You cannot change your Gmail address itself, but you can change the name that appears when you send mail

Your Gmail address — the part before @gmail.com — is permanent and cannot be altered. Google does not offer a way to rename it, and creating a new address means losing access to accounts linked to the old one. What you can change is your display name, the text that appears in the "From" line when someone receives your email. This takes two minutes and does not affect your actual email address or any of your account data.

If you need a completely different email address for a fresh start or to separate work from personal mail, you can create a new Gmail account instead. Both approaches are covered below.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Gmail address cannot be changed, but your display name (what recipients see) can be edited in Gmail settings in under two minutes.
  • Changing your display name does not affect your actual email address, password, or any messages you have already sent.
  • If you want a completely different email address, you must create a new Gmail account — the old address will remain yours unless you delete the entire account.
  • Before deleting an old Gmail account, read your data and change the email address on any linked accounts like social media or banking.

How to change your display name in Gmail

Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner. Select "See all settings" from the dropdown menu. Click the "Accounts and Import" tab at the top of the page.

Under "Send mail as", you will see your current email address. Click "Edit name" next to it. A box will appear with your current display name. Delete it and type the new name you want to appear in the "From" line. Click "Save changes" at the bottom. The change takes effect when ready on new emails you send.

Recipients will see your new name the next time you email them. Old emails you sent under your previous name will still show the old name in their inboxes — Gmail does not retroactively update past messages.

What happens when you change your display name

Only the name changes. Your email address stays the same, your password does not change, and all your existing messages remain in your inbox. People can still reply to you at your original Gmail address. If you have set up filters, labels, or forwarding rules, they continue to work exactly as before.

If you use Gmail for work or school through a company or organization account, you may not have permission to change your display name — your administrator controls it. Try the steps above; if the "Edit name" option is grayed out, contact your IT department or administrator.

Creating a new Gmail address instead

If you want a completely different email address rather than just a new display name, you must create a separate Gmail account. Go to accounts.google.com, click "Create account", and follow the steps to set up a new Gmail address. You will choose a new address at that time.

Keep your old account open unless you have a specific reason to close it. Many services — banking, social media, shopping sites — are tied to your original email address. If you delete the account, you may lose access to those services. If you do decide to delete your old Gmail account, first read your data (Google provides a tool called Google Takeout for this) and change the email address on any linked accounts to your new Gmail address.

Using multiple email addresses in one Gmail account

You can send mail from multiple addresses without creating separate Gmail accounts. In the same "Send mail as" section of settings, click "Add another email address" and follow the steps to add an alternate address. Gmail will ask you to verify that you own the address by sending a confirmation code to it.

Once verified, you can choose which address appears in the "From" line each time you compose a new email. This is useful if you have a work email, a personal email, or an old address you still want to use — all messages go to your main Gmail inbox, but you can reply from whichever address is appropriate.

Recovering access if you forgot your display name change

If you changed your display name and now cannot remember what it was, go back to "Accounts and Import" settings and look under "Send mail as". Your current display name is shown there. You can edit it again at any time by clicking "Edit name".

If you cannot access your Gmail account at all, go to accounts.google.com and click "Can't sign in?" Follow Google's account recovery process, which usually involves verifying your identity through a recovery email address or phone number you set up earlier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my display name affect my password or security?

No. Your password remains the same, and changing your display name does not affect your account security in any way. Your Gmail address and login credentials are unchanged.

Can I change my Gmail address from @gmail.com to something else?

No. Your Gmail address is permanent. If you want a different address, you must create a new Gmail account. You can then use both accounts by adding the new address to your original account's "Send mail as" settings.

Will people see my old display name in emails I already sent?

Yes. Emails you sent before the change will still show your old name in recipients' inboxes. Only new emails you send will show your updated display name.

What if I want to delete my Gmail account and start fresh?

You can delete your entire Google account, which closes Gmail permanently. Before you do, read your data using Google Takeout and update the email address on any linked accounts (social media, banking, shopping sites). Once deleted, your Gmail address cannot be recovered.

Can I have two Gmail addresses open at the same time?

Yes. You can sign into multiple Gmail accounts in the same browser using different tabs, or use Gmail's account switcher (the profile icon in the top right) to toggle between accounts without signing out.