Google is rolling out a new feature that lets users change their @gmail.com email addresses. Until now, most Gmail users could not do this, 9to5Google reported.
The change was first noticed on a Google support page available only in Hindi, indicating that rollout and early access to the feature began in India before expanding to other regions.
According to the updated Google support page, users will soon be able to replace their existing Gmail address with a new one that also ends in @gmail.com. When a change is made, the original Gmail address will remain active as an alias. Emails sent to both the old and new addresses will arrive in the same inbox, and users will be able to sign in using either address. Account data, including emails, photos and files, will not be affected, the media outlet reported, citing the support page it translated.
Google notes that users won’t be able to modify or delete their Gmail address again for 12 months after making a change and each account will be limited to a small number of address changes overall. Some services, such as older calendar events, may continue displaying the original address.
Google, led by CEO Sundar Pichai, is betting heavily on India. Earlier this year, the company pledged a $15 billion investment in a data center in Andhra Pradesh to meet the growing global demand for cloud and AI computing.
