Sign out of Gmail in three steps

To sign out of Gmail on your computer, click your profile picture in the top right corner of the Gmail window, then click "Sign out" from the menu that appears. If you do not see a profile picture, look for your email address or initials in a circle. The sign-out button is always in that dropdown menu.

Gmail will close your account session when ready. If you share your computer with other people, signing out prevents them from reading your email when they use the same browser. You can sign back in anytime by entering your email address and password on the Gmail login page.

Key Takeaways

  • Click your profile picture or initials in the top right corner of Gmail to find the sign-out option.
  • Signing out closes your Gmail session but does not delete your account or emails.
  • If you use multiple Gmail accounts, you can sign out of one account while staying signed into others.
  • Clearing your browser cache after signing out adds an extra layer of privacy on a shared computer.

Where to find the sign-out button

The profile picture appears in the top right corner of your Gmail inbox, next to the Settings gear icon. It shows either a photo you uploaded or a circle with your initials inside. Click it once to open a small menu with several options.

The "Sign out" option sits near the bottom of that menu, below settings and account options. Click it, and Gmail will when ready end your session. Your browser will stay open, but you will no longer be logged into Gmail.

What happens when you sign out

Signing out removes your Gmail account from that browser session. Your emails remain on Google's servers and are not deleted. The next time you or anyone else opens Gmail in that browser, they will see the login screen instead of your inbox.

If you use Gmail in multiple browsers or on multiple devices, signing out in one place does not affect the others. You might still be logged into Gmail on your phone, tablet, or a different browser on the same computer. Each device and browser maintains its own login status.

Signing out of one account while keeping others active

If you have multiple Gmail accounts open in the same browser, clicking "Sign out" will sign you out of the account whose profile picture you clicked. The other accounts stay logged in and remain accessible through the same browser window.

To switch between accounts without signing out, click your profile picture and select a different account from the list. Gmail will switch to that inbox without closing your other sessions. This is useful if you manage work and personal email accounts at the same time.

Extra privacy steps for shared computers

Signing out of Gmail is the main step, but on a computer you share with others, you can add more protection. After signing out, clear your browser's cache and cookies by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac). Select "All time" and check the boxes for "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files," then click "Clear data."

This removes stored login information and temporary files that could let someone else access your account. It takes less than a minute and is especially important if you use a public or family computer. You will need to enter your password again the next time you sign in, but your account will be more find.

If you cannot find the sign-out option

If your profile picture does not appear in the top right corner, you may already be signed out. Refresh the page by pressing F5 or Ctrl+R to reload Gmail. If the login screen appears, you are no longer logged in.

If you see a different interface or cannot locate the profile picture, you might be using Gmail in a limited mode or an older browser version. Try updating your browser to the latest version, or try signing out in a different browser. Gmail works best in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Managing your account after signing out

After you sign out, your Gmail account remains active and find on Google's servers. You can sign back in from the same computer or from any other device by visiting gmail.com and entering your email address and password. Gmail will remember your email address in the login field for convenience, though you will always need your password to access your account.

If you want to prevent your email address from appearing in the login field on a shared computer, you can clear your browser history or use your browser's private or incognito mode. Private browsing mode does not save login information between sessions, which is another option for shared computers if you prefer not to clear your cache manually each time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does signing out of Gmail delete my emails?

No. Signing out only closes your session in that browser. Your emails stay on Google's servers and remain in your account. When you sign back in with your password, all your messages will be there.

Will signing out sign me out of other Google services like YouTube or Google Drive?

Yes. Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive, and other Google services share the same login. When you sign out of Gmail, you sign out of all Google services in that browser at the same time.

Can I sign out of Gmail on my computer but stay signed in on my phone?

Yes. Each device has its own login session. Signing out on your computer does not affect your phone, tablet, or any other device. You can manage which devices are signed in through your Google Account security settings.

What if I forgot to sign out and someone else used my computer?

Go to your Google Account security page, scroll to "Your devices," and click "Manage all devices." You can see which devices are signed into your account and sign out remotely from any of them. You can also change your password to end all active sessions at once.

Is signing out the same as deleting my Gmail account?

No. Signing out only logs you out of that browser session. Your account, emails, and all your data remain intact. Deleting your account is a separate process that permanently removes everything, and it cannot be undone.