How to Change A Gmail Address and Save Emails in 2024
If you're here, you're likely searching for a straightforward way to change your Gmail address. Maybe you’re updating it after a major life event, like marriage, or you’ve outgrown the email handle you created years ago.
However, finding a clear answer can be tricky—and here’s why.
When people say, "I want to change an email address on Gmail," they usually mean one of the two things:
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"I want to change my Gmail address but keep all of my Google account data, too", or
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"I don't want to be A@gmail.com anymore. I want to be Z@gmail.com but keep all of my emails, contacts, Drive files, and calendars from A@gmail.com"
Unfortunately, this kind of change is typically only possible for Gmail addresses provided by schools, workplaces, or other organizations (i.e., Google Workspace accounts). For most personal Gmail accounts, it’s not possible to directly update the email address tied to your Google account.
The good news? You can create a new Gmail address and still retain all your data from the old account.
In this article, we will explain how this can be achieved and will offer some alternative solutions to moving to a new Gmail address. Additionally, we will provide recommendations for what you can do after you've changed your Google address.
Change a Gmail address quickly and easily
Since Google does not offer users the ability to replace an older email address with a new one, you would need to create a new Google account and copy everything from your old account into the new one. So, while you will change from one Gmail address to another, you'll be able to keep your old email history.
The easy way to copy your Gmail account data from A to Z is with VaultMe — a simple automated online app that creates a copy of everything stored in your old account and puts it into your new account.
Here are some of VaultMe's advantages:
- It can copy not only your emails but also Drive files, contacts, and calendars.
- It's quick and easy to use.
- It preserves label organization, correct dates, attachments, read/unread status.
- It works automagically in the cloud so that you can close your browser and relax while VaultMe does its job.
Our customers love us, just read our reviews!
How to change your Google ID manually
As with the automatic option above, to copy things manually, first, you'll need to create a new Google account with a new Gmail address. Then, you'll need to export your content from the old Google account and import it into the new one.
How to export Gmail emails manually
If you wish to export your Gmail emails, you need to use Google Takeout, Google's service for downloading content from your account.
To export Gmail emails:
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Sign in to your old Google account.
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Go to Google Takeout.
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Export the data from the apps you want to import into your new Gmail account.
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Wait for your Google Takeout archive link to be sent to you (it could take hours or days, depending on the amount of data).
Request a Google Takeout export -
Download your Google Takeout archive.
How to import Gmail emails into the new account
In order to back up Gmail and use it, you'll need to go back to your Google Takeout folder, unzip the Google Takeout archive, and open your Mail subfolder.
You'll notice that all of your mail from your old account has been compressed into an .mbox file. That's your Gmail backup.
To access the information inside your .mbox Gmail backup, you will need the help of a third-party application such as Thunderbird.
Here's how you can set up your new Google account with Thunderbird:
- Download and install Mozilla Thunderbird.
- Set up your account by typing in your email and password and clicking Continue.
- Select IMAP, select "Keep your folders and emails synced on your server," and click Done.
Your new Google mail account will appear on the left.
Next, install Thunderbird's ImportExportTools add-on:
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First, download the "ImportExportTools" add-on for Thunderbird here: ImportExportTools. Alternatively, you can search for the add-on in the Add-ons menu in Thunderbird.
Install ImportExportTools add-on -
Click Download Now.
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Save the ImportExportTools.xpi file to your Desktop.
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Open Thunderbird, and at the top, go to Tools and select Add-Ons.
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Click the Settings icon and then select Install Add-on From File.
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Navigate to your Desktop and select the ImportExportTools.xpi file.
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Click Install Now.
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Restart Thunderbird.
Next, import your MBOX files:
- In Thunderbird, on the left, right-click Local Folders → highlight ImportExportTools → select Import mbox file.
- Email client Thunderbird Import mbox file dialog.
- Select Import directly one or more mbox files and click Ok.
- Navigate to and select your .mbox file in your Google Takeout export folder.
- Your emails will start importing, and they will be located under your Local Folders. (Give it time because it may take a while.)
Lastly, move your newly imported labels into your new Google mail account on the left:
- In Thunderbird, expand Local Folders on the left.
- Select the folder with the imported emails.
- Select all emails and right-click to open the context menu.
- Highlight your new Gmail account and select the folder you want to import these emails into.
- Done!
If all that sounds complicated, that's because it is! VaultMe was designed to simplify the tedious copying process.
