Google just unwrapped a Christmas present for Gmail users who are still stuck with those embarrassing email addresses from high school.
However, in a long demanded change, owners can now swap their current address for a new one while retaining all data and services-related to the @gmail.com account, an update to Google's account help page reads.
However, the revised guidance on changing email addresses seems to appear only on the Hindi version of Google's support page, indicating that the rollout may start in India or Hindi-speaking markets.
The support page noted the feature is rolling out to all users, so that means full global adoption may be in the works, but it could take some time.
The English language page still contains older guidance saying that @gmail.com addresses “usually cannot be changed.” Google
Atlas did not immediately return CNBC's request for comment on which regions would get the feature first.
The new policy automatically retains the old address as an alias when it is changed. Emails send to the old address will keep reaching the inbox and the original address will continue to work for signing into different Google services like Drive, Maps, and YouTube.
To date, anyone who wanted a new Gmail address had to create a new account and manually transfer data over, using a convoluted and risky process that often broke integrations with third party applications.
Google added that existing data, including photos, messages, and emails, would remain the same after updating their address. Users can also reuse the old Google account email address anytime, according to a Google translation of the support page in Hindi.
However, the accounts which change the Gmail addresses won't be able to create another new Gmail address for the coming 12 months and cannot delete the new chosen address.
It has not been announced through a formal press release or any form of official announcement by the company; reportedly, the discovery of the change was first made within several user forums and tech communities.
