Can I keep my email address (2024)

This depends on your provider. Some let you keep your email address and provide free access through the web. Others stop you taking it or charge if you want to keep it after moving.

The reason is that an email address is based on a domain. For example, if your email address is name@email.com the part after the @ is the domain, and it is owned by a particular company. So if you move from the company that owns that domain to another one, the first company will either close your account or charge you to access it.

Think of it like moving house. You can’t keep having your mail delivered to your old address because someone else owns it now. But getting webmail, such as Gmail or Outlook, is like getting a PO box: you can bypass the whole situation (although, unlike a PO box, these email services are free).

We recommend signing up to an email account from a web-based service from a major provider. These email accounts are packed with features; have large, free, storage allowances; and there is no chance your email address will be deleted when you switch broadband provider.

Moving to a web-based, free email address will make you ISP-independent, while also ridding you of lots of junk mail.

You can sign up for a Gmail or Outlook account by clicking below.

Get a free Gmail account

Get a free Outlook (Microsoft) account

Spark or Telecom email address

Spark charges you to keep your email address if you don’t have a Spark connection. This costs roughly $5 a month.

Vodafone email addresses

Vodafone has announced it will close its email accounts on 30 November. This includes all email addresses ending in vodafone.co.nz, vodafone.net.nz, ihug.co.nz, paradise.net.nz and clear.net.nz. Vodafone is encouraging customers to sign up for a Google Gmail or Microsoft Outlook email address and is offering an auto-forwarding service.

Other email addresses

Other providers have different policies. We can’t list them all but it is very important to find out exactly what happens and what you should do before your switch goes live with your new broadband provider. We recommend not getting tied into an ISP’s email address – make the change now and get a webmail address.

How to move your email address

If you are looking to move ISP/email address and don’t want to be tied to an old email where you have to pay for the service, here’s a simple process to ease the migration.

1. Set up a new, free, web-based email account.

2. Set up a forwarding rule on your old paid-for email, and have that account forward all messages to your new email.

3. Notify your contacts you are changing email addresses.

4. Remind people who still send messages to your old email account that you are switching (give a clear deadline).

5. Send a final reminder a week before the deadline.

6. Pull the plug on your old email account at the deadline and have a new, clean and clear email life!

Can I keep my email address (2024)

FAQs

Can I keep my email address? ›

Remember, once you discontinue service with your old ISP, your @ISP.com email address and mailbox go away. So, you won't be able to keep that address alive. However, you can keep two addresses active if you are going from a neutral email provider such as Yahoo or Gmail or another non-ISP email address.

Can you keep your email address if you change providers? ›

Remember, once you discontinue service with your old ISP, your @ISP.com email address and mailbox go away. So, you won't be able to keep that address alive. However, you can keep two addresses active if you are going from a neutral email provider such as Yahoo or Gmail or another non-ISP email address.

How do I change my email address and keep emails? ›

Let's explore each of these steps in detail.
  1. Create a Free Email Account. ...
  2. Change All Online Accounts Linked to Old Email Address. ...
  3. Set up Forwarding. ...
  4. Create an Auto-responder. ...
  5. Manage and Export Contacts. ...
  6. Email Your Contacts. ...
  7. Save Important Emails. ...
  8. Delete Your Remaining Emails.
Mar 9, 2023

Can I keep my email address if I switch to Gmail? ›

Luckily, you can switch to Gmail and still send emails that display your old address in the "From" field.

How do I change my email address without losing anything? ›

5 Simple Ways to Change your Gmail address (Without Losing Your...
  1. Change your Gmail address from your Google account.
  2. Create a new Gmail address and set up a redirection.
  3. Add an alias to your Gmail account.
  4. Change your name in Gmail.
  5. Add or remove dots to your Gmail address.
Feb 25, 2023

Can I have the same email address on two different email providers? ›

Most email providers offer "email aliases" which can let you use separate addresses for the same inbox. For example, a husband and wife sharing the email address "smithinspections@gmail.com" could also receive emails at "smithinspections+john@gmail.com" and at "smithinspections+jane@gmail.com".

