How to remove a Google account from your tablet
To remove a Google account from your tablet, go to Settings, tap Accounts (or Users & accounts on some devices), select the Google account you want to remove, and tap Remove account. The tablet will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, that account and all its data—email, contacts, calendar events, and app purchases tied to it—will be deleted from the device.
The exact wording and location of these settings vary slightly depending on whether you have an Android tablet, iPad, or older model, but the process follows the same basic steps on all of them. This guide covers the most common paths for each type.
Key Takeaways
- Removing a Google account from your tablet deletes that account's data from the device, including email, contacts, and app purchases, but does not delete the account itself from Google's servers.
- On Android tablets, the account removal option is in Settings under Accounts or Users & accounts, and you must confirm the removal when prompted.
- If you are the only account on the tablet and it is a work or school device, removing the account may lock you out of the tablet entirely.
- You can re-add the same Google account to your tablet later by signing in again in Settings.
- If you forget the password to a Google account on your tablet, you will need to reset it on another device or computer before you can remove it.
Removing a Google account on Android tablets
Open Settings on your tablet. Scroll down and tap Accounts or Users & accounts—the exact name depends on your tablet's manufacturer and Android version. You will see a list of all accounts currently signed in on the device.
Find the Google account you want to remove and tap it. A menu will appear with options including Remove account. Tap that option. The tablet will ask you to confirm by typing the account password or using your fingerprint or face recognition. Once you confirm, the account is removed from the tablet.
If you have multiple Google accounts on your tablet, you can remove just one without affecting the others. The account you remove will no longer appear in Settings, and you will no longer receive email or notifications from that account on the device.
Removing a Google account on iPad
iPad does not use Google accounts the same way Android tablets do. If you signed into a Google service like Gmail or Google Drive through the Mail or Files app, you remove it differently than you would on Android.
Open Settings and tap Mail (or Mail, Contacts, Calendars on older iPads). Find the Gmail account in the list and tap it. Tap Delete Account. The account will be removed from your iPad, though it will still exist on Google's servers.
If you signed into Google services through individual apps like Gmail or Google Drive, you can also remove the account by opening the app, going to its settings, and signing out. This removes the account from that app only, not from the entire iPad.
What happens to your data when you remove an account
When you remove a Google account from your tablet, the data stored on the device—emails, contacts, calendar events, photos in Google Photos, and app purchases—is deleted from the tablet itself. However, that data remains safe on Google's servers. If you sign back into the same Google account on any device, all that data will be there.
Apps you downloaded using that Google account will remain on your tablet, but you will not be able to update them unless you sign in with a different Google account or remove and reinstall them. Some apps may stop working if they require the account that was removed.
If you are the only account on the tablet
If the Google account you are removing is the only account on your tablet, removing it may prevent you from using the device at all. Many tablets require at least one account to function. Before you remove the only account, set up a different account first—either another Google account, a Microsoft account, or a local account, depending on your tablet type.
If your tablet is managed by a school or employer, removing the only account may lock you out completely. Contact your school or IT department before removing a work or school account.
Re-adding a Google account after removal
If you remove a Google account and later want to use it again on the same tablet, you can sign back in. Go to Settings, tap Accounts, and select Add account. Choose Google, enter the email address and password, and follow the prompts. Your account will be restored to the tablet, and your data will sync back down from Google's servers.
This process takes a few minutes depending on how much data is associated with the account. During this time, keep your tablet connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in if possible.
Troubleshooting: account won't remove
If you tap Remove account and nothing happens, or you see an error message, try restarting your tablet and going back to Settings to try again. Sometimes a temporary glitch prevents the removal from completing.
If the tablet asks for a password and you do not remember it, you will need to reset the Google account password on another device or computer before you can remove it from the tablet. Go to accounts.google.com on a computer, sign in, and follow the password reset steps. Once the password is reset, return to your tablet and try removing the account again.
If you still cannot remove the account and it is a work or school device, contact your IT department or school administrator. They may have restrictions in place that prevent account removal without authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a Google account delete it forever?
No. Removing an account from your tablet only removes it from that device. The account itself remains active on Google's servers, and you can sign back in on any device using the same email and password. Your email, contacts, and other data stored in Google services are not deleted.
Will I lose my apps if I remove my Google account?
Apps you downloaded will stay on your tablet, but you will not be able to update them without signing in with a Google account. Some apps may stop working if they require the account you removed. You can reinstall them later using a different account.
Can I remove a Google account if I do not remember the password?
You will need to reset the password first on another device or computer at accounts.google.com. Once reset, return to your tablet and remove the account. If you cannot reset the password, contact Google's account recovery service for help.
What if my tablet is locked to a Google account?
Some tablets have a security feature that locks the device to the Google account that set it up. If you try to remove that account and the tablet locks, you will need to sign back in with that account or contact the manufacturer's support line. This is a security measure to prevent theft.
Can I remove a work or school Google account from my tablet?
It depends on whether your organization has restrictions in place. Some work and school accounts cannot be removed without administrator permission. If you see an error when trying to remove it, contact your IT department or school before attempting removal again.