US Google users are finally getting a small but meaningful upgrade to their online identity: you can now change the username on your Google Account, including the bit before “@gmail.com” that you use to sign in to Gmail, Photos, Drive and other Google services. Google says it started rolling this out last year, and as of now, it’s available for all Google Account holders in the United States.

In simple terms, this means if you made a cringey Gmail ID back in school or your name has changed over time, you’re no longer stuck with that old handle forever. You’ll be able to pick a new, unique username, as long as it isn’t already taken by someone else. Once you change it, that updated username becomes your primary Google Account email, which you’ll use to sign in across Google’s apps and services.

Google is pointing users to its Help Center for the actual step‑by‑step flow, but the basic idea is straightforward: if you see the “Change Google Account email” option in your account settings, you can tap it, type in a new username, and confirm the change. The company has also published a short explainer video (below) showing the process in action for anyone who wants a visual walkthrough.

One thing to keep in mind is that this is rolling out specifically for U.S. users, so if your account is tied to another region, you might not see the option yet. And because usernames need to stay unique, some of the shorter or more common names will likely be snapped up quickly, so it’s worth grabbing the one you want as soon as the feature shows up for you.