How to Delete Your Google Account (or Gmail Only)

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Permanently delete your Google account and all of its data
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Are you wondering how to permanently delete your entire Google account, or how to delete just your Gmail while keeping other Google services? You can easily do either from within your account page. In this article, we’ll talk you through how it’s done. We’ll also answer some of your most frequently asked questions about deleting Google accounts and services.

  1. Go to myaccount.google.com (desktop) or open the Google app (mobile).
  2. On mobile, tap your profile picture and select Manage Your Google Account .
  3. Click or tap Data & privacy .
  4. Select More options .
  5. Click or tap Delete Your Google Account .
  6. Agree to the terms and click or tap Delete Account .
Section 1 of 3:

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  1. 1
    Download your data first (optional). If you don’t want to lose all the data associated with your account when you delete it, you can request a download first. To do so: [1]
    • Go to takeout.google.com/ . If you aren’t already signed in, click the Sign in button in the top right corner and log in with the account you want to delete.
    • Go through the list and check the boxes next to any data you want to download.
    • Click Next step .
    • Select how you want your download delivered. You can select things like where you want the archive to be sent (i.e., to Google Drive, DropBox, or your email), the format of the data files, and whether you want the data delivered just once or on a regular schedule.
    • Wait for an email notification with a link to your archived data file(s). Follow the link to download your data.
  2. You can delete your Google account from a web browser or from the mobile Google app. In a browser, go to the account page at myaccount.google.com . If you’re using the mobile app, tap your profile icon in the top right corner, then tap Manage your Google Account .
    • If you're not already signed in, click Sign in in the top right corner of the page (web browser) or tap the generic profile icon at the top right corner of the screen (mobile app). Log in with the email address and password for the account you want to delete.
    • If your Google/Gmail account is provided to you by your work or school (Google Workspace), you'll need to contact your administrator to delete your account.
    • If you want to delete your Gmail account/address without deleting all of your other Google data (such as your photos, calendar, and purchases from the Play Store), see Deleting Gmail Only .
    • If you are deleting an account you use on an Android or Chromebook, you'll lose your contacts, downloaded apps, and access to content you purchased through Google Play. [2]
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  3. 3
    Click or tap Data & privacy . On the website, you’ll see this tab in the menu bar on the left side of the page. In the app, it’s one of the tabs at the top of the screen.
  4. 4
    Select More options under “Your data & privacy options”. You’ll see this link near the top of the menu.
  5. 5
    Click or tap Delete your Google Account . A new screen will open.
  6. 6
    Follow the prompts to complete the account deletion process. At this point, you may be prompted to confirm your account credentials. If not, you’ll be taken directly to the account deletion page. From there:
    • If you haven’t already backed up your account, click the link at the top of this page to download your data (optional).
    • Read the explanation of what will happen when you delete your account. You’ll need to check a box next to a statement acknowledging that you’re still responsible for any charges accrued through your account, and another statement that you want to permanently delete your account and all its data.
    • Click the Delete Account button.
  7. 7
    Restore a deleted account (optional). If you changed your mind or accidentally deleted the wrong account, you might be able to restore it. Immediately after you delete your account, you’ll see a page with a Recover your account button. Enter the login information for the deleted account to begin the recovery process. If you already navigated away from that page, visit accounts.google.com/signin/recovery to begin the recovery process. [3]
    • Account recovery is only available for a short time after you delete your account, so do this as soon as possible.
    • You may be prompted to answer some questions about your account or your identity as part of the recovery process. Answer as many of the questions as you can to the best of your ability. [4]
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Section 2 of 3:

Deleting Gmail Only

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  1. Deleting your Gmail account will delete all email messages and email settings. To back up your messages, visit the Google Takeout page and follow the prompts on the screen to archive your email and any other data you want to back up.
    • Deleting your Gmail address will not delete your entire Google account. You can also reactive your Gmail account (as long as it hasn't been too long) by signing into Gmail on the web and following the on-screen instructions. [5]
    • If your Google/Gmail account is provided to you by your work or school (Google Workspace), you won’t see the option to delete Gmail when following this method. Contact your administrator to make changes to your account.
  2. 2
    Open Gmail on your computer or device. You can delete your Gmail account from a web browser or the Gmail mobile app. Open Gmail and sign in with the account you want to delete (if you’re not signed in already).
  3. 3
    Click or tap your profile picture. It’s located in the top right corner of the page or app screen.
  4. 4
    Select Manage Your Google Account . This will take you to your account settings.
  5. 5
    Click or tap Data & privacy . In the web version, it’s in the left-hand menu bar. In the app, this tab is near the top of the screen.
  6. 6
    Select Data from apps and services you use . You’ll see this option under the Your data & privacy options header near the top of the page.
  7. 7
    Click or tap Delete a Google service . It’s in the Download or delete your data section. You might need to scroll down a little to find it.
    • At this point, you may be prompted to verify your account with a passkey or some other method (like your login information).
    • If you haven’t already backed up your data, there’s a link at the top of the next page that will allow you to do so.
  8. 8
    Click or tap thetrashcan icon next to Gmail. A popup window will open.
  9. This will be the email address you use to sign in to other Google products, such as Drive or YouTube.
    • The email address will need to be verified to delete the account, so make sure it's an account you can access.
  10. It's at the bottom-right corner of the pop-up message. Google will now send an email message to that account to confirm.
  11. 11
    Follow the instructions in the verification email. You should get an email at the alternate address you entered with a verification link. Follow the instructions to verify the deletion and complete the process of deleting your Gmail account.
    • Your Gmail account and emails won’t be deleted until you complete this step.
    • Once you verify the deletion, it will take 30 days for Google to completely delete your account. In the meantime, you may be able to recover your account by logging in with your old credentials and following the instructions on the screen. [6]
    • You will still have access to other services linked to your account, like YouTube, the Google Play store, and Google Docs.
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Section 3 of 3:

