Where to find the email change option on Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple
The steps to change your email address depend on which email provider you use. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail each keep this setting in a different place, but all of them let you change it without losing your account or your messages.
On Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com, click "Personal info" on the left, find "Email" near the top, and click the pencil icon to edit. You will see your current Gmail address and an option to add an alternate email or change your recovery email — but your actual Gmail address (the one ending in @gmail.com) cannot be changed to a different Gmail address. If you need a different Gmail address entirely, you must create a new account.
On Outlook (formerly Hotmail), sign in at outlook.live.com, click your profile picture in the top right, select "View account", then go to "Security" and look for "Email & accounts". From there you can add an alias (an alternate address that works for the same account) or change your recovery email. Like Gmail, your main Outlook address cannot be changed to a different Outlook address.
On Yahoo Mail, sign in at mail.yahoo.com, click your profile picture, select "Account info", go to "Account security", and find "Email address". You can add a secondary email or change your recovery email from this screen. Your primary Yahoo address also cannot be changed to a different Yahoo address.
On Apple Mail (iCloud), go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, click "Account" at the top, then "Edit" next to your name. You can add an alias email address or change your recovery email, but your primary iCloud address cannot be changed.
Key Takeaways
- Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and Apple all prevent you from changing your main email address to a different address with the same provider — you must create a new account if you want a completely different address.
- All four providers let you add an alias or secondary email address that works with your existing account, so messages sent to either address arrive in the same inbox.
- Recovery email and two-factor phone number are separate from your main email address and can be changed in the account security or account info section.
- Before you stop using an old email address, update it on any accounts that rely on it for password recovery, such as banking, social media, or work systems.
Adding an alias email instead of changing your main address
If your email provider will not let you change your main address, the next best option is to add an alias — a second email address that delivers to the same inbox and account. This works well if you want to receive mail at a new address without abandoning your old one or losing access to accounts linked to the original.
On Gmail, an alias is called a "recovery email" or "alternate email". Go to myaccount.google.com, click "Personal info", scroll to "Email", and click "Add an alternate email address". Messages sent to this new address will not arrive in your Gmail inbox — instead, Google will send you a notification that someone tried to contact you there. This is different from what many people expect, so Gmail aliases are less useful than aliases on other platforms.
On Outlook, aliases work better. Sign in, go to "View account" > "Security" > "Email & accounts", and click "Add alias". You can create up to 10 aliases on a single Outlook account. Messages sent to any alias arrive directly in your inbox alongside mail sent to your main address. You can also set which alias appears as your "from" address when you send mail.
On Yahoo, the process is similar. Go to "Account info" > "Account security" > "Email address" and select "Add email address". Yahoo lets you create multiple aliases, and all mail arrives in one inbox. You can choose which address shows as your sender when you compose a message.
Updating your email address on other accounts and services
Once you have set up a new email address or alias, you need to update it anywhere it is currently listed. This includes social media accounts, banking and financial services, work email systems, online shopping accounts, and any subscription services that send you receipts or notifications.
Start with accounts that control access to other accounts — your bank, your email provider itself, and any password manager you use. If someone gains access to these, they can reset passwords on everything else. Update the email address in the account settings, usually under "Profile", "Account info", or "Security".
Then move to accounts where you receive important documents: tax services, insurance companies, loan servicers, and healthcare providers. These often send statements or notices to your email, and missing them can have real consequences.
Finally, update social media, shopping, and entertainment accounts. These are lower priority, but updating them prevents confusion later and ensures you receive password reset links if you ever need them.
What happens to messages sent to your old email address
If you stop using an old email address entirely, messages sent to it will sit in that account's inbox unread. The sender will not know the message failed to reach you — it will appear to have been delivered successfully. For this reason, you should keep your old account active for at least a few months after switching, or set up an auto-reply message.
To set an auto-reply on Gmail, go to Settings > "General" > "Vacation responder", turn it on, and type a message telling people your new email address. On Outlook, go to Settings > "Mail" > "Automatic replies" and do the same. Yahoo and Apple have similar features in their settings menus.
An auto-reply is especially important if your old email is listed on a website, business card, or professional profile. It gives people a way to reach you even if they have outdated contact information.
Changing the email address on accounts you have forgotten the password to
If you cannot sign into an account because you have forgotten the password, you can still change the email address — but only if you can access the recovery email or phone number linked to that account.
On most services, click "Forgot password" on the login screen. The system will ask you to verify your identity by sending a code to your recovery email or phone number. Once you confirm that code, you can reset your password and then change your email address in the account settings.
If you do not have access to the recovery email or phone number, you will need to contact the service's support team. Have ready any information that proves you own the account: a previous password, the date you created it, payment information if it is a paid account, or answers to security questions you set up when you registered.
Moving your email history to a new email provider
If you want to switch to a completely different email provider — for example, from Gmail to Outlook — you can read your old messages and import them into the new account. This is different from changing your address within the same provider.
On Gmail, go to takeout.google.com, select "Mail", choose the format (MBOX is standard), and read your messages. Then sign into your new email account, look for an "Import" or "Add account" option, and follow the prompts to upload the file. The exact steps vary by provider, so check the help section of your new email service for detailed instructions.
Be aware that imported messages will have their original dates and senders, but they will not be connected to the accounts that sent them. If you need to reply to an old message, you will have to do it manually — the import does not restore the original conversation thread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Gmail address to a different Gmail address?
No. Google does not allow you to change your main Gmail address (@gmail.com) to a different Gmail address. You can add an alternate email address for recovery purposes, but messages sent to it will not arrive in your inbox. If you need a completely different Gmail address, you must create a new Google account.
Will I lose my emails if I change my email address?
No. Your messages stay in your account regardless of what email address you use to access it. Changing your email address or adding an alias does not delete anything. If you switch to a different email provider entirely, you can read your old messages and import them into the new account.
What is the difference between changing my email and adding an alias?
Changing your email address means updating the primary address associated with your account. Adding an alias creates a second address that delivers to the same inbox. Most email providers do not let you change your main address, but they do let you add aliases. Aliases are useful if you want to receive mail at multiple addresses without managing separate accounts.
Do I need to change my password when I change my email address?
No. Your password is separate from your email address. Changing one does not affect the other. However, if someone has access to your old email address, they could use it to reset your password, so it is a good idea to update your recovery email and phone number at the same time.
How long does it take for the change to take effect?
Changes to your email address or aliases take effect when ready. Messages sent to your new address will arrive in your inbox right away. However, it can take a few days for the change to show up everywhere — for example, in your email signature or on shared contact lists — so give it time before assuming something went wrong.