How to Delete Your Gmail (or Google) Account: 2024 Guide

Ana Jovanovic
Updated on: August 23, 2024 Editor

Deleting your Gmail account is really simple — but there are a few important preliminary steps to complete first. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to delete your Gmail account or even your entire Google account from your computer, smartphone, or tablet — without losing any important data.

That said, if privacy concerns are the reason you want to erase your Gmail account, you might not need to do it at all, because using a virtual private network (VPN) while accessing Google’s services can effectively protect your privacy. But if you’re set on deleting your Gmail account, this guide will show you how to do it in just a couple of minutes.

And once it’s deleted, you might want to switch to a more privacy-focused alternative. I recommend Proton Mail because it offers top-notch privacy and doesn’t ask for personal information when you sign up. You can also pair Proton Mail with Proton VPN, giving the double benefit of secure email communication and a private internet connection.

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Preliminary Step 1. Back Up Your Gmail Data

IMPORTANT: This step is optional if you just want to delete your Gmail account. But I highly recommend performing it anyway if you’re planning on using my guide below to delete your entire Google account.

Firstly, don’t worry too much if you miss this or don’t do it right away. You’ll be asked if you want to download your Gmail data once again just before you delete it.

That said, you may prefer to back up your data first. To do it, head to Google Takeout (takeout.google.com). From there, you’ll be able to select any information you want to download before deleting your Gmail (or Google) account. Options include any Google services like Calendar, Keep Notes, Drive, Chrome, Photos, and more.

To download a copy of your Gmail data specifically, scroll down until you see Mail (you’ll find it around two-thirds of the way down the page). Click All Mail data included to download everything from Gmail or simply select (or deselect) any category you want. Once that’s done, move on to Preliminary Step 2.

Preliminary Step 2. Update Your Email Address and Account Login Info

If you used your Gmail account to sign up for any other services, accounts, newsletters, mailing lists, or anything else, you should change your email address for all of these. If you delete your Gmail account without first completing this step, you could permanently lose access to these other accounts (speaking from personal experience here!).

Once you’ve changed your email address for all these other accounts and newsletters, you can proceed to delete your Gmail account.

How to Delete Your Gmail Account Using a Desktop Browser

Note: There are some important things to consider before deleting your Gmail account, so you might want to read about these first.

Whether you’re using Windows, Mac, or Linux, follow the steps below to delete your Gmail account using Google Chrome. If you prefer to perform these steps on a mobile device, feel free to jump to those instructions.

Step 1. Log Into Your Google Account

First, open Google Chrome and log into your Google account by providing your username and password (though you can use any browser, I recommend sticking with Google Chrome for this step).

If you’re already signed in to another account (and you want to delete a different account), here’s how to sign in to the account you want to delete:

1. Click the user icon at the top right of your screen.
2. Click + Add to sign into a different account.
3. Click Sign in and enter your username and password.

Step 2. Head to Google’s Account Deletion Page

1. Now that you’re logged in, click your user icon at the top right of your screen, then click Manage Your Google Account.

2. Click Data & privacy.

3. Scroll down and click Delete a Google service.

4. Click the trash can icon on the right beside Gmail.

5. Enter an email address that’s not a Gmail one.

6. Log into the email address you provided and check for a message from Google. In the email, click the link provided to complete the deletion of your Gmail account. And you’re done!

How to Delete Your Gmail Account Using Your Smartphone

Here’s how to complete the Gmail deletion process using your Android or iOS device (the process is the same on both types of device).

Step 1. Log Into Your Gmail Account

1. Open Gmail. If you’re not signed into Gmail with any account at all, simply sign in when you open the app for the first time. Otherwise, you must add another account.

2. Add another account if you’re already signed in to a different one. Tap the user icon, then Manage your Google account. If your account isn’t listed, tap Add account, and follow the rest of the instructions.

Now that you’re signed in to the account you want to delete, you can move on to Step 2.

Step 2. Delete Your Gmail Account

1. Tap the user icon, then Manage your Google Account. Under Data and privacy, find Delete a Google service and tap it.

2. Tap the trash bin icon to the right of Gmail.

3. You’ll now need to verify your decision by entering a non-Gmail email address. Make sure it’s an email address you have access to.

4. Sign into that email service, open the email from Google, and tap on the verification link. You can perform this action using your smartphone or computer, whichever you prefer. Here’s a visual aid for this step if you require help.

And you’re all done! However, the steps above will delete just your Gmail account. If you wish to delete your entire Google account using your computer, phone, or tablet, read on.

How to Delete Your Entire Google Account Using a Computer Browser

Here’s how you can easily delete your Google account from your computer if you don’t want it anymore. These steps work on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Alternatively, you can perform this action on your mobile device instead.

Step 1. Log Into Your Google Account

If you haven’t already, log into the right Google account using these instructions — then, come back here for Step 2.

Step 2. Delete Your Google Account

1. Go directly to myaccount.google.com/data-and-privacy (make sure you’re signed in to the right account first!). Scroll down until you see More options, then click Delete your Google Account — Delete your entire account and data.

