Khaberni - In a step aimed at enhancing the digital professionalism of users, Google announced the launch of a new feature that allows Gmail users in the United States to change their username - that is, the part preceding @gmail - without the need to create a new account or lose their data.
This move comes in response to a reality faced by many, where using old or quirky email addresses - such as those created during teenage years - is no longer suitable in professional contexts, especially when applying for jobs or in formal dealings.
How does the new feature work?
Under the new update, users can modify their email address while retaining all their messages and data, including photos and correspondence history, and continue to receive messages on both the old and new addresses together. They can also keep the old mail as a backup option.
Google explained that the possibility to change the username would be available only once every 12 months, as part of maintaining account stability and reducing the chances of misuse.
According to the company's CEO, Sundar Pichai, the new feature will provide users with greater flexibility in updating their digital identity without sacrificing their history or data.
He added in a post on the X platform, that users no longer have to keep email addresses that date back to older years, even if they were personal or playful at that time.
In the past, users had to create an entirely new Gmail account if they wanted to change their email address, which required manually transferring data. Now, it is possible to make the change seamlessly through account settings.
How do you change your account name on Gmail?
1 - Log into your account settings on Google.
2 - Click on Personal info.
3 - Choose Email then Google Account email.
4 - You'll see an option to change your Google Account email, where you can easily choose a new available username.
This feature represents a significant leap after more than 20 years since the launch of Gmail, where the username was fixed forever.
It should be noted that email addresses are no longer just for sending messages, but have become a fundamental element in daily digital life, starting from logging into various platforms, up to their prominent role in professional interactions such as job applications.
So far, Google has not announced whether this feature will be made available globally outside the United States.
