How to Disable Google Buzz in Gmail

Updated December 27, 2016

Note that Google Buzz is no longer available.

The Buzz icon makes your head spin, and all the social sharing queasy? You want to use Gmail for email, not for oft-trivial status updates and impersonal musings?

Get rid of Google Buzz in Gmail: it is, fortunately, easy to disable Buzz in Gmail—one click easy.

Disable Google Buzz in Gmail

To remove Google Buzz from Gmail:

  • Follow the Settings link in Gmail.
  • Go to the Buzz tab.
    • If you cannot see the Buzz tab, follow the turn off buzz link at the bottom of Gmail.
  • Make sure Do not show Google Buzz in Gmail is selected.
  • Click Save Changes.

If you want to get rid of Buzz and its icon in the Gmail side-bar but not Buzz itself, you can hide the Buzz label instead of disabling Buzz altogether.

To ban just some Buzz messages from your Gmail inbox, you can use filters.

To enable Google Buzz again in your Gmail account:

  • Use the turn on buzz link at the bottom of Gmail.

Posting to Google Buzz with Buzz Hidden in Gmail

You can still post to Google Buzz, of course,

  • using Buzz mobile and
  • via email right from Gmail.

Disable Google Buzz Entirely (and Delete Your Profile and Posts)

To disable Google Buzz completely:

  • Select Settings link in Gmail.
  • Go to the Buzz tab.
    • If you cannot see the Buzz tab, follow the turn off buzz link at the bottom of Gmail.
  • Click Disable Google Buzz.
  • Now click Yes, delete my profile and posts.

Note that disabling Google Buzz will delete all your posts and comments from Google Buzz. Individual comments and posts may still reside in other people's inboxes and Gmail accounts, though.