How to Remove a Gmail Account From Your Android Device

When you remove a Gmail account from an Android device the right way, the process is relatively easy and painless. The account still exists, you will be able to access it with a web browser, and you can even reconnect it later if you change your mind.

You lose access to apps and content that you purchased from the Google Play Store if you remove the Gmail account that is tied to the store. You will also lose access to emails, photos, calendars, and any other data tied to that Gmail account.

How to Remove a Gmail Account From an Android Device

Here are the basic steps to remove a Gmail account from an Android device. Because Android changes, we'll include the different wording to help you find the right selections to use.

1. Open Settings > Accounts.

   

2. Select the Gmail account.

3. Tap Remove Account.

4. Confirm with a tap on Remove Account.

   

How to Keep Gmail But Stop Emails

If you use a different app for email, turn off syncing for Gmail or turn off Gmail notifications.

1. Open Settings and tap Accounts, or Users & Accounts on some phones.

2. Tap the Gmail account. You may need to tap Gmail first on some devices.

3. Tap Sync Account.

4. Scroll down to Gmail and tap the toggle next to it to disable Gmail from syncing to your phone. Some devices might call this setting Sync Gmail.

   

How to Turn Off Gmail Notifications

To keep the Google account on your phone and receive Gmail messages, but not be bothered by alerts each time new mail arrives, follow these steps:

1. Open the Gmail app.

2. Tap the three-line hamburger icon.

3. Scroll to the bottom and tap Settings.

4. Tap the relevant account.

   

5. Tap Notifications, then None to turn them off.

   

Problems Removing a Google Account From an Android Phone

While these instructions work for the vast majority of Android phones, you may run into a handful of different problems.

The most common is that when you get to step four, you may need to tap the overflow menu button to access the option to remove your account. On some phones, you may not see the overflow menu button on your screen.

If you don’t see the overflow menu, which looks like three vertically stacked dots, you may still be able to access it. Look at your Android for a physical or virtual button that looks like three vertically stacked lines. If you have a button like that, press it when you get to step three. That should open up the overflow menu, which will allow you to remove your Gmail account.

In some cases, you may also have trouble removing the primary Gmail account from your phone. This is the account that was used when the phone was first set up, and it is tied into many apps, like the Google Play Store. If you are unable to remove your primary Gmail account from your phone, it may help to first add a new Gmail account. If that doesn’t work, you may need to perform a factory reset. This process will also remove all your data from the phone, so make sure to back everything up first.