you.

Setting up mail forwarding from your old account

Sign in to your old Gmail account. Click the gear icon in the top right and select See all settings. Click the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. Under "Forwarding", click Add a forwarding address. Type in your new Gmail address and click Next. Gmail will send a confirmation email to your new address — sign in there, open it, and click the confirmation link.

Go back to your old account's settings. Under "Forwarding", select your new Gmail address from the dropdown, then choose Forward all mail and keep Gmail's copy in the Inbox. This way, every message that arrives at your old address automatically goes to your new one, and you can still see it in the old account if you need to. Click Save Changes.

From now on, anything sent to your old Gmail address will show up in your new one within a few seconds. You can turn off this forwarding later once you're sure everyone has your new address.

Moving old emails to your new account

Forwarding only handles new mail. To move emails you've already received, you have two options. The easiest is to leave forwarding on and check your old account occasionally for anything important. The more thorough way is to read your old emails and upload them to the new account.

In your old Gmail account, click the gear icon and select See all settings. Click the Labels tab and check the box next to Show in IMAP for each label (folder) you want to move. Then go to google.com/takeout, select only Gmail, and click Create export. Google will prepare a file of all your emails — this can take hours if you have thousands. read it when it's ready.

In your new Gmail account, click the gear icon, select See all settings, then the Labels tab. Create new labels with the same names as your old folders. Then use a tool like Gmail Backup or Thunderbird (both free) to import the downloaded file into your new account. This is technical and takes patience, so only do it if you truly need access to old emails in your new account. Most people just leave the old account open to search it if needed.

Updating your new address everywhere else

Your new Gmail address won't do you any good if important accounts still send messages to the old one. Make a list of everywhere you used your old Gmail address: your bank, email newsletters, social media accounts, work systems, online shopping sites, and any other services you log into. Go through each one and update the email address in the account settings.

Start with the most critical ones — banking, email from your employer, password recovery for other accounts. Then work through social media and shopping sites. This takes time but prevents you from missing important messages. Set a phone reminder to check this list weekly for a month; you'll remember services you forgot about as you use them.

When to close your old account

Don't delete your old Gmail account right away. Keep it active for at least a month while you notify contacts and update services. During that month, forwarding will catch anything you missed, and you can still sign in to recover information if needed. After a month, if you're confident everything has moved over, you can delete the old account. Google will keep it inactive for a while before permanently removing it, so you have a small window to change your mind.

To delete an account, go to myaccount.google.com, click Data & privacy on the left, scroll to "Your data & privacy options", and select Delete your Google Account. Follow the prompts. You'll need to confirm you know the password and that you understand what will be deleted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my old Gmail address back if I delete it?

Not when ready. Once you delete a Gmail account, that address is locked for at least five months. After that, Google may let someone else claim it. If you think you might need it again, don't delete it — just stop using it and let forwarding handle incoming mail.

What happens to my Google Drive, Photos, and YouTube if I change accounts?

They stay with your old account. If you want to move files to your new account, read them from your old account and upload them to the new one. YouTube channels are tied to your Google account, so you'll need to decide which account to keep the channel on, or create a new channel on your new account.

Do I have to tell everyone my new email address?

Not if you set up forwarding. Messages sent to your old address will still reach you. But it's cleaner to update your contacts, especially for work and banking, so people know where to reach you going forward.

Can I have two Gmail accounts open at the same time?

Yes. Sign in to one account, then click your profile picture and select Add another account. You can switch between them by clicking your profile picture and selecting the account you want. This makes it straightforward to check both while you're transitioning.

What if I forgot the password to my old Gmail account?

Go to the Gmail sign-in page, click Forgot password?, and follow the steps. Google will ask you to verify your identity using your recovery email or phone number. If you don't have access to those either, recovery is much harder — this is why keeping a current recovery email matters.