Can you have 2 email providers? ›

Split Domain Routing (SDR) is a term used to describe how users with email addresses in the same domain can receive emails at two different email service providers.

How do I inform everyone of my new email address? ›

Tell your contacts, but bcc: please

Then you need to tell everyone about the change. Using your new address, send an email to everyone in your address book—friends, relatives, and business associates. Address the message to yourself (again, with the new address), and BCC everyone else.

What is the difference between an email address and an email account? ›

That email address is used to communicate your emails. Difference between email I'd and email address : Email ID : When you're not on a particular network, your email ID account is used to authenticate you.

What is the difference between email and Gmail? ›

Gmail is a free service that is web-based. It allows its users to receive and send electronic messages by using either the web or the third-party apps through IMAP or POP protocols. Email is only a general term that describes electronic mail.

When should I change my email address? ›

After some period of time, it should be safe to delete or disable your old email address. Some people wait as long as one year to ensure all entities, including state and local taxes and bills, have been changed. In addition, as soon as you perform these steps, you should not send any email from your old email address.

What is the best way to move email from one Gmail account to another? ›

Move emails from one Gmail account to another
  1. Open your new Gmail account.
  2. Click on the gear icon in the top right and click on Settings.
  3. Click on Accounts and Import.
  4. Click on Import mail and contacts.
  5. In the pop-up window, enter your old email address, and click on Continue.
Apr 18, 2017

Which is the safest email account to use? ›

Let's break down the top 14 secure email providers, including their key features and pricing.
  1. ProtonMail. ProtonMail is the most well-known secure email provider. ...
  2. Mailbox.org. ...
  3. HubSpot. ...
  4. Zoho Mail. ...
  5. Tutanota. ...
  6. Posteo. ...
  7. Thexyz. ...
  8. PrivateMail.
May 4, 2023

How do you put a new email address? ›

Add or remove your account

On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app . In the top right, tap your profile picture. Tap Add another account. Choose the type of account you want to add.

How many email accounts should you have? ›

The Sweet Spot. Having two email accounts and using filters and folders is a good compromise if you want to keep your personal and professional communications separate but still want to have better management of individual emails.

Why do people have multiple email accounts? ›

Why Have Multiple Email Accounts? Multiple email accounts can include personal, professional, temporary, and “throwaway” ones. These types of accounts are often used to protect your identity, especially if you tend to signup to use forums, social networking and other online activities with an email address.

How many email accounts can I have with one phone number? ›

You can have up to four Gmail accounts verified with the same phone number. Even though some of us might need to exceed this limit, this is not possible due to security measures that help to keep the internet a safer environment.

How can I have two email addresses on one account? ›

How Do I Have Multiple Gmail Accounts in One Inbox?
  1. Gmail inbox. ...
  2. Gmail 'Accounts and Import' settings. ...
  3. Gmail 'Add another email address you own' setting. ...
  4. Verify your other email address. ...
  5. Switch between different Google accounts. ...
  6. Go to your other Gmail account's inbox. ...
  7. Click the verification email link.
Jan 30, 2023

Should I use more than one email address? ›

Multiple email addresses and your security

If done correctly, having different email accounts for different purposes can help you avoid spam and phishing emails and offer protection when you use online services.

Is it a good idea to have two email addresses? ›

The most important reason to have at least two emails is for security. If you use the same address for every website, it will only take one breach to compromise all your accounts. By contrast, using multiple will limit how much damage a hacker can do by breaking into one email account.

What is a better email than Gmail? ›

Proton Mail is one of the most secure and easy-to-use Gmail alternatives. It's not only an email service but also a calendar, cloud storage, and a VPN. Let's look at what makes Proton stand out from the Gmail competition: Proton's security claims are verified by independent tech experts.

What is the safest email provider that is free? ›

Answer: If you want a secure email service provider, which is available for free, then you should look for the features offered by ProtonMail, Zoho Mail, Mailfence, Tutanota, Librem Mail, and Kolab Now. These are some of the most secure free email services providers.