How simple is VaultMe's process? VaultMe makes it easy with just three steps:
- Sign in to your first account.
- Sign into your second account.
- Start your transfer.
Why choose VaultMe? It saves you time and eliminates the hassle:
- Copies your folder organization and labeling.
- Maintains your file types exactly as they are.
- Runs in the cloud, so you can turn off your computer once the process starts.
- Copies Google Drive files, contacts, and calendars, too!
And it only takes one minute to set up!
Alternative solutions for changing your Gmail account user name
If switching to a new account feels like too big of a change, here are a couple of alternatives to consider:
- Change your Gmail name (or change how your name is displayed to others)
- Use the "Send mail as" option
You'll find detailed, step-by-step instructions for both options below.
Change your Gmail name (or change how your name is displayed to others)
If you’d like to update your Gmail address so recipients see a new display name when you send emails, you need to modify the name that appears in the "From" field without changing the actual email address. For example, instead of John "A@gmail.com," you can send messages as Jonathan "A@gmail.com."
To change the Gmail name that is displayed to other people:
- Sign in to your Gmail account.
- Go to Change your Gmail username.
- In the top right, click the "Settings" gear icon.
- In the "Send mail as" section, click "Edit info."
- Add the name you want to show when you send messages.
- At the bottom, click "Save Changes."
Use "Send mail as"
This option is for you if you want to learn how to send emails from a different address while staying signed into your main Gmail account.
For example: "I want to log into my Gmail account as A@gmail.com but send emails as Z@gmail.com from the same account."
This option only allows you to send emails as the second account. You won’t be able to receive emails sent to the second account or access its data while signed into your primary account.
To change Gmail address by sending mail as another Gmail ID:
- Create a new Gmail account (this will serve as your equivalent of Z@gmail.com).
- Sign in to your primary Gmail account (your equivalent of A@gmail.com).
- Go to Change your Gmail username settings.
- In the top-right corner, click the Settings gear icon.
- Navigate to the "Accounts and Import" tab.
- In the "Send mail as" section, click "Add another email address."
- Enter the name you want to display and the new email address you created.
- Click "Send verification" to the new email address.
- Sign in to the second Gmail account.
- Verify your email by clicking the link in the verification email or entering the confirmation code.
- Once verification is complete, return to the "Accounts and Import" tab in your primary account.
- Choose whether to "Reply from the same address the message was sent to" or set the second account as your default.
After you've changed your Gmail address
Here are some of the things that you can do after you've changed your Gmail address:
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Let all your contacts know that you are now using a different email address. You can do that by sending an email to them from your old account.
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Update your email address in various services that you may be using (such as social media, online stores, work applications, etc.).
Since Google doesn't offer users the option of updating the email address associated with a Google account, it doesn't automatically register your new Google account as your primary one. Because of that, you will need to replace your old Gmail address with your new one in all services that are registered to your old email address.
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Set up automatic forwarding from your old account to the new one if you want to keep the old account for a while. This way, any emails received in the old account will automatically be forwarded to the new account.
Remember that forwarding rules will stop working if you delete the old account.
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Recreate email filters, labels, and automated rules in your new account.
Because you are switching from one Gmail account to another, you'll need to recreate everything in your new Gmail mailbox manually.
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Reauthorize third-party apps and devices linked to your old Gmail account to use your new one.
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Update email settings on your mobile devices to reflect the new Gmail address.
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If your old Gmail address is linked to payment platforms such as Google Pay, ensure it's updated to avoid disruptions in billing or purchases.
Frequently asked questions about changing a Gmail address
Can I rename my Gmail address?
It might be possible if your account is provided by school, work, or other group. However, if you have a personal account and your account's email address ends in @gmail.com, usually it is not possible to rename it.
How can I edit my Gmail account?
Renaming or editing a Gmail account is only possible if your account is provided by work, school, or other organizations that use Google Workspace. To edit your Gmail account, go to Account > Personal info > Contact info > Email > Google Account email. If you don't see the "Edit" button next to your Google Account email, but your account is provided by an organization, reach out to your administrator and ask them to edit your Gmail email address for you.
Can I change my Google account email?
You cannot change your Google account email address unless your account is provided by school or work. In the case of all personal accounts (i.e. non-Google Workspace accounts), you can't change or edit your username. If you've made a mistake in the username when creating an account, you'll have to delete this account and make a new one.