2. Enter your account password. Then, if you haven’t already, download a copy of your data if you wish to. Google Takeout makes it really easy to download your data from any Google app, including Photos, Gmail, Calendar, Keep Notes, or any others.
3. Make sure to read the entire page. Once you’ve done that, click both checkmark buttons to acknowledge your selection, then click Delete Account.

4. Follow the rest of the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

How to Delete Your Entire Google Account Using Your Smartphone

Step 1. Log Into Your Google Account

If you’ve not done this already, log into the right Google account using these instructions — then, come back here for Step 2.

Step 2. Delete Your Google Account

1. Tap the user icon, then Manage your Google Account. Under Data & privacy, find Delete your Google Account and tap it. Verify your identity with your fingerprint, face unlock, or Google password when prompted.
2. Read the entire page, place check marks into the two boxes, and tap Delete Account.

3. Follow the rest of the instructions to fully delete your Google account.

Is There a Good Alternative to Deleting Your Gmail or Entire Google Account?

If you’re worried about privacy breaches, deleting your Gmail account might seem like the only solution. However, there are effective ways to safeguard your privacy without losing access to your Google services. One of the best ways is to use a virtual private network (VPN).

A good VPN like ExpressVPN can help you protect your privacy by masking your IP address and encrypting your internet connection. This means that even while using Google services such as Gmail, your online activities remain private and secure from prying eyes.

It’s extremely easy to choose, download, and set up a VPN — check out our simple guide.

Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.

Is There a Good, Privacy-Oriented Alternative to Gmail?

If you’re set on not using Gmail anymore, you can use an anonymous email service like Proton Mail together with a VPN like Proton VPN. Proton Mail is a secure email service that prioritizes privacy. It doesn’t require any personal information to sign up, and all emails are encrypted end-to-end, ensuring that only you and the recipient can read the messages. By combining Proton Mail with Proton VPN, you get the best of both worlds: secure email communication and a private internet connection.

I also really like that Proton Mail and Proton VPN have free tiers. They’re solid enough for most users — but I still recommend (and personally use) a paid Proton VPN plan. Paid plans give you access to more high-quality servers, support streaming and torrenting (the free version doesn’t), and can cover up to 10 devices.

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Important Considerations Before Deleting Your Gmail Account

Deciding to delete your Gmail account comes with significant consequences. Before proceeding, it’s crucial to understand the following points to ensure you’re fully prepared:

• Deleting Your Gmail Account Is Potentially Irreversible. You may be able to recover it for a certain period after deletion by entering your email address on Google account recovery page, but the exact timeframe is unknown. Once you confirm the deletion, expect all of your emails, personal information, and settings to be erased. You’ll also lose the ability to send or receive emails with that address. Additionally, your unique Gmail username will be permanently unavailable for future use by anyone, including yourself. This means you cannot reactivate the same account or reclaim your emails later on.
• Your Main Google Account Remains Active. Deleting your Gmail account does not delete your entire Google account. Your access to other Google services, such as Drive, Photos, and Calendar, remains intact. You’ll still be able to use these services with your Google account, minus the Gmail functionality. If you want to delete your entire Google account instead of just Gmail, follow these steps to delete your Google account using a computer browser, iPhone/iPad, or your Android device.
• You’ll Lose Access to Linked Accounts: Many online accounts use your Gmail for login and password recovery. Once your Gmail is deleted, you may find it challenging to access or recover these accounts. It’s important to update your email address in these accounts before proceeding with the deletion to avoid losing access.
• You Won’t Be Able to Reset Passwords for Accounts Linked to Your Gmail: If you forget passwords for services tied to your deleted Gmail, you won’t have the option to reset them using that email address. Consider changing the email address associated with important accounts to ensure you can still manage them in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you permanently delete a Gmail account?

To delete your Gmail account, you’ll first need to sign in to the right account. Then, you’ll need to use a computer browser, Android, iPhone, or iPad to delete your account.

But before you do that, I recommend a couple of preliminary steps, including backing up or downloading a copy of your Gmail data, along with updating your other account login credentials. Read my full guide to deleting your Gmail account on any device for more information.

How do I delete a Gmail account without deleting my Google account?

Since Gmail is just one of the many services available with a Google account, it is possible to delete it without deleting your entire Google account (but not the other way around).

To delete your Gmail account without affecting your Google account, head to Manage your Google Account. Under Data and privacy, find the option to Delete a Google service, and then find Gmail and click the trash can icon next to it. For more details, see my full guide with screenshots of each step.

If you decide that you do want to delete your entire Google account after all, see my instructions on how to delete your entire Google account.

How long does it take to permanently delete my Gmail account?

It only takes a minute or two to permanently delete your Gmail account. This can be accomplished on any device — including a computer, Android, iPhone, or even iPad.

If you’re unsure how to proceed, I recommend reading the full set of instructions (including two important preliminary steps) on how to quickly and permanently delete your Gmail account.