A highly requested addition to Google has begun to roll out, allowing Gmail customers to easily modify their Gmail display name, rather than having to develop a new account altogether.
Google mail users have been unable to modify their display names for a long time and must keep the original display name that they set at sign-up until now.
Users can alter the portion of the email account before the @gmail.com; therefore, all users’ original inboxes, data, and accounts will remain unchanged.
This feature is still in its initial rollout, but it is available more widely and is available to users in the United States.
What changes & What Doesn’t
Once updated, the new Gmail address becomes the primary email ID. However, the old address doesn’t disappear. It remains linked to the account as an alternate email, meaning messages sent to it will still reach the same inbox.
There are, however, clear limitations. Users can change their email username only once every 12 months, and the new address cannot be used to create a separate Google account in the future. The option may also not appear for users who have already made a recent change.
How to change your Gmail username
To update your Gmail address:
- Open the Gmail app and tap your profile icon
- Go to “Manage your Google Account”
- Select “Personal info,” then tap “Email”
- Choose your Gmail address and look for the option “Change Google Account email”
- Enter your new username and confirm
If the option is unavailable, it may not have rolled out to your account yet.
What users should keep in mind?
While the change updates your primary email, it does not automatically update your login details across apps and websites. Users will need to manually update their email ID wherever it is used for sign-ins.
The update is particularly useful for users looking to replace outdated or unprofessional email IDs or those who have changed their name.
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