You cannot change the address itself, but you can switch to a new Gmail account and forward your mail

Gmail does not let you edit the username part of your email address once the account exists. If your current address is jane.smith@gmail.com, you cannot turn it into jane.jones@gmail.com. The address is permanent.

What you can do instead is create a new Gmail account with the address you want, then set up forwarding so messages sent to your old address land in your new inbox. You can also tell contacts about the new address and update it wherever you have signed up for services. This takes time but works reliably.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail addresses cannot be edited after creation, so you must create a new account if you want a different username.
  • Set up mail forwarding from your old address to your new one so you do not miss messages sent to the old account.
  • Update your email address in any services where you signed up—banks, social media, work accounts, shopping sites—to prevent login problems later.
  • Keep your old account active for at least a few months while people transition to your new address.
  • You can read all your old emails and contacts before switching if you want to keep a copy.

Create a new Gmail account with your preferred address

Go to accounts.google.com and click "Create account". Choose "For myself" unless you are setting up a business account. Fill in your first and last name, then the username you want—this is the part before @gmail.com. Gmail will tell you if the name is taken; if it is, try variations like adding numbers or a middle initial.

Complete the rest of the signup: add a phone number for security, choose a recovery email address (use your current Gmail if you have one), and verify your identity when Google asks. Once you finish, you will have a new Gmail account ready to use.

Set up forwarding from your old address to your new one

Sign into your old Gmail account. Click the gear icon in the top right, then select "See all settings". Go to the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab. Click "Add a forwarding address" and enter your new Gmail address. Gmail will send a confirmation email to your new address—open it and click the confirmation link.

Back in settings, select your new address from the dropdown under "Forward a copy of incoming mail to". Choose whether to keep a copy in your old inbox or delete it after forwarding (keeping a copy is safer at first). Click "Save Changes". From now on, every email sent to your old address will also arrive in your new inbox.

Update your email address in accounts and services

Go through the websites and apps where you signed up with your old Gmail address. This includes your bank, email providers, social media accounts, shopping sites, work systems, and any subscription services. For each one, find the account settings or profile page and change the email address to your new Gmail.

Start with accounts that matter most: banking, work email, and password recovery. If you forget to update a service and later need to reset your password, the reset link will go to your old address, which could lock you out. Take your time and work through them in batches—do five or ten a day rather than trying to do them all at once.

Tell your contacts about your new address

Send an email from your new Gmail account to people who contact you regularly. Keep the message short: explain that you have a new email address and ask them to update their contacts. Include both your old and new addresses so they can find the message if they search their inbox later.

You do not need to contact everyone you have ever emailed—forwarding will catch messages from people who still use your old address. Focus on people you actually correspond with: family, close friends, colleagues, and clients.

read your old emails and contacts if you want to keep them

Before you stop using your old account, you can save everything in it. Sign into your old Gmail, go to takeout.google.com, and select "Gmail" from the list of services. Choose the format (MBOX works with most email programs) and let Google create a read file. This usually takes a few minutes for a large inbox.

To save your contacts, go to contacts.google.com, click the menu icon, select "Export", and choose "Google CSV". Save this file to your computer. You can then import both the emails and contacts into your new Gmail account or another email program if you ever need them.

Keep your old account active for several months

Do not delete your old Gmail account right away. Leave it open with forwarding turned on for at least three to six months. This catches messages from people and services you forgot to update, and gives you time to realize if you missed updating something important.

After that period, you can decide whether to delete the account or keep it dormant. If you delete it, Google will hold the username for a while before making it available to someone else, so you cannot reclaim it later. If you keep it, it takes up no space and costs nothing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to emails sent to my old address after I delete it?

If you set up forwarding before deleting the account, emails will have already been copied to your new address, so you will not lose them. If you delete without setting up forwarding first, you will lose any messages sent after deletion. Always set up forwarding before closing the old account.

Can I use both email addresses at the same time?

Yes. You can sign into Gmail and switch between accounts using the profile icon in the top right. You can also set up your new Gmail to send emails from your old address if needed—go to Settings, Accounts and Import, and add your old address as a "Send mail as" option. This is useful during the transition period.

Will changing my email address affect my Google account or YouTube?

Your Google account is tied to whichever email address you use to sign in. If you want to use your new Gmail to sign into Google services, you will need to update your Google account recovery email in your account settings. Your YouTube channel, Google Drive, and other services will follow whichever account you are signed into.

How long does forwarding take?

Forwarding is usually when ready or within a few minutes. Occasionally it can take up to an hour if Google's servers are busy, but this is rare. If an email does not arrive within an hour, check that you completed the confirmation step and that forwarding is actually turned on in your settings.

What if I want to go back to my old email address?

You can sign back into your old account and turn off forwarding whenever you want. However, if you have already updated most of your accounts to use the new address, switching back will create confusion. It is easier to stick with the new address once you have made the change.