Google is rolling out a feature that allows users to change their Gmail address

Google has announced a Christmas gift for Gmail users who are still using their embarrassing email address from high school.

The long-requested change will allow account holders to replace their existing @gmail.com address with a new address while retaining all their data and services, according to an update to Google’s account help page.

However, the latest guidance on changing email addresses only appears on the Hindi version of Google’s support page, suggesting the rollout may begin in India or Hindi-speaking markets.

The support page states that the feature is being gradually rolled out to all users, suggesting full global adoption, but it may take some time.

The English page retains previous guidance that @gmail.com addresses “generally cannot be changed.” google CNBC did not immediately respond to inquiries about which regions would receive the feature first.

With the new policy, users who change their address will automatically keep their original address as an alias. Emails sent to your old address will still arrive in your inbox, and your old address will still work to sign in to Google services like Drive, Maps, and YouTube.

Previously, users seeking a new Gmail address had to create a new account and manually transfer their data through a complex and difficult process that could disrupt integration with third-party apps.

Google said existing data, including photos, messages and emails, will not change after the address update. According to Google Translate on the Hindi support page, users can always reuse their old Google Account email address.

However, accounts that change their Gmail address will not be able to create another new Gmail address or delete their newly selected address for the next 12 months.

Google has not issued an official press release or announcement about this change, but the change was reportedly first spotted on user forums and within the technical community.