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How to Change and Update Your Primary Gmail Email Address

Your primary Gmail address is the email address you use to log in and access your Gmail account. It is also the address people use to send emails to you. If you want to update your primary Gmail address, either because your old email is outdated or you want to use a new one, there are a couple of ways to do it.

Why You May Want to Change Your Primary Email

There are a few common reasons you may want to update your primary Gmail address:

  • You have an old or unprofessional email address from years ago – For example, a childhood nickname or random string of numbers and letters. You likely want to update it to something more professional for work and personal communication.
  • You got married and changed your last name – In this case, you’ll probably want your new last name reflected in your email address.
  • You want to use a custom domain for a more professional look – For example, using [email protected] instead of a gmail.com address.
  • You’re consolidating multiple email addresses into one primary account – Maintaining fewer inboxes can help simplify your digital life.

Two Ways to Change Your Primary Gmail

There are two main methods to change your primary Gmail address:

1. Add a New Email Address and Set as Primary

This method allows you to keep your existing Gmail account while adding a new email that becomes the primary login.

Steps:

  • Log into your Gmail account
  • Click on the profile icon in the top right > Manage your Google Account
  • Under “Contact info”, click Add email address
  • Enter your new desired primary email address
  • Click Next and confirm the address is valid via a confirmation code
  • Once confirmed, open Gmail settings
  • Go to Accounts and Import > Send mail as
  • Set your new address as the “Default” for sending mail

Once these steps are complete, your new email will function as your primary Gmail login and display address.

2. Create Brand New Gmail Account

If you want a completely fresh start or your old account has issues, starting a new Gmail account is another option.

Steps:

  • Go to Gmail.com and click Create account
  • Enter your desired new primary email address
  • Complete the signup process by entering a password and agreeing to Google’s terms
  • Once your account is created, begin updating any accounts tied to your old address to use your new primary email instead

This route essentially migrates everything over to a separate new account. Just be sure to update any important sites, subscriptions, contacts, etc. about your new primary email.

Updating Other Accounts with New Primary Email

Once you officially change your primary Gmail address, an important next step is updating your other online accounts. Sites, services, and contacts that have your old address on file will need to be updated to ensure emails reach your new inbox going forward.

Some accounts you may need to update include:

  • Online banking and financial accounts
  • Social media profiles
  • Shopping sites and subscriptions
  • Professional profiles like LinkedIn
  • Contacts in your phone and email address books
  • Any sites with account recovery or password reset via email
  • Documents and accounts with your email listed for official purposes

Not updating these accounts can lead to losing access to password resets and missing important emails, so be thorough. Most sites make it easy to add or change a contact email, so methodically go through your accounts.

Redirecting Emails from Old Address

As you update accounts with your new primary Gmail address, any stragglers that don’t get updated right away can have emails forwarded automatically.

In Gmail settings:

  • Click on Forwarding and POP/IMAP
  • Enter your new primary email
  • Choose whether to keep Gmail’s copy in your old inbox or automatically delete
  • Save changes

This way any emails that arrive in your old inbox will automatically forward to your new primary address. Just leave the forwarding on until you’re fully transitioned and no longer need the old address.

Tips for Changing Primary Email Addresses

Changing your primary email that you’ve used for years can feel daunting, but following these tips can help:

  • Do it in stages – Add your new address first and give yourself time to update accounts before deleting an old inbox. Rushing can lead to missing updates.
  • Create a spreadsheet to track accounts you need to update for easy reference. Check them off as you go.
  • Verify important account changes by resetting passwords and ensuring the new email stuck. Don’t assume updates went through.
  • Let contacts know about your new email, especially those that email you directly the most.
  • Keep old emails forwarded for up to one year just in case you forgot to update any accounts.

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