You cannot change the address itself, but you can create a new Gmail account and transfer your data

Gmail does not have a feature to rename your existing email address. Once you create an account with an address like yourname@gmail.com, that address stays the same for the life of the account. If you want a different Gmail address, you need to create a new account and move your important information — emails, contacts, calendar events — from the old one to the new one.

The process takes a few hours to a few days depending on how much email you have. Google's forwarding tool can automatically send incoming mail from your old address to your new one, so people who email the old address will still reach you. You will need to update your password, recovery phone number, and security settings on the new account to keep it find.

Key Takeaways

  • Create a new Gmail account with the address you want, then use Google's forwarding feature to send all future mail from your old address to the new one.
  • read your emails, contacts, and calendar from your old account using Google Takeout, then import them into your new account.
  • Update your password, recovery email, and phone number on the new account before you start forwarding mail.
  • Tell the people and services you contact regularly about your new address, because forwarding only works for incoming mail, not outgoing.
  • Keep your old account active for at least a few months so you can check it if someone replies to an old email thread.

Create your new Gmail account first

Go to accounts.google.com and click "Create account". Choose "For my personal use" unless you need a business account. Enter the name you want to appear in emails, then choose your new Gmail address. Gmail will show you whether the address is available — if your first choice is taken, try adding numbers or a middle initial.

Create a strong password (at least 8 characters, with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols). Add a recovery email address — this should be a different email account you control, not your old Gmail address. Add a phone number for account recovery. Google will send a verification code to your phone; enter it to confirm.

Do not set up forwarding yet. First, find your new account and transfer your data, so your old account is not actively receiving mail while you are still moving things over.

read your emails and contacts from your old account

Sign into your old Gmail account. Go to takeout.google.com — this is Google's tool for downloading your data. You will see a list of Google services. Uncheck everything except Gmail and Contacts (or Calendar if you use it). Click "All Mail" to read every email, not just recent ones.

At the bottom, choose your file format. For Gmail, MBOX format works best if you plan to import into Gmail again. For contacts, CSV format is standard. Choose "Export once" and select how you want the file delivered — email is simplest. Google will prepare a read link, usually within an hour. You will receive an email with a link to read a .zip file.

Save this file to your computer. Do not delete it until you have confirmed the import worked on your new account.

Import your data into your new Gmail account

Sign into your new Gmail account. To import emails, go to mail.google.com, click the gear icon in the top right, and select "Settings". Click the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab. Scroll to "Import mail and contacts" and click "Import mail and contacts". You will be asked to upload the MBOX file you downloaded from Takeout.

Gmail will show you a preview of how many emails it found. Click "Start import". This can take several hours if you have thousands of emails. You do not need to stay on the page — Gmail will continue in the background.

To import contacts, go to contacts.google.com, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) on the left, and select "Import". Upload the CSV file you downloaded. Google will show you how many contacts it found and ask which group to add them to. Click "Import".

Set up forwarding from your old account to your new one

Sign into your old Gmail account. Go to Settings, click the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab, and find "Forwarding". Click "Add a forwarding address" and enter your new Gmail address. Gmail will send a confirmation email to your new address — sign in and click the confirmation link.

Go back to your old account's Settings and choose what to do with forwarded emails. Select "Forward a copy of incoming mail to [your new address] and keep Gmail's copy in the Inbox" if you want to keep a backup in your old account. Or select "Forward a copy and archive Gmail's copy" if you want to clean up the old inbox.

Forwarding now sends all new mail to your new address automatically. Old emails stay in your old account unless you manually move them, which is why the import step matters.

Tell your contacts and services about your new address

Forwarding only works for mail coming in to your old address. When you send an email from your new account, it shows your new address as the sender. Update your address in any service that has it on file: your employer, bank, doctor's office, subscription services, social media accounts, and any mailing lists you are on.

Send a message to close friends and family with your new address. If you use your Gmail for work, give your workplace at least two weeks' notice before you stop checking the old account. Some people send a single email from the old account saying "I have a new email address" and set an auto-reply on the old account pointing to the new one.

Keep your old account active and check it occasionally for the next two to three months. If someone replies to an old email thread, they may not see your new address and will reply to the old one. Forwarding will send it to your new account, but you should also check the old inbox directly.

Decide when to stop using your old account

You do not have to delete your old Gmail account. Many people keep it active indefinitely as a backup and to catch forwarded mail. If you want to close it, wait at least three months after switching, so you catch any delayed replies or password-reset emails sent to the old address.

Before you close the account, read one final backup of anything you might have missed. Then go to myaccount.google.com, click "Delete your account and data" on the left, and follow the steps. Google will ask you to confirm and will give you a 30-day window to change your mind. After 30 days, the account and all its data are permanently deleted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my old Gmail address again after I close the account?

No. Once you delete a Gmail account, Google does not let anyone — including you — create a new account with that same address. If you think you might want the address back later, keep the account open even if you do not use it.

What if I have two-factor authentication set up on my old account?

You will need to sign in to your old account to read your data and set up forwarding. If you have lost access to your recovery phone or backup codes, go to accounts.google.com, click "Security" on the left, and follow the account recovery steps. Google will ask you to verify your identity before letting you back in.

Will forwarding work if someone emails me at my old address after I close the account?

No. Forwarding stops working the moment you delete the account. If you close your old account, set up forwarding first and wait several months to make sure no important mail is still coming in. Then close it.

Can I have both email addresses active at the same time?

Yes. You can sign into both accounts in the same browser using Gmail's multiple account feature. Click your profile picture in the top right of Gmail, then "Add another account". This lets you check both inboxes without signing out and back in.

What if I forgot the password to my old account?

Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery and enter your old email address. Google will ask you to verify your identity using your recovery email or phone number. If you do not have access to either, click "Try another way" and Google will ask security questions or let you verify with a device you have used before.