Can I change Gmail address without creating a new account?
Google does not yet offer the ability to update the email address linked to a Google account unless the email address is provided by a work organization, school, or other group. That means that in many cases, the only way to start using a new Gmail address without losing old emails is to create a new Gmail account and move all old emails there.
Can I change Gmail address when I get married?
Just like in the two cases above, it might not be possible to change your Gmail account username (the part before @gmail.com) when your last name changes. Check if this option is available to you by following Gmail's instructions. If it is unavailable, you'll have to create a new Gmail account and transfer the emails from the old account to the new one. The easiest way to do that is to use VaultMe since the app will be able to do the work quickly and will provide accurate results.
Can I transfer my Gmail emails to another Gmail account?
Yes. This can be done automatically and manually. The easy way is to use VaultMe and copy your Google emails automatically, but there are manual options that you can explore, too.
Can I merge 2 Gmail accounts?
Google has yet to offer this functionality, but there is a workaround. You can simply transfer the content from one Gmail account to the other and delete the account that you no longer need.
How do I get a new Gmail address?
Simply sign up for a new Google account. You can have an unlimited number of Gmail accounts, but the more accounts you have, the harder it is to manage them all. To avoid having to track multiple accounts, you can copy the emails from the accounts you are no longer using to your new primary Gmail.
How do I rename my Gmail address?
Unless you have a custom email address (i.e., you have a paid account and are using your own domain), you cannot rename your Gmail account. The only way to accomplish this is to create a new Gmail account and transfer the content you want to save to the new account. This can be done manually or automatically using a migration tool like VaultMe.
Can I change my Gmail address name and keep the same account?
This is only possible if you have a paid Google Workspace account and use your own domain name (i.e., your email address ends in @yourdomain.com). In all other cases, creating a new email address means creating a new account. However, you can transfer your content to the new account so that it's not stuck in your old account.
What happens to emails sent to my old address after I switch to a new one?
If you delete your old Gmail account, the email will not be delivered, and the sender will get a message explaining that the mailbox no longer exists. Ensure that you notify all your contacts of the Gmail name change before fully switching to the new account.
Are there any tools to help migrate data between Gmail accounts?
Yes, there are multiple applications for migrating emails between Gmail accounts. We recommend VaultMe because it creates as perfect an outcome as possible, but you can explore other tools as well.
Is my Google account different than my Gmail account?
No. If you have a Gmail account, then you have a Google account with access to all applications and services that a Google account offers. That includes Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides; Google Photos and Google Drive; YouTube, and others.
Can I create another Gmail account with the same name?
No, Gmail addresses cannot be reused. You'll need to pick up a different email name.
What is the easiest way to change your email address?
The easiest way to change your email address is to create a new account and then transfer your old email history from the old account to the new one. This will not replace your old email address with the new one in all services that you are using, but it will allow you to change the email account without losing years of email history.
Conclusion
"Can I change my Gmail email address?" has been a common question since Gmail's inception. In 2024, changing your Gmail address remains challenging, especially if you want to preserve all your Google account data, such as emails, contacts, Drive files, and calendars. While Google has yet to offer a way to change your Gmail address name while keeping your data intact, there are viable solutions available.
One option is to create a new Google account with your desired Gmail address and then manually transfer your data from the old account to the new one. This involves using Google Takeout to export and import your Gmail emails and utilizing third-party email clients like Thunderbird for the process. However, this manual approach can be complex and time-consuming.
Alternatively, you can use a tool like VaultMe, which simplifies the process by automating the transfer of your emails and label organization from your old Gmail account to the new one, making it a quick and hassle-free solution.
If creating a new account is not your preferred choice, you can explore alternatives like changing your Gmail display name or using the "Send mail as" feature to send emails from another email address while still using your primary Google account.
In summary, changing a Gmail address while preserving your data requires careful planning and execution. Whether you choose to do it manually or opt for automated solutions like VaultMe, with the right approach, you can successfully transition to a new Gmail address without losing your valuable data.
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Planning to transfer your Google Drive to another account? Our guide provides recommendations: How to Transfer Your Google Drive to Another Account in 2024.
Thinking of creating a one-time backup of your Google Drive files in another account? Explore your options: How to Back Up Google Drive to Another Account.
Need to transfer your company's email accounts to Google Workspace? Use VaultMe's migration guide: How to Migrate to Google Workspace: VaultMe's Step-by-Step Guide.
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