Log out from Yahoo Mail on a computer

To log out of Yahoo Mail on a desktop or laptop, look for your account icon in the top right corner of the screen. This is usually a circle with your initials or profile picture inside it. Click on it once.

A small menu will drop down with several options. Look for the word "Sign out" near the bottom of this menu and click it. Yahoo Mail will close your session immediately, and you will be returned to the Yahoo Mail login page.

If you do not see your account icon in the top right, you may already be logged out. Refresh the page by pressing F5 on your keyboard (or Command+R on a Mac) to confirm.

Key Takeaways

  • Click your account icon in the top right corner of Yahoo Mail and select "Sign out" to log out on a computer.
  • On a phone or tablet, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and scroll down to find "Sign out".
  • Logging out removes your session from that device but does not delete your email or account.
  • If you forget to log out on a shared computer, you can log out remotely from another device by changing your Yahoo password.
  • Clearing your browser cookies after logging out adds an extra layer of security on public computers.

Log out from Yahoo Mail on a phone or tablet

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or the Yahoo Mail website on a mobile browser. If you are using the Yahoo Mail app, tap the menu icon at the bottom right of your screen (three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other). This opens a navigation menu.

Scroll down to the bottom of this menu until you see "Sign out" or "Log out". Tap it once. The app will close your session and return you to the login screen.

If you are using Yahoo Mail through a mobile web browser instead of the app, the process is the same as on a computer: tap the account icon in the top right corner and select "Sign out" from the dropdown menu.

What happens after you log out

When you log out, Yahoo Mail closes your session on that specific device. Your emails remain in your account and are not deleted. The next time you or anyone else tries to access Yahoo Mail on that device, they will need to enter your email address and password to log in.

Logging out does not change your password, delete your contacts, or affect your account in any way. It simply ends your current session. If you log back in from the same device later, you will see all your emails and folders exactly as you left them.

Log out from all devices at once

If you want to log out of Yahoo Mail on every device where you are currently signed in, you will need to change your Yahoo password. This forces Yahoo to end all active sessions across all devices and browsers.

Go to your Yahoo Account Security page by visiting account.yahoo.com and signing in if needed. Look for "Security" or "Account security" in the left menu and click it. Find the option to change your password and follow the prompts. Once you save your new password, you will be logged out everywhere. You can then log back in on the devices you use regularly with your new password.

Log out on a shared or public computer

If you used Yahoo Mail on a computer that other people have access to, logging out is especially important. After you click "Sign out", take one extra step: clear your browser's cached data. This removes stored passwords and login information that could let someone else access your account.

In most browsers, you can clear this data by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Command+Shift+Delete on a Mac. A window will open asking what you want to delete. Make sure "Cookies and other site data" is checked, then click "Clear data". This ensures that even if someone tries to visit Yahoo Mail on that computer, your login information will not be automatically filled in.

Troubleshooting: You cannot find the sign-out button

If you cannot locate your account icon or the "Sign out" option, try refreshing the page. Sometimes the page does not load completely, and the menu buttons may not appear. Press F5 on Windows or Command+R on a Mac to reload Yahoo Mail.

If the page still does not show your account icon, you may already be logged out. Close the browser tab and open a new one, then go to mail.yahoo.com to confirm. If you are still having trouble, try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, then reload the page. Instructions for clearing cache vary by browser, but you can usually find this option under Settings or Preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does logging out delete my emails?

No. Logging out only ends your session on that device. All your emails, folders, contacts, and account settings remain in your Yahoo account. When you log back in, everything will be there.

What if I log out and then forget my password?

You can reset your Yahoo password from the login page. Click "Forgot password?" and follow the recovery steps. Yahoo will send a code to your recovery email or phone number. Use that code to create a new password and log back in.

Can someone access my account if I forget to log out?

Yes, if you forget to log out on a shared computer, anyone with access to that computer can open Yahoo Mail and read your emails. If this happens, change your password immediately from another device. This will log you out everywhere and prevent anyone else from accessing your account.

Is logging out the same as deleting my account?

No. Logging out ends your current session. Deleting your account is a permanent action that removes your email address and all its contents. Logging out is temporary and reversible — you can log back in anytime with your password.

Why does Yahoo Mail sometimes log me out automatically?

Yahoo Mail may log you out automatically if you have not used your account for a long period, usually 30 days or more. This is a security feature to protect inactive accounts. You can log back in with your password whenever you are ready.