Choose which email addresses you use to do things like sign in to your Google Account, get back into your account if you lose access, and get information from Google.
Google Account email
This is the main email address for your Google Account. When you create a Google Account, it's set as your primary email. You can choose a different primary email if you like.
To change your Google Account email:
- Go to your Google Account.
- Click Personal info.
- Click Email
Google Account email.
- If you can't open this setting, you might not be able to change your email or username. Learn how to change the email address for your account.
- Follow the steps on the screen.
Google Account email.
Other emails
Recovery emailIf you forget your password or get locked out, to quickly and securely get back into your account, add a recovery email.
- Go to your Google Account.
- Click Personal info.
- Click Email.
- Under "Recovery email", click Add recovery email.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Important: Some Google products still use your Google Account email even if you add a contact email.
When there’s something important that you need to know about your Google Account or the products you use, like YouTube, Google notifies you at your contact email. By default, Google uses your Google Account email to contact you unless you add a contact email.
This email address can be from any email provider, but it should be one you check frequently.
- Go to your Google Account.
- Click Personal info.
- Click Email.
- Under "Contact email," click the
- Click Add other email.
- Add your contact email address.
- Check your inbox for your verification email and open it.
- Click Verify contact email.
You can add an email that isn’t a Gmail address to your account. You can use it to sign in, get your password back, and more.
- Go to your Google Account.
- Click Personal info.
- Click Email.
- Under "Alternate emails," click Add alternate email.
- Enter an email you own.
- Click Add.
These email addresses are from your "About me" page. You can choose who can find these emails across Google products like Drive or Photos.
- Go to your Google Account.
- Click Personal info.
- Click Email.
- Under "About me emails", click Add About me email.
- Click Save.
- Below your email address, next to “Choose who can see your email," click Only you or Anyone.
- You can also edit or remove your email address.
Learn more about controlling what others find about you across Google products.
When we’ll send you emails
We'll use your email address to communicate with you in certain situations. For example, we'll email you when we need to:
- Help you get into your account when you can’t sign in or forget your password.
- Send you important security-related information about your account. This includes when there’s unusual activity with your email address.
- Send you updates about your account. For example, when you’re running out of space or when we’ve changed a policy.
- Send you a receipt for what you bought in the Play Store.
- Send you updates about Google products and services that you've asked to receive.
