Google is preparing a significant update to Gmail that would allow users to change their email address without closing their existing account, according to reports cited by people familiar with the plans.
The feature is expected to be introduced in 2026.
At present, Gmail users who want a different address must create a new account, then manually move emails, contacts, and files. The proposed update would remove that requirement and allow users to keep all account data while adopting a new Gmail address.
Under the reported plan, users would be able to access the option through Gmail’s account settings. After selecting a new address, subject to availability and Google’s rules, the account would continue to function as before. Emails, contacts, attachments, and linked services would remain unchanged.
The update may also include a notification tool to inform contacts of the new address, helping to reduce missed messages during the transition.
“This is a change many users have asked for over the years,” said one person familiar with the development, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans are not yet public. “It is designed to make long-term accounts easier to manage as people’s personal or professional needs change.”
The feature is expected to be especially useful for users who created informal email addresses while in school and later found them unsuitable for work or business use. It may also appeal to people who want their email address to better reflect a name change or a professional identity.
Google has not officially confirmed the update. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment on future product features, saying only that Google “regularly evaluates ways to improve its services for users.”
If released as described, the change would mark a major shift in how Gmail accounts are managed. It would allow users to update their email identity without losing years of messages or disrupting access to other Google services tied to the same account.
The planned 2026 rollout suggests the feature is still under development, and details could change before any public launch.
