Google announced Wednesday that Gmail users can now change their email addresses without losing data, ending two decades of being stuck with regrettable usernames. The feature allows people to update their handles while maintaining access to their inboxes, cloud storage, and all connected services.

This change addresses a long-standing pain point since Gmail's 2004 launch when email addresses were simply email addresses. Today, Gmail credentials serve as keys to Netflix accounts, bill payments, news subscriptions, and cloud storage platforms. The update comes as generative AI becomes more integrated into Gmail's functionality.

The policy change has been in development since last year, with Google quietly testing it earlier this year. Users are limited to one address change every 12 months. While some users like legal analyst Bailey Moon have no interest in revisiting their embarrassing past handles, others see this as an opportunity to finally align their email addresses with their professional identities.