I was in middle school when I set up the personal Gmail account I still use today. Luckily, my still-developing brain picked a bland, straightforward option. At the time, I had no clue that this account would become so central to my digital identity years later.
Not as happy with your choice, UnicornLover69? Google just dropped a major update for Gmail users in the US who want to try something new. You can finally change your Gmail address. Hallelujah. Google calls this your “account username,” but don’t let that confuse you. The company is referring to your email address.
The process of changing your Gmail address is quite simple. First, you need to be logged in to your account. Then, open up the email’s settings page and find the Personal info section. After that, go to Email and Google Account email. Here’s where you’ll find the option to make the switch. In the Gmail mobile app, go to Settings, choose your email, then tap Manage Your Google Account. The steps are the same as the desktop version after that.
This is rolling out currently in the US for Gmail users, so you can try it out now. You should spend some time thinking about the decision before going through the new process, since Google only allows you to change the name once a year moving forward. This feature could be great for many situations, from trans people who no longer want to see their deadname to job applicants who want a more professional email address. Maybe you also have your birth year listed in your email and don’t want people to know how old you are.
There’s no need to worry about blasting this new address to everyone immediately or fretting over what will happen to your old inbox data. If someone emails your old address after you’ve made the change, their messages will still come through normally and show up in your inbox. None of your data or messages will be lost by changing your email address.
Google’s process is easier than many of the options from other email providers. For example, Microsoft lets you create an alias in Outlook and set it as a new contact method, but this doesn’t change the core email associated with your account. Similar options are available to Yahoo Mail users.
Looking to make an even more drastic change? If you’re feeling ready to ditch Google’s email altogether, WIRED’s pick for the best alternative is Proton Mail. Proton is the company behind our pick for the best VPN, so you know the company puts an emphasis on privacy and security. Proton Mail even lets new users import their data from Google.
