What "changing" your Gmail account means

Changing your Gmail account usually means one of three things: switching to a different Gmail address you already own, creating a brand new Gmail address, or moving your email to a completely different email provider. Gmail does not let you edit the username part of an existing address — @gmail.com stays the same — so if you want a different name, you need a new account.

The steps differ depending on which of these three you need to do. This guide covers all three paths, starting with the fastest option: switching between Gmail accounts you already own.

Key Takeaways

  • If you already own multiple Gmail addresses, you can switch between them by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner and selecting the account you want to use.
  • Creating a new Gmail address takes about five minutes and requires only a phone number or recovery email address for security.
  • Before you abandon an old Gmail account, download your emails and contacts so you do not lose them permanently.
  • If you want to use a different email provider entirely, you can forward your Gmail to that address or import Gmail into the new account.

Switching between Gmail accounts you already own

If you have created multiple Gmail addresses over the years, you can move between them without logging out and back in. Open Gmail and look at the top right corner of the screen — you will see a circle with your initial or profile picture inside it. Click that circle.

A menu will drop down showing all the Gmail accounts linked to your browser. Click the account name you want to switch to. Gmail will reload and show that account's inbox. You can now read mail, send messages, and manage settings for that account. To switch back, click the profile circle again and select a different account.

This method works as long as you remember the password to each account. If you have forgotten a password, you will need to recover it before you can switch to that account — use the "Forgot password?" link on the Gmail login page.

Creating a new Gmail address from scratch

Go to accounts.google.com/signup in your web browser. You will see a form asking for your first name, last name, desired Gmail username, and password. Type the username you want — this is the part that comes before @gmail.com. Gmail will tell you immediately if that name is already taken; if it is, try a variation with numbers or periods.

Next, create a strong password. Use at least eight characters, mixing uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Write it down somewhere safe or use a password manager to store it. You will need this password every time you log in.

Google will then ask for your phone number or a recovery email address. This is how Google helps you get back into your account if you forget your password. Enter a phone number you can access right now — Google will send you a text message with a verification code. Type that code into the form to confirm the number works.

Fill in your birth date and gender, then click "Next." Google will show you its terms of service. Read them if you want, then click "I agree" at the bottom. Your new Gmail account is now active. You can start using it immediately.

Moving your old emails and contacts to a new account

Before you stop using an old Gmail account, save the emails and contact list. This takes about 10 to 15 minutes and prevents you from losing years of messages.

To download your emails, log into the old account and go to takeout.google.com. This is Google's data export tool. You will see a list of Google services — Gmail should already be checked. Scroll down and make sure nothing else is selected unless you want to download it too. Click "Next step" at the bottom.

Google will ask how you want the file delivered. Choose "Send download link via email" and pick how often you want the link to work — 7 days is usually enough time. Click "Create export." Google will prepare your emails and send you a link by email. Click that link and download the file to your computer. It will be a .zip file containing all your Gmail messages.

To save your contacts separately, log into the old account and go to contacts.google.com. Click the three horizontal lines in the top left corner, then click "Export." Choose "Google CSV" format and click "Export." Your contacts will download as a .csv file that you can open in a spreadsheet or import into another email account later.

Forwarding mail from an old Gmail to a new one

If you want to keep using your old Gmail address but have messages automatically sent somewhere else, set up forwarding. Log into the old account and click the gear icon in the top right corner. Select "See all settings."

Click the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab. Click "Add a forwarding address" and type the new Gmail address you want messages sent to. Gmail will send a confirmation email to that new address — log into the new account, find the confirmation email from Gmail, and click the link inside it. Go back to the old account's settings and click "Confirm" next to the forwarding address.

Now choose whether you want Gmail to keep a copy of forwarded messages in the old account or delete them after forwarding. Most people choose to keep a copy. Click "Save changes" at the bottom. From now on, every email that arrives at the old address will automatically be sent to the new one.

Switching to a different email provider entirely

If you want to leave Gmail and use a different email service — Outlook, Yahoo, ProtonMail, or another provider — the process is similar to forwarding. First, create an account with the new provider following their sign-up steps. Then return to Gmail and set up forwarding to that new address using the steps above.

You can also import your Gmail contacts and old messages into the new account. Most email providers have an "Import" or "Migrate" option in their settings. You will need the .csv file of contacts and the .zip file of emails that you downloaded from takeout.google.com. Upload those files into the new account's import tool, and the new provider will copy them over.

Keep your Gmail account active for at least a month while you switch. This gives you time to update your password on websites and services that use that Gmail address for login. Once you are sure nothing important is still going to Gmail, you can delete the account — though Google recommends waiting six months before doing so, in case you need to recover something.

Recovering a Gmail account you cannot access

If you cannot log into an old Gmail account because you forgot the password or lost access to the phone number you used, go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. Type the Gmail address you are trying to recover and click "Next."

Google will ask you to enter the last password you remember. If you cannot remember any password, click "Try another way." Google will offer options like sending a code to your recovery email address or phone number. If you no longer have access to either of those, click "Try another way" again. Google may ask security questions you set up when you created the account, or it may ask you to verify your identity by uploading a photo of your ID.

This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several days depending on how much information Google needs to verify. Once you regain access, change your password immediately and update your recovery phone number and email address so you do not get locked out again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the username part of my Gmail address without creating a new account?

No. Gmail does not allow you to edit the part before @gmail.com. If you want a different username, you must create a new Gmail account. You can forward your old address to the new one so messages still reach you.

What happens to my old Gmail account if I stop using it?

Google will keep it active as long as you log in at least once every two years. If you do not log in for two years, Google may delete the account and all its contents. Before you stop using an account, download your emails and contacts using takeout.google.com and contacts.google.com.

Can I use the same password for multiple Gmail accounts?

Technically yes, but it is not safe. If someone guesses or steals that password, they can access all your accounts at once. Use a different strong password for each Gmail account. A password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password can help you remember them.

How long does it take to create a new Gmail account?

About five minutes. You need a name, desired username, password, and a phone number or recovery email for verification. Google will text or email you a code to confirm the phone number or email works, then your account is ready to use.

If I delete my Gmail account, can I get it back?

You have 30 days after deletion to recover it. After 30 days, Google permanently deletes the account and you cannot recover it. If you think you might need the account later, do not delete it — just stop using it and set up forwarding instead.