Where to find the email change option

The email change option lives in your account settings, not in your inbox or main menu. On most services, look for a gear icon, "Settings," "Account," or "Profile" — usually in the top right corner or in a dropdown menu next to your name. Once you click into settings, find a section labeled "Email," "Contact Information," "Personal Details," or "Account Information." That is where the change button will be.

The exact path varies by service. Gmail puts it under "Manage your Google Account" at the top, then the "Personal info" tab. Facebook hides it under Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Personal Information. Microsoft Outlook uses "Account settings" in the top left. Twitter (now X) has it under Settings and Privacy, then Account, then Email. If you cannot find it after checking the main settings area, search the help section for "[Service name] change email" — the official help page will show you the exact steps for that service.

Write down your current email address and the new one you want to use before you start. You will need both during the process, and having them written down prevents typos.

Key Takeaways

  • Most services require you to verify the new email address by clicking a link in a confirmation message sent to that address, so the new email must be active and accessible right now.
  • You will usually need to enter your password or answer a security question to confirm the change, even if you are already logged in.
  • The old email address may remain linked to your account for a set period (often 30 days) in case you need to undo the change, so do not delete the old account when ready.
  • If you are changing email because the old one was hacked, change your password at the same time and check your recovery options (phone number, backup email) to make sure only you can access them.

Verify the new email address before you start

The new email address must exist and be working before you change it. If you are switching to a brand-new email account, create it first and send yourself a test message to confirm you can receive mail there. Open the new account in a separate browser tab or window so you can switch back and forth during the change process.

Check that you can log into the new email account and that it is not full or blocked. Some email services have storage limits or spam filters that can block incoming messages. If the confirmation message from your account change does not arrive within a few minutes, check the spam or junk folder first before assuming something went wrong.

The step-by-step change process

Log into the account you want to change. Navigate to Settings or Account Information as described above. Find the email field and click "Change," "Edit," or "Update" next to it. A box will appear asking for the new email address. Type it carefully — a single typo means the confirmation will go to the wrong place and the change will fail.

Click the button to proceed (usually labeled "Next," "Continue," or "Change Email"). The service will send a confirmation link or code to the new email address. Do not close this page yet. Open the new email account in another tab and look for a message from the service (check spam if it does not appear in the inbox within two minutes). Click the confirmation link or enter the code into the box on the original page.

You may be asked to enter your password or answer a security question at this point. This is normal — services do this to prevent someone else from changing your email if they have temporary access to your account. After you confirm, the change is complete. The service will usually show a message saying "Email changed successfully" or send a confirmation to both the old and new addresses.

What happens to your old email address

Most services keep the old email linked to your account for 30 days after the change. During this window, you can usually undo the change by going back to settings and selecting "Revert" or "Undo." This is a safety net in case you made a typo or changed your mind. After 30 days, the old email is fully removed from your account.

Do not delete the old email account when ready after changing it. If the change fails or you need to undo it, you will need access to that account. Wait at least a week to confirm the new email is working properly with the service, then you can delete or stop using the old one. If the old email was compromised or hacked, you can delete it sooner, but first make sure the new email is fully set up and working.

Updating email on linked accounts and services

If you use your email to sign into other services — like using your Google account to log into Spotify, or your Facebook account to log into a game — those linked services may still have your old email on file. Changing the email on the main account does not automatically update it everywhere. Log into each linked service and check its settings to see what email is listed there.

Some services will update automatically within a few hours or days. Others require you to manually change it. Check any service where you used "Sign in with [Google/Facebook/Apple]" or where you entered your email during setup. The safest approach is to log into each one and verify the email is correct, especially for services that send important messages like password resets or billing notices.

Troubleshooting when the change does not work

If the confirmation message does not arrive, check the spam and junk folders in the new email account first. Some email providers filter messages aggressively. If it is not there, go back to the original service and request the confirmation message be sent again — most services have a "Resend" or "Send again" button.

If you see an error saying the new email is already in use, that email address is linked to another account with that service. You cannot use the same email for two accounts. If the email is yours and you forgot about the other account, log into that account and change its email to something else first, then try again. If the email belongs to someone else, choose a different new email address.

If you are locked out of the new email account and cannot receive the confirmation message, you will need to regain access to that email first. Use the email provider's account recovery process (usually through a phone number or backup email) before attempting the change again. If you are locked out of the original account entirely, use that service's "Forgot password" or "Account recovery" option to regain access.

Changing email when your old account is hacked or compromised

If you are changing email because the old one was hacked, change your password at the same time. Do this when ready after changing the email, while you are still in account settings. Use a strong password you have never used before — at least 12 characters with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.

Check your recovery options in the security or account settings section. Make sure the phone number on file is yours and the backup email (if there is one) is an account you control. Hackers often add their own phone number or email as a recovery method so they can regain access even after you change the password. Remove any recovery methods that are not yours. If you see login activity from places you do not recognize, check if the service has a "Sign out all sessions" or "End all other sessions" option and use it to force the hacker out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my email affect my password or login?

No. Your password stays the same. You will still log in with your username or old email address (depending on the service) and the same password you have always used. The email change only affects where the service sends messages to you and what email address is listed in your profile.

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

Yes, during the 30-day window after the change. Go back to settings and look for "Undo," "Revert," or "Change email again." After 30 days, the old email is removed from your account, but you can still change to a different email address at any time. If you want to use the old email again after 30 days, you will need to change to it as a new email address and go through the verification process again.

What if I do not have access to the new email address yet?

Do not start the change process. Create the new email account first and make sure you can log into it and receive messages. Send yourself a test email to confirm it is working. Only then should you begin changing your email on the service. If you start the change without access to the new email, the confirmation message will fail and you will not be able to complete it.

Do I need to tell my contacts my new email address?

That depends on the service. If you are changing email on a social media account or messaging app, your contacts will see the new email in your profile automatically. If you are changing your personal email address itself (like moving from Gmail to Outlook), you will need to tell people manually or update your contact information where they have it saved. Services like LinkedIn and professional networks should be updated so people can reach you.

Will my old emails and messages disappear after I change my email?

No. Changing your email address does not affect any messages, files, or data in your account. Everything stays exactly where it is. The change only affects the email address associated with your account going forward — where new messages will be sent and how you appear to other users.