Archive · 27 Dec 2025
Gmail to Allow Username Changes from 2026
Google is going to let people change their Gmail username starting in 2026.
If you have a personal Gmail account, you can pick a new username that ends with @gmail.com, and all your emails and stuff will stay the same.
Your old username will still work like an extra email address.
You can only change your username once a year, up to three times.
This is great news because before, if you wanted a different username, you had to make a whole new account and move everything over, which was a hassle.
Google hasn't officially announced it yet, but the information is on their support pages.
They're starting the rollout in India first.
Google will allow personal Gmail users to change their primary @gmail.com username from 2026.
The old username will become an alias, continuing to receive emails and work for sign-ins.
Users can change their username up to three times, with a 12-month cooldown between changes.
The feature is rolling out gradually, starting with India before expanding globally.
All existing data, emails, and subscriptions will remain intact after the change.
- Who
- Personal Gmail account holders
- What
- Ability to change primary @gmail.com username
- When
- Starting from 2026, with gradual rollout
- Where
- Initially in India, then globally
- Why
- To address user requests for flexibility in username management
- Change Availability
- Gradual rollout, initially in India
- Change Frequency
- Once every 12 months
- Maximum Changes
- 3 changes per account
- Account Types
- Personal @gmail.com accounts only
- Data Retention
- All emails, data, and subscriptions remain intact
- Old Address
- Becomes an alias, usable for sign-ins
- Cooldown Period
- 12 months before old address can be reused