How to sign out of Gmail on your phone
To sign out of Gmail on your phone, open the Gmail app, tap your profile picture in the top right corner, then tap "Sign out" from the menu that appears. The process takes about 10 seconds and works the same way on both Android and iPhone. After you sign out, anyone who picks up your phone cannot read your emails or access your account.
If you have multiple Gmail accounts on your phone, you can sign out of just one account while keeping the others active. This is useful if you share a device or want to remove an old work email without losing access to your personal account.
Key Takeaways
- Open Gmail, tap your profile picture in the top right, and select "Sign out" to remove your account from the app.
- Signing out on your phone does not delete your emails or close your Gmail account — it only removes access from that device.
- If you have multiple accounts on the same phone, you can sign out of one without affecting the others.
- After signing out, you will need to enter your password again to sign back in on that phone.
- For a phone you are selling or giving away, sign out of Gmail and remove it from your Google account settings for extra security.
Steps to sign out on Android
Open the Gmail app on your Android phone. Look for your profile picture — it is a small circle in the top right corner of the screen, usually showing your initials or a photo.
Tap the profile picture once. A menu will drop down with several options. Look for the option that says "Sign out" or "Sign out of all accounts" depending on your Gmail version. Tap it.
A confirmation message may appear asking if you are sure. Tap "Sign out" again to confirm. The app will return to the sign-in screen, and your account is now removed from this phone.
Steps to sign out on iPhone
Open the Gmail app on your iPhone. Tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Scroll down and tap your email address or profile picture at the top of the menu. A list of your accounts will appear if you have more than one. Tap the account you want to sign out of.
Tap "Sign out" at the bottom of the account details. A popup will ask you to confirm. Tap "Sign out" again, and Gmail will remove your account from your iPhone.
What happens when you sign out
Signing out removes your Gmail account from your phone, but it does not delete your emails or close your account. Your emails remain safe on Google's servers and you can still access them from a computer or by signing back in on your phone later.
You will stop receiving Gmail notifications on that phone once you sign out. If you want to check your email again, you will need to open the Gmail app and sign back in with your password.
If you have other Google services linked to your Gmail account — like Google Drive, Google Photos, or YouTube — signing out of Gmail may also sign you out of those apps. You can sign back into them separately if needed.
Signing out of one account when you have multiple accounts
If you have set up more than one Gmail account on your phone, you can remove just one without affecting the others. Open Gmail and tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
You will see a list of all accounts on this phone. Tap the account you want to remove. Then tap "Sign out" at the bottom of the menu. Only that account will be removed; the other accounts will stay active on your phone.
This is helpful if you have a work email and a personal email on the same phone and you want to remove the work account without losing access to your personal email.
Removing Gmail from a phone you are selling or giving away
If you are selling your phone or giving it to someone else, signing out of Gmail is not enough. You should also remove your phone from your Google account settings so the new owner cannot access your account remotely.
Sign out of Gmail on the phone first. Then, on a computer or different phone, go to myaccount.google.com and sign in. Click "Security" on the left side, then scroll down to "Your devices" and select "Manage all devices." Find the phone you are giving away and click it, then select "Remove this device."
This step prevents someone from using your phone to access your Gmail, Google Drive, or other Google services even if they know your password. It is an important extra layer of security when you no longer control the device.
Troubleshooting: Sign out option is not showing
If you tap your profile picture and do not see a "Sign out" option, your Gmail app may need an update. Open your phone's app store (Google Play Store on Android or App Store on iPhone), search for Gmail, and tap "Update" if it is available.
If updating does not help, try closing the Gmail app completely and opening it again. On Android, go to Settings, find Gmail in your app list, and tap "Force stop," then reopen the app. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to close the app, then tap Gmail again.
If you still cannot find the sign-out option after updating and restarting, you can remove your Gmail account from your phone through your phone's settings instead. On Android, go to Settings > Accounts > Google, tap your email address, then tap "Remove account." On iPhone, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap your Gmail account, then tap "Delete Account."
Frequently Asked Questions
Will signing out of Gmail delete my emails?
No. Your emails stay on Google's servers and remain in your account. Signing out only removes access from that phone. You can sign back in anytime and all your emails will be there.
Can I sign out of Gmail without signing out of other Google apps?
Not directly through the Gmail app. When you sign out of Gmail, you typically sign out of all Google services on that phone. You can then sign back into individual apps like YouTube or Google Drive if you want to keep using them.
What if I forgot my password and cannot sign back in?
Go to the Google sign-in page on a computer or different phone and click "Forgot password?" Follow the steps to reset your password using your recovery email or phone number. Once you reset it, you can sign back into Gmail on your phone.
Does signing out of Gmail on my phone sign me out on my computer too?
No. Signing out on your phone only affects that device. You will stay signed in on your computer and any other devices unless you sign out there separately.
Is it safe to leave Gmail signed in on a shared phone?
No. If you share a phone with family or roommates, anyone who picks it up can read your emails and access your account. Sign out when you are done using the phone, or use a screen lock to protect your privacy.