Millions of Gmail users across the United States now have the ability to change the username portion of their email address, offering a long-awaited solution for people who created accounts years ago with names they no longer want to use.

The new option allows users to modify the part of their address that appears before “@gmail.com.” Once the change is made, the previous email address will remain attached to the same account as an alternate address. Messages sent to the old address will still arrive in the user’s inbox, preventing communication disruptions during the transition.

The update has been gradually rolling out since last year and is now available to all Google Account users in the United States. The change provides a convenient way for people to replace outdated or unprofessional usernames that were often created in earlier years of internet use. It may also help users who want their email address to reflect a legal name change or a more professional identity.

There are limitations to the feature. Users can only create a new Gmail address once every 12 months, meaning any changes should be considered carefully before confirming. In addition, the new username chosen cannot later be used to create a separate Google Account.

The existing address will continue to function as an alternate email, ensuring that older contacts who still send messages to it will not lose the ability to reach the account holder. However, users may still need to update their email information manually on websites, apps, or services where the Gmail address is used for login credentials.

To access the new option, users can open the Gmail app, tap their profile icon, and select the option to manage their Google Account. From there, navigating to the personal information section and choosing the email settings should reveal the option to change the Google Account email address.

The new flexibility represents one of the most significant updates to Gmail account identity settings in years, giving users greater control over how their email addresses appear while maintaining continuity for incoming messages.