You cannot change the address itself, but you can add a new one and switch to it

Gmail does not let you edit the actual email address you signed up with — that address is permanent. What you can do is add a new email address to your account, use it as your primary address going forward, and have Gmail send and receive from the new one. People see the new address when you reply to them. The old address still works for signing into Gmail, but you can tell contacts to use the new one instead.

This is different from creating a brand new Gmail account. You keep all your emails, contacts, calendar, and files. You are just changing which address appears when you send a message.

Key Takeaways

  • Your original Gmail address cannot be deleted or changed, but you can add a second address and make it your primary sending address.
  • Adding a new address takes about five minutes and requires you to verify ownership of that address by clicking a link Gmail sends to it.
  • Once you add the new address, you can choose it as your "reply-from" address in Gmail settings so outgoing mail shows the new one.
  • Your old Gmail address still works for signing in and receiving mail, but you can tell people to use the new address instead.
  • If you want to stop using Gmail entirely and move to a different email service, you will need to read your data and set up forwarding separately.

How to add a new email address to your Gmail account

Open Gmail in a web browser and click the gear icon in the top right corner. Select "See all settings." Click the "Accounts and Import" tab at the top. Under "Send mail as," click "Add another email address."

A popup window will appear. Type your new email address in the field labeled "Email address." You can leave "Name" blank or type a display name — this is what people see in the "From" line when you send them a message. Click "Next Step."

Gmail will send a verification email to the new address. Open that email and click the confirmation link inside it. This proves you own the address. Once you click the link, the new address is added to your account and ready to use.

Setting the new address as your primary sending address

After you verify the new address, go back to Gmail settings. Click "Accounts and Import" again. Under "Send mail as," you will see both your old and new addresses listed.

Click "make default" next to the new address. From now on, when you send a message, Gmail will use the new address in the "From" line. Recipients will see the new address and can reply to it. If you ever want to switch back, you can make the old address default again the same way.

What happens to your old Gmail address

Your original Gmail address does not disappear. You can still sign into Gmail using it. Mail sent to the old address still arrives in your inbox. The only thing that changes is what address appears when you send outgoing messages.

If you want to stop receiving mail at the old address entirely, you cannot delete it. Instead, you can set up a filter to automatically delete or archive incoming messages, or you can ask people to stop using it and only send to the new one.

If you want to use a completely different email service

If you want to leave Gmail and move to Outlook, Yahoo Mail, or another service, you cannot straightforward edit your Gmail address. You will need to create an account with the new service, read your Gmail data, and set up mail forwarding.

Gmail can forward all incoming mail to another address automatically. Go to "Accounts and Import" settings, click "Add a forwarding address" under "Forwarding and POP/IMAP," and enter the new email address. Gmail will send a confirmation to that address. Once confirmed, all new mail arriving at your Gmail address will be forwarded there. You can keep this running indefinitely, or turn it off anytime.

Common reasons people want to change their Gmail address

Many people sign up for Gmail with an address they created years ago and now want something more professional or easier to remember. Others have a Gmail address tied to an old phone number or recovery email they no longer use, and want a fresh start. Adding a new address solves both problems without losing access to your account or emails.

If your Gmail address has been compromised or you are receiving unwanted mail, adding a new address and switching to it gives you a clean slate for new contacts while keeping your old emails safe in the same account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my original Gmail address?

No. Your original Gmail address is permanent and cannot be removed. You can stop using it as your sending address by switching to a new one, but the old address will always be associated with your account and will continue to receive mail.

Do I need to create a new Gmail account to get a different email address?

No. Adding a new address to your existing account is much simpler. You keep all your emails, contacts, and files. Creating a new account would give you a completely separate Gmail inbox with nothing in it.

What if I add a new address but forget to make it the default?

Your old address will still appear in the "From" line when you send mail. You can change which address is default anytime in settings. When you reply to a message, Gmail also lets you pick which address to send from, even if it is not set as default.

Can I add more than one new address to my Gmail account?

Yes. You can add multiple addresses and switch between them. Only one can be the default, but you can choose a different one each time you send a message if you want.

If I add a new address, will old emails show as coming from the new address?

No. Emails you already sent will still show the address you used when you sent them. Only new messages going forward will show the new address in the "From" line.