Where to find the email change option on Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple

The steps differ slightly by email provider, but all of them put the email change option in account settings, not in the main inbox menu. You will need to be signed in to your account and have access to either your current password or a recovery phone number.

On Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com, click "Security" in the left menu, scroll to "How you sign in to Google," and select "Email address." On Outlook, visit account.microsoft.com, choose "Security," then "Change password or security info," and look for "Email addresses." On Yahoo, go to account.yahoo.com, click "Account info," then "Account security," and select "Change email address." On Apple, visit appleid.apple.com, click "Account," then "Edit," and you will see the email section at the top.

Key Takeaways

  • You access email changes through account settings or security pages, not from the inbox itself — the exact path depends on your provider.
  • Most providers require you to verify your current email or phone number before you can add a new one, to prevent unauthorized changes.
  • You can usually keep your old email as a recovery address after you switch to a new one, which helps you regain access if you forget your password later.
  • Changing your email address does not delete your messages, contacts, or files — they stay in your account under the new address.
  • If you use the same email for other accounts (social media, banking, shopping), you will need to update it in those places separately.

What happens when you add a new email address

When you add a new email address to your account, the provider sends a confirmation link to that new address. You must click the link within the time window they give you — usually 24 to 48 hours — or the change will not go through. Until you confirm, your old email remains your primary address.

After you confirm the new address, most providers let you choose which one is your primary email. Your primary email is the one people see when they contact you and the one you use to sign in. You can usually keep the old email attached to the account as a recovery address, which means you can use it to reset your password if you ever get locked out.

Removing your old email after the switch

You do not have to remove your old email right away. Many people keep it attached for several months while they update their other accounts, then delete it later. If you do decide to remove it, go back to the email settings and select "Remove" or "Delete" next to the old address.

Before you remove an old email, make sure no other accounts use it as a recovery method. If you have a bank account, social media profile, or shopping site that sends password resets to that old email, you will lose access to those accounts if you delete it without updating them first. Check your most important accounts — banking, email, social media — and update their recovery email to your new address before you remove the old one from your primary email account.

Updating other accounts that use your old email

Your email address is the key to dozens of other accounts. Social media sites, shopping accounts, work systems, and subscription services all have your email on file. Changing your primary email does not automatically update these places — you have to do it manually.

Start with the accounts that matter most: your bank, your employer, any subscription services you pay for, and social media accounts you use regularly. Log into each one, find the account settings or profile page, and look for "Email address" or "Contact information." Update it to your new address. For work accounts, check with your IT department first — they may have rules about what email addresses you can use or may need to make the change for you.

If you cannot access your current email to confirm the change

If your current email account is hacked, closed, or you no longer have access to it, you cannot use the normal confirmation process. Instead, use your recovery phone number or a backup email address that you set up earlier. Most providers let you verify your identity through a text message to your phone or a code sent to a backup email.

Go to the account settings page and look for "Can't access your email?" or "Verify your identity" options. You will usually be asked to enter your phone number or answer security questions. Once you verify who you are, you can change your email address without needing access to the old one. If you do not have a recovery phone number or backup email set up, contact the provider's support team — they can verify you through other methods, though it may take longer.

What to do if the confirmation email does not arrive

Check your spam or junk folder first — confirmation emails sometimes get filtered there by mistake. If it is not there, wait a few minutes and try requesting the confirmation email again. Most providers have a "Resend confirmation" button on the settings page.

If you still do not receive it after several attempts, the email address you entered may be misspelled or already in use by another account. Go back to the settings page, double-check the spelling, and try again. If the address is already in use, you will usually see an error message telling you that. In that case, use a different email address or contact the provider to ask if that address can be recovered or removed from the other account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my email address delete my messages and files?

No. Your messages, contacts, calendar, photos, and all other data stay in your account. The change only affects which email address you use to sign in and which address people see when you contact them.

Can I change my email address back to the old one later?

Yes, you can switch back at any time by following the same process. However, if you deleted the old email address completely, you may not be able to use it again if another account has claimed it in the meantime.

Do I have to change my password when I change my email?

No, your password stays the same. However, it is a good time to change your password if you think your account may have been compromised or if you have not changed it in over a year.

What if I use my email to sign in to other devices or apps?

After you change your email, you will need to sign out of those devices and apps, then sign back in using your new email address. Your old email will no longer work for signing in once the change is complete.