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. 1
    What happens when I delete my Google account? If you completely delete your Google account, you’ll lose any saved data in your account that you haven’t backed up, such as emails, photos, contacts, documents, and calendars. You’ll also lose access to content you bought with your account (e.g., through the Google Play store), as well as services like Google Drive and Google Play.
    • Some of your data may be saved temporarily, so you might be able to recover it by restoring your account if you act quickly enough.
  2. 2
    What happens when I delete just my Gmail account? If you delete your Gmail account, your Gmail address and emails will be deleted within 30 days. You will no longer be able to send or receive email with the deleted address, and you won’t be able to use that address again in the future.
    • You’ll still have access to other services linked to your Google Account, like Google Play and Google Drive.
    • You may be able to recover your gmail account if you act quickly enough.
  3. 3
    Can I back up my account before deleting it? Yes, you can request a backup of your Google account data. Visit takeout.google.com/ to archive and download any data you want to keep.
  4. 4
    What should I do if my account has been hacked? If you’re totally locked out of your account, you may be able to get back in using Google’s account recovery page . You’ll need to answer some questions to help confirm your identity. Even if you don’t know all the answers, just do the best you can. [7] If you’re still able to log into your account:
    • Go to myaccount.google.com/​​ and select Security & sign-in > Review security events .
    • Select No, it wasn’t me next to any suspicious logins or other activity you don’t recognize.
    • Follow the prompts on the screen to secure your account.
  5. 5
    How do I delete a Google account from my phone? This varies from one device to another, but you can generally remove a Google account in your phone’s settings or within the settings of a specific Google app.
    • For example, on a Pixel phone, go to Settings > Passwords & accounts > (your account) > Remove account > Remove account > Delete . [8]
    • On an iPhone, you can delete a Gmail account from your Mail accounts by going to Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts and selecting your Gmail account. Tap Delete Account at the bottom of the menu.
    • Delete an account from individual Google apps by opening the app, tapping your profile picture, and selecting Manage accounts on this device . Tap Remove from this device under the account you want to delete.
    • None of these methods will actually delete your Google or Gmail account. It will simply remove it from your device and/or the specific Google app you’re using.
  6. 6
    Can I delete other Google services without deleting my whole account? Yes! To remove a specific service, go to myaccount.google.com/ and select Data & privacy . From there: [9]
    • Tap Data from apps and services you use .
    • Select Delete a Google service . Verify your account if prompted to do so.
    • Click the Delete icon next to the service you want to delete.
    • Follow the prompts to confirm the deletion.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What should I do if it says that my alternative email address is used?
    Community Answer
    Contact support and explain what your problem is. It may take a bit of time, but they should be able to sort out the problem eventually.
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  • Question
    How do I delete my Gmail account?
    Community Answer
    First, you go into your Gmail account that you want to be deleted. Click on the little icon in the top-right hand corner of your screen (where you usually sign out). Go on "my account," and go to the bottom of the box labelled account preferences, and click on delete account.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    I want Gmail to not appear on a phone I gave away. How can I accomplish this?
    Community Answer
    Sign out of the account, change the password on that phone, and let the new owner make his/her own Gmail account.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Warnings

      • Keep in mind that if you delete your account, it is no longer retrievable after a few weeks. However, Google will work with you to recover addresses that have been recently deleted if you decide that you want them back.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3024190
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32046
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6236295
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/7299973?sjid=11975677783228388963-NC
      5. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/61177
      6. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/61177?sjid=11975677783228388963-NC#recover-gmail
      7. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6294825?hl=en
      8. ↑ https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/2840815
      9. ↑ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/81987

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Sign into myaccount.google.com .
      2. Click Data & personalization .
      3. Click Delete a service or your account .
      4. Click Delete your account .
      5. Back up your data (optional).
      6. Check the boxes to confirm.
      7. Click DELETE ACCOUNT .

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