How do I keep my email address if I change providers?

One of the main concerns for people when looking to switch providers is whether they can keep their existing email address that’s linked to their long-time broadband provider.

In fact, we found in a survey that two million UK homes aren't switching their broadband for fear of losing their email address, costing users an average of £121 a year each in missed savings.

When you sign up for a new broadband package, most providers will include a free email address. Many customers, especially those who have been with their providers for a long time, use it as their primary personal or family email account.

But can you keep your provider-linked email address if you switch broadband provider? The short answer is sometimes, yes. But it depends on the provider you have an email with. And the real question is, should you keep your email address when you switch broadband?

Keeping your email address when you switch broadband providers

Our survey found that nearly half of people with a provider-specific email address have had that same one for more than ten years. And around 40% of them say that they haven't switched their broadband since signing up.

Although it's a legitimate concern when you're considering changing your broadband provider, there are some quick, simple ways to make sure it doesn't become an issue.

Not all providers will allow you to keep your email address once you switch. For example, Virgin Media and Plusnet will delete your email account once you’ve left. However, a number of other providers allow you to retain access to your email address for a monthly fee. And these fees aren’t fixed with the same scrutiny as their broadband or landline fees.

Find out what each of the main broadband providers do with your email address if you switch from them.

Keeping your email address with each provider

See what the process for keeping your old email address is for the main broadband providers.

Move your email account to a free email service

If you were to leave your old provider-linked email account running for three years, you could end up paying £180 to keep accessing your inbox. It would be more cost-effective to spend a few minutes switching to a free email address instead. Here's how to set it up:

Note: Make sure you migrate to a new, free email account before you switch provider, as setting up a new email account and forwarding all your messages and contacts will require access to your old email account.

Moving your email to Gmail

• Open Gmail and click on the settings menu, indicated by the cog icon in the top right corner.

• Click ‘Accounts and Import’ and then 'Import mail and contacts’.

• You’ll need to enter your email address here and follow the on-screen instructions.

• Set up a forwarding system in your old account so that new email is automatically forwarded to your new email address, which may seem a bit tricky but would usually be found in your inbox settings.

• For example, with BT Connect, you would navigate to Manage Services > Email Summary > then highlight your email address in the box > click Email Forwarding.

• Enter your new Gmail address and click ‘Save’.

Once your new email is set up, it’s a good idea to export your contacts from your old account and send out an email to your main contacts to let them know you’ll be using a new address from now on.

Finally, to keep your information secure, delete all your old emails, especially ones that might have personal information in them. Then set a new, strong password to ensure that the old account stays secure until it’s finally closed down.

Set up an auto-responder

You might also want to set up an auto-responder for your old email address that lets friends and family know that their email has been forwarded to a new address.

This is essentially the same process as setting up an out-of-office message. Be sure to include your new email address and explain that you will be replying from this address so that they know not to mark it as spam.

Update accounts linked to your email address

Depending on how long you’ve had your email address, you may have a lot of additional services linked to this address. Be sure to update as many of your login details as possible while you still have access to your old provider-linked address as you may need to confirm the new details. Here's a checklist of things you need to do:

• Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus and any other streaming services you use

• Energy and household bill payments

• Online banking

• Online payments (PayPal)

• Social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Pinterest)

• Cloud storage (OneDrive)

• Apple or Google accounts

• Online study platforms (e.g. Duolingo)

• Travel websites (Booking.com, Expedia)

If you’re not sure you’ve changed them all, check your browser’s ‘Saved Accounts’ section. Whenever you fill in a form or log into a website, your browser offers you the option to save your login details. Google Chrome’s password manager will have a list of all these websites along with your login details and passwords. Browse through those to see if there are any that require you to log in with your email address.

Even if you do miss any out you should still be able to log in with your old email address, as long as you still remember the password.