Overview
- Google confirmed a phased rollout of the new Gmail feature on May 26–27, 2026 that lets account holders replace their @gmail.com username without making a new account.
- When a user changes their address the account keeps emails, Google Drive files, Photos, contacts and most settings so no manual migration is required.
- The old address becomes an alternate alias that still receives mail and can be used to sign in, but the new address must end in @gmail.com and be unused by other accounts.
- Google says the change is permanent, prevents creating another Gmail address for 12 months, and strongly recommends backing up data because some device logins and app settings may reset.
- The staged rollout means not all users have access yet and the feature could reduce the need to create fresh accounts, though some third‑party services and devices may still require manual updates after a rename.