Google is experimenting with a feature that lets users change their Gmail address. Users will be able to swap out their existing @gmail.com address and retain their existing email, photos, and other Google service data.
However, the change notification is currently only available on the Hindi support page, raising the possibility that the initial implementation will be in India or the Hindi-language region. The English page maintains the existing statement that Gmail addresses generally cannot be changed, suggesting that the change is being implemented sequentially by region.
If you change your address according to the instructions, your original address will remain active as an alias. Emails sent to your old address will still arrive in your inbox, and you can still use your old address to log in to Google services like Drive, Maps, and YouTube. They explain that only the address will change, and your account data and connection will remain intact.
Until now, if you needed a new Gmail address, you had to create a new account and transfer your data. This process often resulted in external app integrations being lost or requiring reconfiguration. Google has stated in its new policy that existing data, such as email messages and photos, will remain intact after an address change. Users will also reportedly be able to revert to their old account email address if they so choose.
However, there are limitations. Once you change your address, you won't be able to create another new Gmail address for 12 months. Furthermore, the newly selected address cannot be deleted. Google hasn't issued an official press release regarding this change, but it was reportedly first discovered through community and user forums. The full implementation date and scope of Google's implementation have not yet been confirmed.
