Removing a Google Account from Your Computer
Deleting a Google account from your computer means signing out of that account on your device — it does not delete the account itself from Google's servers. When you remove an account, you lose access to Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, and other Google services on that computer, but the account continues to exist. If you want to permanently delete the Google account entirely (which cannot be undone), that is a separate process that happens in your Google Account settings, not on your computer.
Most people who ask this question actually want to sign out of a Google account on their computer, which takes less than a minute. If you are sharing a computer with someone else, removing their account from your device prevents them from accessing your Google services when they use the computer. If you are selling or giving away your computer, you should remove all Google accounts before handing it over.
Key Takeaways
- Removing a Google account from your computer signs you out but does not delete the account from Google's servers.
- On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts, find the Google account, and click Remove.
- On Mac, go to System Settings > Internet Accounts, select the Google account, and click the minus button.
- If you want to permanently delete your Google account entirely, you must do that through your Google Account settings at myaccount.google.com, not through your computer's settings.
- After removing an account from your computer, you can still sign back in at any time using your email and password.
How to Remove a Google Account on Windows
On a Windows computer, Google accounts are managed through your Settings app. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then click the Settings app. Once Settings is open, click Accounts in the left sidebar, then click Email & accounts.
You will see a list of accounts connected to your computer. Find the Google account you want to remove and click it once to select it. A button labeled Remove will appear. Click that button, and Windows will ask you to confirm. Click Yes, delete this account and its data. The account is now removed from your computer. Any files you created or downloaded while signed into that account will remain on your computer, but you will no longer be automatically signed into Google services.
How to Remove a Google Account on Mac
On a Mac, Google accounts are managed through System Settings. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then click System Settings. In the sidebar, click Internet Accounts. You will see a list of accounts on the left side of the window.
Find the Google account you want to remove and click it once to select it. On the right side of the window, you will see a minus button (−) at the bottom. Click that button. macOS will ask you to confirm the removal. Click Delete. The account is now removed from your Mac. You will no longer be automatically signed into Google services on this computer, but the account itself still exists at Google.
What Happens After You Remove the Account
Once you remove a Google account from your computer, you will be signed out of Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, YouTube, and any other Google service that was using that account. If you open Gmail in your web browser, you will see a login screen instead of your inbox. The same applies to Google Drive and other Google services.
Files you created or downloaded while using that account remain on your computer. Removing the account does not delete your files. If you want to sign back into that Google account on this computer later, you can do so by entering your email address and password at any Google login screen. You can also add the account back to your computer's settings at any time using the same process in reverse.
Permanently Deleting Your Google Account (Not Just Removing It)
If you want to permanently delete your Google account entirely — not just remove it from this computer — you must do that through Google's Account settings. This action cannot be undone and will delete your Gmail, Google Drive, Google Photos, YouTube history, and all other Google data associated with that account.
To permanently delete a Google account, go to myaccount.google.com in your web browser and sign in with the account you want to delete. Click Account preferences or Manage your Google Account at the top. Click the Data & privacy tab. Scroll down to find Delete your Google Account and click it. Google will ask you to confirm your password and will show you what will be deleted. Follow the prompts to complete the deletion. This is separate from removing the account from your computer.
Removing Multiple Google Accounts from a Shared Computer
If you share a computer with other people, each person can have their own Google account set up on the device. You can remove any account that is not your primary user account without affecting the others. On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts and remove each account individually. On Mac, go to System Settings > Internet Accounts and remove each one.
If you are the primary user on the computer and you remove your own Google account from the system settings, you will still be able to sign back in through any Google service. Removing an account from your computer's settings does not lock you out of Google permanently — it straightforward disconnects that account from your device.
Troubleshooting: Account Will Not Remove
If you try to remove a Google account and the Remove button is grayed out or does not work, the account may be linked to your computer's primary user profile. On Windows, you cannot remove the account that is tied to your main user login. If this is the case, you can sign out of Google services individually instead. Open Gmail, Google Drive, or any Google service, click your profile picture in the top-right corner, and click Sign out.
On Mac, if the minus button does not appear or is grayed out, the account may be required for your system settings. Try restarting your Mac and then returning to Internet Accounts to remove it. If the problem persists, you can sign out of individual Google services by clicking your profile picture and selecting Sign out instead of removing the account from system settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing a Google account from my computer delete my Gmail?
No. Removing the account from your computer only signs you out on that device. Your Gmail account, emails, and all Google data remain on Google's servers. You can sign back in on any device using your email and password. Your emails are not deleted.
Can I remove a Google account if I forgot the password?
Yes. You do not need the password to remove an account from your computer's settings. On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts, select the account, and click Remove. On Mac, go to System Settings > Internet Accounts, select it, and click the minus button. The account will be removed from your device.
What is the difference between removing an account and deleting it?
Removing an account from your computer signs you out on that device only. Deleting a Google account permanently erases it from Google's servers along with all associated data. Deletion cannot be undone. Most people want to remove, not delete.
If I remove a Google account from my computer, can someone else use it on the same computer?
Yes. Once you remove an account, anyone using that computer can sign into it by entering the email and password. If you want to prevent someone from accessing a Google account on a shared computer, you should remove it and change the password on the Google account itself.
Do I need to remove a Google account before selling my computer?
Yes. Before selling or giving away your computer, you should remove all Google accounts (and all other personal accounts) from the device. You should also perform a factory reset to erase all personal data. This prevents the new owner from accessing your email, files, and other private information.