Your Gmail address is the name you chose when you created your account, followed by @gmail.com
Your Gmail address is what you use to log in, what other people use to send you email, and what appears in the "From" line when you send a message. It looks like yourname@gmail.com. If you created an account with the name "alex.martinez", your Gmail address is alex.martinez@gmail.com. That's the complete address — nothing hidden, nothing added.
You chose this address yourself when you first set up your account. Google does not assign it to you. You typed it in, checked whether it was available, and if someone else had already taken it, you had to pick something different. Once you create an account with a Gmail address, that address belongs to you as long as you keep the account active.
Your Gmail address is different from your Google Account name or your display name. Your display name is what shows up in the "From" line when you send email to someone — it can be "Alex Martinez" or "Alex M" or anything else you choose. Your Gmail address stays the same no matter what display name you pick.
Key Takeaways
- Your Gmail address is the username you created plus @gmail.com, and it is the only way someone can send you email through Gmail.
- You chose your Gmail address when you created your account, and you cannot change it later — you can only create a new account with a different address.
- Your Gmail address is different from your display name, which is what appears in the "From" line and can be changed anytime.
- Scammers often create Gmail addresses that look similar to real ones by using numbers instead of letters or adding extra words, so check the full address carefully when you receive suspicious email.
Where to find your Gmail address in your account
Open Gmail in your web browser and look at the top right corner of the screen. Click on your profile picture or the circle with your initial in it. A menu will drop down. Your Gmail address appears near the top of that menu, usually under your display name.
If you are on a phone or tablet, the steps are the same. Tap the profile picture in the top right, and your Gmail address will show in the menu that appears. You can also find your Gmail address by going to myaccount.google.com, clicking "Personal info" on the left side, and looking for "Email" — your Gmail address will be listed there.
Why scammers create fake Gmail addresses that look like yours
A scammer might create an address like alex.martinez1@gmail.com (with a number added) or aIex.martinez@gmail.com (with a capital I instead of a lowercase l) to trick you into thinking an email came from someone you know. The addresses look almost identical at a glance, especially on a phone screen.
When you receive an email that seems urgent or asks you to click a link or send money, look at the full email address in the "From" line. Do not just look at the display name — look at the actual Gmail address. Copy and paste it into a text file if you need to compare it carefully to an address you know is real. Scammers count on you not checking closely.
The difference between your Gmail address and other Google accounts
If you created a Google Account using a different email address — one from your work, your school, or another email provider — your Gmail address is not that address. Your Gmail address is only the one that ends in @gmail.com and that you set up directly with Google.
You can link multiple email addresses to one Google Account, but your Gmail address is still just the @gmail.com one. If you log in with your work email or your school email, you are using a different email address to access your Google Account, but your Gmail address has not changed.
You cannot change your Gmail address, but you can create a new one
Gmail does not let you change the address you chose when you created your account. If you want a different Gmail address, you have to create a new Google Account with a new address. You can then transfer your contacts, your calendar, and your files to the new account, but the old Gmail address will still exist if you do not delete the account.
Before you create a new account, think about what email address you want to use for the next several years. You cannot change it later, so pick something you will not get tired of and that does not include information that might change — like a job title or a year.
How Gmail addresses work with forwarding and aliases
Gmail lets you add a period or a plus sign to your Gmail address, and the email will still reach you. If your address is alex.martinez@gmail.com, you can give out alex+bills@gmail.com or a.lex.martinez@gmail.com, and messages sent to those addresses will land in the same inbox. This is useful if you want to sort email by where you signed up or to test whether a website is selling your address to spammers.
You can also set up email forwarding, which sends copies of messages from another email address into your Gmail inbox. But forwarding is different from having multiple Gmail addresses — you still only have one Gmail address, and that is the one that ends in @gmail.com with no variations.
What to do if you think someone is using a Gmail address that looks like yours
If you receive email that was meant for someone else, or if someone tells you they got an email from an address that looks like yours but was not from you, do not panic. Scammers create lookalike addresses all the time, and it does not mean your account has been hacked.
If you are worried your account has been compromised, go to myaccount.google.com, click "Security" on the left side, and look at "Your devices" to see where your account has been logged in recently. If you see a location or device you do not recognize, change your password right away. You can also turn on two-step verification, which requires a code from your phone when someone tries to log in, even if they have your password.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone else have the same Gmail address as me?
No. Gmail addresses are unique. Once you create an account with a Gmail address, no one else can use that exact address. If someone tries to sign up with your address, Google will tell them it is already taken.
Is my Gmail address the same as my Google Account?
No. Your Gmail address is one part of your Google Account. Your Google Account is the larger thing that also includes your Google Drive, your calendar, your YouTube channel, and other Google services. You log into your Google Account using your Gmail address or another email address you linked to it.
What should I do if I forgot my Gmail address?
Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery and enter a phone number or recovery email address linked to your account. Google will send you a message to help you recover your account and remind you of your Gmail address. If you do not have access to a recovery phone or email, you may not be able to get back into the account.
Can I use a Gmail address without creating a Google Account?
No. Your Gmail address is your Google Account. When you create a Gmail address, you are creating a Google Account. The two are the same thing.
Why do I see a plus sign or period in Gmail addresses?
Gmail ignores periods and plus signs in the first part of your address. If your Gmail address is alex.martinez@gmail.com, you can also receive mail at alexmartinez@gmail.com or alex+shopping@gmail.com. This feature lets you organize email by adding tags without creating new accounts.