You cannot change your Gmail address itself, but you can create a new Gmail account and transfer your data
Gmail does not have a built-in 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 as long as the account exists. If you want a different Gmail address, you need to set up a new Gmail account and move your emails, contacts, and other data over.
The process takes a few hours to a few days depending on how much email you have. You will keep access to your old account during the switch, so nothing gets lost in the move.
Key Takeaways
- Gmail addresses cannot be renamed; you must create a new account with the address you want.
- You can forward all incoming mail from your old address to your new one so you do not miss messages.
- Gmail's data transfer tool lets you move emails, contacts, and calendar events to your new account automatically.
- Tell important contacts your new address before you set up forwarding, so they have time to update their records.
- Keep your old account active for at least a few months in case someone sends mail to the old address.
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. Enter your first and last name, then click "Next".
On the next screen, Google will ask you to choose a username. This is the part before @gmail.com — the part you are changing. Type in the address you want. Gmail will tell you right away if that address is already taken. If it is, try variations: add numbers, use a period in the middle of your name, or pick something entirely different. Once you find one that is available, click "Next".
Create a strong password (at least 8 characters, with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols), then enter your recovery phone number and a backup email address. These let you get back into the account if you forget your password. Finish the setup by confirming your phone number with a code Google texts you.
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 — sign into that account and click the confirmation link. Once confirmed, go back to your old account's forwarding settings, select your new address, and click "Forward all mail to [new address]". Choose whether to keep a copy of forwarded emails in your old account (most people do, so they have a backup).
From this point on, every email that arrives at your old address will automatically go to your new one. This means you will not miss anything, even if someone sends mail to the old address by mistake.
Transfer your existing emails and contacts
Google provides a tool to move your data from one account to another. Sign into your new Gmail account and go to takeout.google.com. This is Google's data read service.
Click "Deselect all" first, then check only the boxes for the data you want to move: Gmail, Contacts, and Calendar are the most common. Uncheck everything else. Click "Next step", choose your file format (keep the default), and select "Create export". Google will prepare a file with all your selected data — this usually takes a few minutes for smaller accounts and longer for accounts with years of email.
read the file to your computer. Then sign into your new Gmail account, go back to takeout.google.com, and look for the "Restore your data" option. Upload the file you just downloaded. Gmail will import your emails into the new account. Contacts will appear in your Contacts app, and calendar events will show up in Google Calendar.
Update your address with banks, services, and important contacts
Make a list of every place that has your old Gmail address on file: your bank, email subscriptions, social media accounts, work systems, and any other services you use regularly. Go through each one and update your email address to your new Gmail account.
Start with the most important ones first — your bank, your employer, and any accounts tied to payment or identity. Then work through subscriptions, social media, and less critical services. This takes time, but it prevents important messages from going to an address you are no longer checking.
For services that do not let you change your email address directly, contact their support team and ask them to update it for you.
Check your old account for a few months before closing it
Even after you have updated your address everywhere, keep your old Gmail account open and active for at least two to three months. Some services take time to update their records, and some people will inevitably send mail to your old address by mistake.
Because you set up forwarding, those emails will still reach your new account. But if you close the old account too soon, forwarding stops working, and you will lose access to any mail that arrives after that. Once you are confident that all your important contacts have your new address and no critical services are still using the old one, you can delete the old account if you want to.
What to do if your preferred Gmail address is already taken
Gmail addresses are unique — only one person can have any given address. If the address you want is taken, you have a few options. You can add a period anywhere in the username (Gmail ignores periods, so john.smith@gmail.com and johnsmith@gmail.com go to the same inbox, but only one can be registered). You can add numbers at the end. Or you can choose a completely different name.
If you really want a specific address and it belongs to an inactive account, you cannot claim it. Google does not release old addresses, even if the account has not been used in years. Pick a variation or a different name instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Gmail address without creating a new account?
No. Gmail does not have a rename feature. The only way to get a different Gmail address is to create a new account. However, you can forward all mail from your old address to your new one, so you will not miss anything.
What happens to my old emails if I create a new account?
Your old emails stay in your old account. You can read them using Google Takeout and import them into your new account, or you can keep both accounts open and access them separately. The choice is yours.
Do I have to tell everyone my new address?
You should tell important contacts — family, friends, your employer, and your bank. For subscriptions and less critical services, you can update the address in each account's settings. Because you set up forwarding, you will still receive emails sent to your old address, but it is better to update your address where you can so people use the new one going forward.
How long does it take to move everything to my new account?
Creating the new account takes about 10 minutes. Setting up forwarding takes another 5 minutes. Importing your old emails using Google Takeout can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on how much email you have. Updating your address with banks and services takes as long as you spend on it — usually a few hours spread over several days.
Can I delete my old Gmail account right away?
You can, but it is not recommended. Keep your old account open for at least two to three months. Forwarding will continue to work during that time, so any mail sent to your old address will reach your new one. Once you are sure all your important contacts and services have your new address, you can delete the old account if you want to.