What is the easiest email account to set up? ›

The following are 7 of the best free email accounts you can sign up for right now.
  1. Gmail. You knew Google was going to top this list, right? ...
  2. 2. Yahoo Mail. A few years ago, Yahoo Mail never would have made it on this list. ...
  3. Outlook.com. ...
  4. ProtonMail. ...
  5. GMX Email. ...
  6. AOL Mail. ...
  7. Yandex Mail.
Mar 31, 2019

How do you address someone in an email without knowing who? ›

The salutation of a formal email is similar to the salutation of a letter. When writing to someone you do not know by name, you put “To Whom it May Concern.” When applying for a job, you would address the person by, “Dear Hiring Manager.” If you do know the recipient's name, you put “Dear Mr./Ms.

How do I send an email without everyone seeing my address? ›

Add the Bcc box to your email if it isn't there already

In an open message, on the Message Options or Options tab, in the Fields or Show Fields group, click Show Bcc or Bcc.

How do I keep my old emails when I change providers? ›

Overview of how to transfer email address to another provider
  1. Sign up with the new provider / host. ...
  2. Create the exact same email address on the new server.
  3. Redirect your domain name – point it at the new server.
  4. Configure your email tool to receive/send emails using the new server.
  5. Clean up the old server.
Dec 30, 2022

Is your Gmail the same as your email? ›

Email is nothing but electronic communication that may or may not contain text, graphics, and documents. Gmail is nothing but an Email client that can be used to send and receive Emails. Email is comparatively less secure than Gmail. Gmail is more secure as it has virus protection, spam filtering, etc.

Is a Gmail account an email address? ›

A Gmail account is a free Google account with an email address that ends in @gmail.com.

What are the three types of email address? ›

What are the Different Types of Email Accounts? If you have an email account for your business, you probably have one of the three main email account types which are POP, IMAP, and Microsoft Exchange.

Is Gmail still the best email? ›

Some webmail clients that provide paid services include Zoho, Gmail, Hushmail, and ProtonMail. Gmail is the overall best email service. Outlook is good for multiple app integrations. Yahoo has good spam blocking capabilities. Zoho Mail is the best option for home businesses.

What happens when I delete Gmail? ›

What happens when you delete your Gmail service. Your emails and mail settings will be deleted. You can no longer use your Gmail address to send or receive email. If you change your mind, you may be able to get your Gmail address back.

Does Gmail charge for email? ›

Gmail - Free Storage and Email from Google.

Should I delete an old email address? ›

If you decide that your old, inactive email accounts are more trouble than they're worth, you can simply delete them. Obviously you'll want to make sure you've saved any important old emails, contact information, photos, etc.

Do email addresses expire? ›

E-mail expires or disables with inactivity

Many free online e-mail services disable or delete an e-mail account that is not in use for so many days. For example, users who do not log into their e-mail account at least once every thirty-days can have their accounts deactivated.

How many years of emails should you keep? ›

Email retention periods vary considerably for different data types. Most federal and state email retention laws require email data to be retained for between 3 and 7 years, although there are exceptions and certain types of data may have do be retained for much longer, even indefinitely.

Can two Gmail Accounts have the same email address? ›

While you generally can only have one username and email address associated with your Gmail account, you can use variations of your address to receive mail.

Can I transfer my emails to another account? ›

The good news is that it's possible to transfer everything from your old email account to a new one. But first, you'll need to create your new email account and ensure it's up and running. Once you're done, you can transfer emails from an old account to a new one across various email clients.

Can I transfer a Gmail email address to someone else? ›

A Freeway to Transfer Gmail Address to Another Person
  1. Start your Gmail account and go to the gear icon on the top.
  2. Now, select the Settings option in the File menu.
  3. Click the Accounts and Imports tab as shown in the image.
  4. Choose “Grant access to your account” section and tap on Add another account.
May 16, 2023

What email gets hacked the least? ›

Best secure email providers in 2023:
  • ProtonMail - Secure email provider with the best price and privacy ratio.
  • Startmail – Best email for desktop-only users.
  • Tutanota - Best secure email for any device.
  • Zoho Mail - Part of the best B2B security product suite.
  • Thexyz - Excellent suite of features.
Jan 19, 2023

Which is more secure Yahoo or Gmail? ›

Google has a better track record of security with Yahoo having one of the largest data breaches back in 2016 on 500 million accounts. Plus, Gmail does a better job of forcing you into using stronger passwords, setting up two-step authentication, and has a session expiry to prevent you from getting hacked.

