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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 current @gmail.com handle with a brand new one whereas retaining all knowledge and companies, in line with an replace to Google’s account assist web page.
Nevertheless, the up to date steerage on e mail handle 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 mentioned the characteristic is progressively rolling out to all customers, suggesting full world adoption is coming, however may take a while.
The English-language web page retains prior steerage stating that @gmail.com addresses “often can’t be modified.” Google didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s inquiry about which areas can be the primary to obtain the characteristic.
Below the brand new coverage, customers who change their handle will mechanically hold their authentic handle as an alias. Emails despatched to the previous handle will proceed to reach within the inbox, and the unique handle will nonetheless work for signing in to Google companies like Drive, Maps and YouTube.
Beforehand, customers in search of a brand new Gmail handle needed to create a brand new account and switch their knowledge manually via an advanced and fraught course of that would disrupt integrations with third-party apps.
Google mentioned current knowledge, together with pictures, messages, and emails would stay unchanged after an handle replace. Customers may reuse the previous Google Account e mail handle at any time, in line with a Google translation of the assist web page in Hindi.
Nevertheless, accounts that change their Gmail handle will not be capable to create one other new Gmail handle for the subsequent 12 months and can’t delete the brand new chosen handle.
Google has not issued a proper press launch or announcement concerning the change, which was reportedly first found inside person boards and tech communities.
