Before I could realise the importance of having a personal email ID, I had already linked my whacky Gmail userID to my IT-related cards, phone number, social security ID, financial institutions in addition to work-related acquantainces as well.

Most people, including me, felt helpless and found it very tedious to create a new Gmail ID and re-link the new Gmail ID to all personal govt IDs. Now, Gmail, as it celebrates its 22nd anniversary (launched on April 1, 2004), has introduced a new option for users to create a new User ID and also keep the old ID.

Five important points to note about the new changes in Gmail:

1) When the user changes his/her 'Google Account' email address, the old username will continue to remain active as an alias. It will continue to be linked to the new @gmail.com account. With this, the user will continue to receive emails at both the old and new email addresses, but will have one inbox.

2) Important photos and videos in the Google Photos, files in the Google Drive, Google Sheets and other workspace accounts will continue to be accessible on both Gmail accounts. Nobody will be able to create a new account with the old discarded username.

3) If the user wants to revert to the old @gmail.com user ID or try to once again change email ID, they will have to wait for 12 months.

4) This is a very important point. If the user has linked his/her '@gmail.com ID' to other online accounts such as Facebook, Apple ID, Instagram, WhatsApp, Aadhaar (in India), users are advised to proceed with caution.

Some offer the option for users to change their email. However, if the third-party apps or services don't offer the option to switch to new email ID, then users are advised not to proceed with changing to a new Gmail ID.

Here's how to change your Gmail ID address:

Step 1: Access Settings: Go to myaccount.google.com/google-account-email on a browser.

Step 2: Tap Personal info > Email > Google Account email.

Step 3: Then, select Change Google Account email, enter the new username, and confirm.

If you don't see the option -- 'Change Google Account email', it means this feature is not yet available in your region.

Google's new feature is being rolled out in phases, so it will take some time to reach all corners of the world.

If you want to just change the username for the Gmail ID, here's how to do it:

Step 1: Sign in to your Google Account.

Step 2: At the top left, click Personal info.

Step 3: Click Name.

Step 4: Next to your current name, click Edit and then.

Step 5: Update your name.

Step 6: Click Save.