Many Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone users are facing the need to change their primary mailbox, whether it’s because they’re buying a new device, wanting to separate personal from work, or simply needing a more professional address. However, in the Android ecosystem and the MIUI or HyperOS shell, this process has its own nuances that are important to consider so that you don’t lose access to data.
Unlike simple social media profile settings, changing your primary Google account requires a series of actions to be performed consistently. An incorrect step order can cause some apps to stop syncing or disappear purchases on Google Play. In this guide, we will detail the secure algorithm for replacing a mailing address.
It is worth noting that it is technically impossible to “rename” an existing @gmail.com address. You cannot change part of the address to the “dog” symbol. The only working option is to create a new account and transfer data or completely replace the account in the system settings. Change of address is possible only when using corporate domains Google Workspace, where the administrator can rename the user, but for ordinary Gmail boxes this is not available.
Why you can’t just rename your current Gmail account
Users often search for the Change User Name button in their settings, but they don't find it. This is because of Google's security architecture. The email address is a unique identifier across the search giant's entire service system. If you could easily change the identifiers, it would create huge security holes and database confusion.
When you register a username@gmail.com box, that address is permanently attached to you, even if you stop using it. A unique ID is tied to your search history, geolocation, purchased apps and YouTube subscriptions. Trying to change the very structure of the address is like creating a new digital identity.
The only thing you can change without creating a new box is the name you see, and that's what the recipients of your emails see in the "From Who" box, so you go to your Google account settings through your browser and edit your profile, but the login address will remain the same.
⚠️ Warning: Don't try to use third-party apps to "rename" Gmail.Such programs don't have access to Google servers and may just steal your credentials.
Preparation for the replacement of the account on Xiaomi
Before deleting an old account from a Xiaomi phone, careful preparation is needed: Deleting a Google account from a device automatically erases synchronized contacts, calendars and notes with it unless they are stored separately.Redmi and POCO owners should be especially careful about syncing with Mi Cloud.
It is recommended to create a new inbox in advance, if you do not already have one, this can be done directly in the Gmail app or through the browser. After registering a new address, make sure you remember the password and link the phone number for recovery.
It is also critical to check which apps are using the old account to work, whether it is banking apps, instant messengers or corporate clients. Two-factor authentication is often tied to the main email, and losing access to it can block login to other services.
☑️ Preparing for account change
Be sure to check your subscription status. If your old account has Google One, YouTube Premium, or in-game currency, it won’t automatically transfer, you’ll either have to cancel it or re-register it to a new address.
Step-by-step: Adding a new account
The process of adding a new address to Android on Xiaomi smartphones is standardized, but has its own peculiarities depending on the version of the shell. First, we will add a new box without removing the old one to check its health.
Open the Settings app on your device. Scroll down to Accounts and Sync (some versions of MIUI may simply refer to this as Users and ACCA AUNTS). In the menu that opens, you will see a list of all services associated with the phone.
Click Add an account, which is usually located at the bottom of the screen or in the three-dot menu. From the list, select the Google logo. The system will ask you to verify your identity using a screen unlock pin or fingerprint.
- 📧 Enter the address. newly_created_email@gmail.com and press "Next».
- 🔑 Enter the password from the new box and pass the security check.
- 📜 Accept the terms of use of Google services by clicking through the agreements.
- 🔄 Wait for the synchronization of contacts and calendar to end.
Once successfully added, the new account will appear in the list, and you can now switch between them in the Gmail, Google Play and YouTube apps, but to become the main one for installing applications and system services, the old address will have to be deleted.
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If you add an account, you may have a “Disconnected” error, check the date and time on your device. Incorrect system time often blocks your connection to Google’s security servers.
Delete an old Google account from your device
The most important step is to delete the old profile. On Xiaomi devices, this action does not delete the Google account itself forever (the data will remain on Google servers), but completely removes it from the phone.
Go back to Settings → Accounts and Sync. Find the Gmail address you plan to replace on the list. Click on it to open the details.
At the bottom of the screen or in the option menu (three dots in the corner), select Delete Account. The system will issue a warning that all messages, contacts and other data associated with this account on this device will be deleted. Confirm the action by entering a pattern lock or password.
| Action. | The result on the device | Google’s impact on the cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Deletion of account | Data disappears from the phone | Data is retained |
| Resetting settings | Completely cleaning the phone | Data is retained |
| Shutting down synchronization | Data stops being updated | Data is retained |
| Account lockdown | Entrance is impossible anywhere | Data is blocked |
Once deleted, the old account will disappear from the list. If you want the new address to become the primary Google Play address, open the app store, click on the profile avatar in the corner, and switch to the newly added inbox. Apps downloaded to the old account may require password updates or re-authorization.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with enabled protection FRP (Factory Reset Protection: Deleting your account before selling your phone is mandatory.If you just reset your settings without deleting your account, the new owner won't be able to activate the phone without your password.
Setting up the Gmail application and synchronization
Once a new account is added and active, you need to configure the Gmail app for a comfortable experience. By default, the app can continue to show emails from the old inbox unless you switch the view.
Open the Gmail app. Click on the round avatar in the top right corner. Here you'll see a list of all the profiles added. You can select a specific browsing box or click All to see the combined inbox.
To set up notifications, go to Settings inside the Gmail app. Select a new account. You can set the frequency of email checks, notification sounds and signatures here. For business correspondence, you should create a separate signature with a new contact email.
- 🔔 Make sure Gmail sync is enabled for your new account in system settings.
- 📂 Set up filters and shortcuts if you are used to a particular folder structure.
- 🎨 Choose a theme to visually distinguish the new profile from the old one.
It’s important to check Google Drive and Google Photos, and often these services continue to use the old account for default backups, go to the settings of each of these apps and make sure that the new address is selected as the primary address.
Solving problems when changing email
The process of changing an account does not always go smoothly. Xiaomi users often face aggressive optimization of the MIUI battery, which can block synchronization of the new drawer. If emails do not come, check the energy saving settings.
Go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Go to Gmail and Google Play Services. Go to Energy Saving and select Unlimited mode, which will allow the system to freely share data with servers.
Another common problem is the contact sync error: If new contacts are not saved, check which account is the default to save. When you create a new contact in the phone book, always check the Account field.
What if your phone requires a password from your old account after a reset?
If you use corporate email through Microsoft Exchange or other services, your settings may require you to update your security policies, and you may need to re-accept the organization’s administrator terms when you first sign in from your new primary account.
Data transfer and completion of the setup
The final step is to transfer important data, and because contacts and calendars are synced through the cloud, they should automatically appear on a new account if you have previously exported/imported or simply added both accounts at the same time.
The situation is more complicated when you move your purchased apps, and Google Play app licenses are tied to your buyer account, you can't officially transfer your purchased app to another account, but you can leave your old account on your phone just to update your apps, making it secondary.
Google Play allows you to set up Family Sharing to share purchases between accounts, but that doesn’t work for all apps. For photos, the best way is to use the Partnering feature in Google Photos to automatically transfer pictures from your old account to your new one.
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Do not delete your old account permanently (don’t block it) for 1-2 months until you make sure that all services have moved to the new address.
After all the settings are complete, it is recommended to restart the device, which will allow the Android system and the MIUI shell to re-index files and establish background synchronization of all services with the new main profile.