Change Your Email Address in Account Settings

You can change your eBay email address by going to your Account settings and updating it in the Contact Information section. The process takes about five minutes and does not require you to create a new account. eBay will send a confirmation link to your new email address before the change becomes active.

Start by signing into eBay with your current email and password. Click the Account icon in the top right corner, then select Account settings. Look for the Contact Information section — this is where your current email appears. Click Edit next to your email address to open the change form.

Type your new email address into the field. eBay will ask you to confirm it by typing it again. Click Continue, and eBay will send a confirmation email to the new address you entered. You must open that email and click the confirmation link within 24 hours, or the change will not go through.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your email through Account settings under Contact Information, not through a separate password or security page.
  • eBay sends a confirmation link to your new email address, and you must click it within 24 hours for the change to take effect.
  • Your old email address remains linked to your account for 30 days in case you need to undo the change.
  • If you no longer have access to your old email, you will need to verify your identity through eBay's account recovery process before changing it.
  • Changing your email does not affect your seller account, feedback, or purchase history — everything stays with your eBay username.

What Happens After You Confirm the New Email

Once you click the confirmation link in the email eBay sends to your new address, the change is complete. Your new email becomes your login email when ready. Any future messages from eBay — order confirmations, seller inquiries, payment receipts — will go to the new address.

eBay keeps your old email address on file for 30 days. If you change your mind or made a mistake, you can switch back to your old email during that 30-day window by going back to Account settings and repeating the process. After 30 days, the old email is removed from your account entirely.

If You Cannot Access Your Old Email Address

If your old email account no longer exists or you have lost access to it, you cannot complete the standard email change process because eBay cannot send you the confirmation link. In this case, you will need to go through eBay's account recovery steps.

Go to the eBay sign-in page and click I forgot my password. Enter your eBay username or the old email address. eBay will ask you to verify your identity — you may be asked security questions, to provide a phone number associated with your account, or to upload a photo ID. Once eBay confirms who you are, you can set a new password and change your email address without needing access to the old one.

This process usually takes a few hours to a few days depending on how quickly you respond to eBay's requests. Keep your phone nearby if eBay needs to send you a verification code by text.

Updating Your Email on Mobile Devices

The eBay mobile app has the same Account settings as the website. Open the app, tap the Account icon at the bottom of the screen, then tap Account settings. Scroll down to Contact Information and tap Edit next to your email address. The confirmation process works the same way — eBay will email a link to your new address, and you must click it within 24 hours.

If you are using the mobile app, you may find it easier to open the confirmation email on the same device. Tap the link in the email, and it will open directly in the eBay app to complete the verification. If you are switching to a completely new phone or email provider, do the change on a computer where you can easily switch between your email and the eBay website.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common error is typing your new email address incorrectly. eBay will send the confirmation link to whatever address you typed, so if you misspell it, you will not receive the email. Double-check the new address before clicking Continue — look for missing letters, swapped numbers, or typos in the domain name (like .com instead of .co).

Do not close your browser or sign out of eBay when ready after requesting the change. Wait a few minutes for the confirmation email to arrive, then click the link while you are still signed in. If you sign out and then try to click the confirmation link, eBay may ask you to sign in again, which can cause confusion about which email you are using.

If you have two-factor authentication turned on, make sure you have access to the phone number or authenticator app linked to your account. Changing your email does not disable two-factor authentication, so you will still need it to sign in after the change is complete.

What Does Not Change When You Update Your Email

Your eBay username stays the same. Buyers and sellers will still see your username in messages and feedback — your email address is private and only you and eBay can see it. Your purchase history, seller account (if you have one), feedback score, and saved items all remain exactly as they were.

If you are a seller, your store name and listings do not change. Customers can still find your items and contact you through eBay's messaging system. The only thing that changes is where eBay sends you notifications and where you receive emails about your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for the email change to go through?

The confirmation email usually arrives within a few minutes. Once you click the link in that email, the change is when ready. If you do not see the confirmation email after 10 minutes, check your spam or junk folder — sometimes email filters catch eBay messages by mistake.

Can I change my email address if I have an active auction or sale?

Yes. Changing your email does not affect active listings, bids, or sales in progress. Buyers can still contact you and complete their purchases normally. eBay will continue to send you notifications about your sales to your new email address once the change is confirmed.

What if I click the confirmation link after 24 hours?

The link expires after 24 hours and will no longer work. You will need to go back to Account settings and request a new email change. eBay will send you a fresh confirmation link, and you will have another 24 hours to click it.

Can I change my email to one I already used on a different eBay account?

No. Each email address can only be connected to one eBay account. If you try to use an email that is already registered to another account, eBay will reject the change and tell you the email is already in use. You would need to remove it from the other account first.

Will changing my email affect my PayPal account?

No. Your eBay account and PayPal account are separate, even if they are linked for payments. Changing your eBay email does not change your PayPal email. If you want to update your PayPal email, you will need to do that in PayPal's settings separately.