Google is rolling out a characteristic that permit customers to alter their Gmail tackle

Google simply unveiled a Christmas present for Gmail customers who’re nonetheless caught with their embarrassing e mail addresses from highschool.

In a long-requested change, account holders can now substitute their present @gmail.com tackle with a brand new one whereas retaining all knowledge and providers, based on an replace to Google’s account assist web page.

Nevertheless, the up to date steerage on e mail tackle modifications seems solely within the Hindi model of Google’s assist web page, suggesting the rollout might start in India or Hindi-speaking markets.

The assist web page stated the characteristic is regularly rolling out to all customers, suggesting full international adoption is coming, however might take a while.

The English-language web page retains prior steerage stating that @gmail.com addresses “normally can’t be modified.” Google didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s inquiry about which areas can be the primary to obtain the characteristic. 

Beneath the brand new coverage, customers who change their tackle will mechanically maintain their authentic tackle as an alias. Emails despatched to the outdated tackle will proceed to reach within the inbox, and the unique tackle will nonetheless work for signing in to Google providers like Drive, Maps and YouTube. 

Beforehand, customers searching for a brand new Gmail tackle needed to create a brand new account and switch their knowledge manually by means of an advanced and fraught course of that would disrupt integrations with third-party apps.

Google stated present knowledge, together with pictures, messages and emails would stay unchanged after an tackle replace. Customers may also reuse the outdated Google account e mail tackle at any time, based on a Google translation of the assist web page in Hindi.

Nevertheless, accounts that change their Gmail tackle will not be capable to create one other new Gmail tackle for the following 12 months and can’t delete the brand new chosen tackle. 

Google has not issued a proper press launch or announcement concerning the change, which was reportedly first found inside consumer boards and tech communities.