Overview
- Google confirmed Tuesday that all U.S. Google Account holders can change the part before @gmail.com, though some accounts may not see the option yet due to a phased rollout.
- When users switch, all emails, files, and account history stay in place, and the prior address remains linked as an alias that still delivers messages.
- Google limits the feature to one change every 12 months, with reports citing a lifetime cap of three changes and the option to revert to a previous address.
- Google cautions that Chromebooks, Sign in with Google on third‑party sites, and Chrome Remote Desktop may need fixes after a change, so it advises backing up data first.
- Security analysts report phishing emails exploiting the announcement, and Google urges users to enable 2‑step verification or passkeys to protect their accounts.