Google now allows users in the United States to change the username part of their @gmail.com email addresses directly through Google Account settings. This feature was first noticed in October 2025 and appeared in some accounts outside the US by the end of the year.

However, it had not been available to US users until now. Google confirmed the update in a revised support document stating that users can change the email address associated with their Google Accounts to a new address ending with @gmail.com.

What Changes with Gmail Username Updates

The change affects the part of the email address before @gmail.com. This is different from Gmail's current nickname system, which has always allowed alternative addresses without changing the primary login email address.

When the username is changed, the new address will be valid across Google's services such as Gmail, Photos, and Drive. The old address remains unchanged and is not assigned to a new account. It remains linked to the existing account after the change.

How to Change Your Gmail Username

  1. Open your Google Account settings.
  2. Select the option to change your Google email address.
  3. Enter your preferred new username.
  4. Click on change email, then confirm by selecting yes, change email.

Note that the new username must be unique and not used by another Google account. Standard username availability rules apply.

What Happens to Your Old Address and Current Availability

Google states that the original Gmail address is neither deleted nor reassigned to other users. Instead, it remains linked to the same account and cannot be claimed by someone else. The address continues to internally identify the account.

Google has not clarified whether emails sent to the old address will still be delivered after the change.

This feature is currently being rolled out in the United States, and it has not yet been confirmed whether it will be available in other regions. Google has not clarified when or if the update will expand internationally. Users who do not see this option in their account settings are likely in an unsupported region or have not yet received the rollout.