Which is safer Gmail or Apple Mail? ›

Verdict. So, which service is right for you? If you already use Apple products, then iCloud email may be the best choice. However, Google's long-standing reputation for security and its integration with productivity apps give Gmail the edge.

How do I set up a new email address for free? ›

To create a free Gmail account go to the official Gmail website. You will need to click on 'create account' and fill in the form that will appear, entering a password and a few details. Review Google's Terms of Service and then click Next. You can then set some recovery questions.

Will I lose my Verizon email if I switch to Comcast? ›

If you switch to Comcast, you will generally not be able to keep your Verizon email address. This is because email addresses are tied to the internet service provider (ISP) that provides the email service.

What happens to my email when I cancel optimum? ›

Upon termination of an account, Optimum may delete any files, programs, data, and email messages associated with such account.

Can I keep my email address if I leave AOL? ›

Canceling your paid plan and changing to the free AOL plan gives you continued access to your AOL email and allows you to sign in to other AOL websites. Visit MyAccount.aol.com.

What happens to my email if I cancel Spectrum? ›

Not every I.S.P. will let you keep your email address when you leave — Comcast and AT&T allow you to keep your email as long as you want (though Comcast requires you to log in at least once every 90 days), while Spectrum will disconnect your email service along with your internet service.

Is verizon discontinuing email? ›

Verizon has retired our email service. We have completed our notifications regarding this change, and customers no longer have the option to keep their Verizon.net email address or extract and move their data to another service provider. For support and help with your email, please contact your email provider directly.

Can I keep my verizon email address if I cancel? ›

Hello, You can have your E-mail address,however if there are Emails stored in your E-mail box on the server,that would be deleted.

Can I keep my Comcast email forever? ›

As a former Xfinity customer, you can still use your Xfinity Email address if you logged in to your account using the Xfinity Email website in the 90 days prior to disconnecting your service. Your email account will remain active if you access it using the Xfinity Email website at least once every nine months.

What happens to my email when I cancel Comcast? ›

When you disconnect Xfinity service, you still get to keep your Xfinity Email account(s); however, you'll only have access to your Xfinity Email if you have logged in to your account(s) using the Xfinity Email website within 90 days of disconnecting service.

What happens to emails when you close an account? ›

Your emails and mail settings will be deleted. You can no longer use your Gmail address to send or receive email.

What happens when I remove my email account? ›

You'll lose all the data and content in that account, like emails, files, calendars, and photos. You won't be able to use Google services where you sign in with that account, like Gmail, Drive, Calendar, or Play.

Does AOL still exist 2023? ›

Yes, AOL is still around and operating today, but the modern-day America Online bears little resemblance to its former self. While the provision of internet and email services were its biggest business areas, today it operates as a digital media company.

Will I lose my email if I don't use it? ›

But an inactive email address can be a risk. When you don't log into an email account regularly, there is potential for either losing data and messages in the account, or becoming an easy target for hackers.

What is the cost of AOL per month? ›

AOL Desktop, only better

To avoid being charged the recurring subscription fee, simply cancel before the free trial period ends – it's just $6.99 a month afterward.

What are the old email providers? ›

AOL Mail, Hotmail, Lycos, Mail.com, Yahoo! Mail, launched in the 1990s, are among the early providers of free email accounts, joined by Gmail in 2004. They attract users because they are free and can advertise their service on every message.

How do I transfer my Spectrum email to Gmail? ›

Steps to Transfer Spectrum Email to Gmail
  1. Launch the solution on your computer.
  2. Select the IMAP option and enter Spectrum details.
  3. Choose Email folders from the list to migrate into Gmail.
  4. Provides 25+ saving options including Gmail option.
  5. Enter details and start Spectrum Email to Gmail process.
Feb 2, 2023

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