Overview
- Google announced Tuesday that the feature is live for U.S. accounts after last year’s phased tests, saying all consumer users should now see the option.
- Choosing a new username preserves emails, photos, files, and purchases, and the old @gmail.com becomes an alias that still receives mail and can be used to sign in or send.
- Users can change their address once every 12 months with a lifetime cap of three, and previously used and deleted names are blocked to curb impersonation.
- Google warns that Chromebooks, third-party logins using Sign in with Google, and Chrome Remote Desktop may need extra steps, so it advises backing up important data first.
- The rollout remains staggered despite the U.S.-wide claim, with some accounts not seeing the toggle yet and no timeline announced for other countries such as Canada.