Where to find the email change option
The steps to change your email address depend on which service you use, but the setting is almost always in your account settings or profile page. You will not find it in the main menu — it lives in a section labeled "Account," "Settings," "Profile," or sometimes "Security."
On most websites and apps, you reach account settings by clicking your name or profile picture in the top right corner of the screen. On your phone, look for a gear icon or three horizontal lines (called a menu). Once you are in settings, search for "Email" or "Change email" — the exact wording varies, but the concept is the same everywhere.
Key Takeaways
- Your email change option is in account settings, usually found by clicking your profile picture or name in the top right corner.
- Most services require you to verify your current email address before you can change it, so you must still have access to your old email.
- You will need to confirm the new email address by clicking a link or entering a code that the service sends to it.
- Change your email before you lose access to the old one, because you may not be able to recover your account afterward.
- If you have already lost access to your old email, contact the service's support team with proof of identity before attempting to change it.
The verification step you cannot skip
Almost every service requires you to verify your current email address before changing it. This means you will receive an email at your old address with a link or code. You must click that link or enter that code to prove you actually own the account.
This is a security measure — it prevents someone else from changing your email and locking you out. If you no longer have access to your old email address, you will need to use your account recovery options instead, which usually involve answering security questions or providing a phone number you registered with the account.
Confirming your new email address
After you verify your old email, the service will send a confirmation message to your new email address. Open that message and click the link or enter the code it contains. Until you complete this step, your email address has not actually changed — the system is waiting for proof that you can receive messages at the new address.
Check your spam or junk folder if you do not see the confirmation email within a few minutes. Some email providers filter out automated messages. If the email never arrives, go back to your account settings and request a new confirmation email.
What happens to your old email after the change
Once you have successfully changed your email, the old address is no longer connected to your account. The service will send all future messages — password resets, notifications, receipts — to your new email instead. You do not need to do anything with the old email address; you can leave it as is or delete it.
However, if you created accounts on other websites using that old email address, those accounts are still tied to it. Changing your email in one place does not change it everywhere. You will need to repeat this process for each service where you want to use a different email.
If you cannot access your old email anymore
If you have already lost access to your old email address — because you forgot the password, the account was deleted, or the email provider shut it down — you cannot complete the normal verification step. Instead, you will need to use your account's recovery options.
Most services offer recovery through a phone number, a backup email address, or security questions you answered when you created the account. Go to the login page and look for a link that says "Can't access your account" or "Forgot password." Follow the recovery steps, and once you have regained access to your account, you can change the email address normally.
If you cannot remember your security answers and no longer have access to your backup phone number or email, contact the service's support team. You will likely need to provide proof of identity — a photo ID, a credit card number associated with the account, or answers to questions about your account history.
Common mistakes that lock you out
The biggest mistake is changing your email address and then immediately deleting or abandoning your old email account. If something goes wrong with the change, or if you need to recover your account later, you will have no way back in. Wait at least a week after successfully changing your email before you close the old account.
Another common problem is typing your new email address incorrectly. Double-check it before you submit the change — one wrong letter means the confirmation email will go to the wrong place, and you will not be able to complete the process. Read it out loud or copy it from somewhere you know it is correct.
Do not assume the change is complete until you have clicked the confirmation link in your new email. Many people think they are done after entering the new address, but the account still uses the old email until you verify the new one.
Changing email on specific services
While the general process is the same everywhere, a few popular services have slightly different layouts. On Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com, click "Personal info" on the left, find "Email," and click "Change email address." On Facebook, click the downward arrow in the top right, select "Settings & privacy," then "Settings," then look for "Email" under "Personal information." On Microsoft accounts, visit account.microsoft.com, click "Your info," then "Manage your email aliases."
If you use a work or school email account, your organization may have locked down the email change option. Contact your IT department or help desk — they may need to change it for you or may have a different process than consumer accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my email without access to the old one?
Not through the normal process, but you can use your account recovery options instead. You will need to verify your identity through a phone number, backup email, or security questions. If you cannot do any of that, contact support with proof of identity.
How long does it take to change my email?
The change is usually instant once you click the confirmation link in your new email. However, it can take a few minutes for the confirmation email to arrive, especially if it goes to your spam folder. The entire process typically takes less than 10 minutes.
Will changing my email affect my password?
No. Your password stays the same — only the email address changes. You will still log in with your username or old email and your existing password. Some services let you use either your old or new email to log in for a short period after the change.
What if I change my email by mistake?
Go back to your account settings and change it again. As long as you still have access to the email address you just changed it to, you can change it back to the original one or to a different address. Follow the same verification process.
Do I need to update my email anywhere else after changing it?
Yes. If you use this email to log into other accounts, to receive bills, or to contact customer support, you should update it in those places too. The email change only affects the one account you changed it on — other services will not know about it automatically.