How do I remove a Google account from my Android phone?

Open Settings, tap Passwords & accounts (on Samsung, Accounts and backup → Manage accounts), tap the Google account, then tap Remove account and confirm. This only takes the account off this phone. The Google Account itself, with its email, photos, and contacts, stays safe online and on your other devices.

Steps to check

1. Know what removing does (and does not do)

   Removing a Google account takes it off this one phone. Google explains that everything that came from that account is removed from the phone too, such as its email, contacts, and settings. Nothing is deleted from the account itself. Sign in on another phone or a computer and it is all still there. Removing an account is not the same as deleting a Google Account, which is a separate step on Google's website that you do not need here.

2. Open the accounts list in Settings

   Open the Settings app and tap Passwords & accounts. Google notes that on some phones this is called Users & accounts, Passwords, passkeys & autofill, Password, passkeys & accounts, or Manage accounts. You will see a list of the accounts on the phone, including Google accounts and any email or app accounts.

   • Samsung Settings → Accounts and backup → Manage accounts.
   • Pixel Settings → Passwords & accounts (on newer versions, Passwords, passkeys & accounts).
   • Motorola Settings → Passwords, passkeys & accounts.

3. Tap the account, then Remove account

   Under Accounts, tap the Google account you want to take off (check the email address carefully if there is more than one). Tap Remove account, then tap Remove account again to confirm. If it is the only Google account on the phone, enter your screen lock PIN, pattern, or password when asked. On older phones, Remove account can be hidden behind the three dots at the top right.

   • Samsung Tap the Google account → Remove account → Remove account. If Google device protection is on, Samsung notes you may be asked to verify it is you before the account fully signs out.

4. Selling or giving the phone away? Remove accounts first, then reset

   A phone with a Google account on it is protected. After a reset, it asks for that account before anyone can use it. That keeps a stolen phone useless to a thief, but it also blocks the next owner. Google's steps for an old phone are: back up what you want to keep, remove each Google account, then go to Settings → System → Reset options → Erase all data (factory reset). Our guides on what to back up first and factory resetting walk through those parts.

   • Samsung Remove the Samsung account too (Accounts and backup → Manage accounts → Samsung account → Remove account), then reset from Settings → General management → Reset → Factory data reset.

5. If you no longer have the phone

   You can still sign the old phone out of your account from any other phone or computer. Open your Google Account, go to Security & sign-in, then Your devices → Manage all devices, pick the old phone, and tap Sign out. Our guide on seeing which devices are signed in shows each step.

Normal vs. not

Common questions

Will removing my Google account delete my photos or contacts?

Not from your account. They are removed from this phone only. Anything saved to your Google Account, like Google Photos backups and Google Contacts, stays online and on your other devices. Anything saved only on this phone and not backed up is not touched by removing the account, but a factory reset would erase it.

Can I add the account back later?

Yes. Go to the same accounts menu, tap Add account, tap Google, and sign in. Your synced email, contacts, and calendar come back to the phone.

Does removing it from my phone sign me out of my computer too?

No. It only affects this phone. Your computer, tablet, and other phones stay signed in.

Can I remove it just from the Gmail app?

Gmail has a Remove account button under your profile picture → Manage accounts on this device, but Google notes it signs you out of all Google apps on the phone, like Maps and YouTube, so it works the same as removing it in Settings.

Related questions

• How do I factory reset my Android phone?
• What should I back up before I factory reset my Android phone?
• How do I see which devices are signed in to my Google Account?
• Why did my contacts disappear from my Android phone?