The fastest way to sign out of Gmail
To sign out of Gmail, click your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen, then select "Sign out" from the menu that appears. On a phone or tablet, tap the same profile picture icon and choose "Sign out". You will be returned to the Gmail login page, and your account will no longer be accessible from that device until you sign back in.
If you cannot see your profile picture — for example, if you are on a shared computer and someone else's account is showing — look for a circular icon or initial in the top right corner of the Gmail interface. That is the profile menu, and it works the same way.
Key Takeaways
- Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Sign out" to leave your Gmail account on any device.
- On phones and tablets, the process is identical: tap the profile picture, then tap "Sign out".
- Signing out removes your account from that device only — other devices where you are signed in will remain active.
- If you forget to sign out on a shared computer, you can sign out remotely from another device using the "Manage your Google Account" security settings.
Signing out on a computer or laptop
Open Gmail in your web browser and look at the top right corner of the page. You will see a circular profile picture or a circle with your initial inside it. Click that icon once.
A small menu will drop down with several options. The bottom option says "Sign out". Click it. Gmail will close your session, and the next time someone opens Gmail in that browser, they will see the login page instead of your inbox.
If you use Gmail in multiple browser tabs, signing out will end your session in all of them at once. You do not need to sign out separately from each tab.
Signing out on a phone or tablet
Open the Gmail app and tap the profile picture icon in the top right corner. On some phones, this may appear as a circle with your initial or a small photo. Tap it once.
A menu will appear with options including your email address and account settings. Scroll down to the bottom of this menu and tap "Sign out". The app will return to the login screen, and your account will be removed from that device.
If you use Gmail through a web browser on your phone instead of the app, the process is the same as on a computer: tap the profile picture and select "Sign out" from the dropdown menu.
Signing out from multiple devices at once
If you are signed into Gmail on several devices and want to sign out from all of them without visiting each one, you can do this from your Google Account settings. Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in if you are not already.
Click "Security" in the left menu, then scroll down to find "Your devices" or "Manage all your devices". You will see a list of devices where you are currently signed in. Click on any device and select "Sign out" to end your session on that device only, or look for an option to "Sign out of all other sessions" to remove your account from every device except the one you are using right now.
This method is useful if you have left Gmail open on a computer at work or a friend's house and want to sign out without being there in person.
What happens after you sign out
Once you sign out, your Gmail account is no longer accessible on that device. If someone opens Gmail in the same browser or app, they will see the login page and will need their own email address and password to access their account.
Signing out does not delete your emails, change your password, or affect your account on other devices. Your messages remain in Gmail's servers and will be there when you sign back in from any device. Signing out simply closes your current session on that specific device.
If you are on a shared computer and want to make sure no one can access your account, signing out is the right step. For extra security on a shared device, you can also clear your browser's cookies and cache after signing out, though signing out alone is usually enough.
If you cannot find the sign-out button
On some older versions of Gmail or in certain browsers, the profile menu may look slightly different. If you do not see a profile picture icon in the top right corner, look for a gear icon (settings) or a menu icon (three horizontal lines). Click that instead, and you should find a "Sign out" option in the menu that appears.
If you are using Gmail through a work or school account, your organization may have customized the interface. The sign-out button should still be in the top right corner, but it might be labeled differently or appear in a different menu. If you cannot locate it, contact your IT department or school tech support for help.
If Gmail is not responding or the sign-out button is not working, try closing the browser completely and reopening it. Sometimes a browser glitch can prevent the menu from appearing. If the problem continues, try signing out in a different browser or on a different device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does signing out of Gmail sign me out of other Google services?
No. Signing out of Gmail only ends your session in Gmail. You will remain signed into other Google services like Google Drive, Google Photos, and YouTube on that device. If you want to sign out of all Google services at once, use the "Sign out of all accounts" option in your Google Account settings instead of signing out from Gmail directly.
Can I sign out of Gmail on someone else's device if I forgot to do it?
Yes. Go to myaccount.google.com from any device, click "Security", find "Your devices", and select the device you want to sign out from. You can sign out remotely without being at that device. This is useful if you used Gmail on a public computer or a friend's phone and forgot to sign out.
What if I sign out by accident and need to get back in?
Simply go to gmail.com and sign in again with your email address and password. There is no penalty for signing out and signing back in. You can do this as many times as you need.
Does signing out delete my emails?
No. Signing out only closes your session on that device. All your emails remain stored in Gmail and will be there when you sign back in from any device. Signing out does not delete, archive, or change anything about your messages.