Google has begun rolling out a feature to U.S. users that lets them change their Gmail address without creating a new one.

TechCrunch reported on March 31 that Google has started officially distributing the ability to change an email address for the first time in more than 20 years since Gmail launched. The feature targets U.S. users.

The key change is that existing account data and mail remain even if the account username is changed. Users with the feature enabled can go to Google Account settings and navigate to "Privacy → Email → Google Account email" to find a "Change Google Account email" button. Google said users can press the button to start the username change process.

Google does not allow unlimited changes. Google said usernames can be changed only once every 12 months, and the newly set email address cannot be deleted during that period. This is seen as an operating policy intended to reduce account theft or confusion from frequent changes.

It also does not mean abandoning an existing Gmail address. Google said a user's old email will be preserved and remain as an alternate address for the account. Users can log in to Google services with both the old address and the new address. The design is intended to prevent an address change from immediately cutting off contacts.

The rollout itself is being assessed as significant for user convenience. Until now, Gmail addresses could not be changed once created, forcing users to open new accounts and move data or manage multiple addresses when their name or workplace or school changed, or when they worried about personal information exposure. The feature lowers such barriers.

How quickly the feature expands in actual use remains uncertain. Whether it will expand beyond the United States, and how Google will guide users on account-linking issues that could arise in third-party services such as apps and websites when changing an address, are factors that will shape the user experience. For now, Google has focused on lowering switching costs by keeping existing addresses as alternate addresses and allowing logins with both.