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 look for the sign-out option. The process takes about two seconds and works the same way whether you're using Gmail in a web browser or the Gmail app.
If you can't see your profile picture — for example, if you're using a shared computer and someone else's account is active — you can also sign out by going directly to accounts.google.com, clicking your profile picture there, and selecting "Sign out".
After you sign out, Gmail will return you to the login screen. Your emails remain on Google's servers and won't be deleted. The next time you want to read your mail, you'll need to sign back in with your email address and password.
Key Takeaways
- Click your profile picture in the top right corner of Gmail and select "Sign out" — this works on computers, phones, and tablets.
- Signing out removes your account from that device but does not delete your emails or change your account settings.
- If you're using a shared computer, always sign out when you're done so the next person doesn't see your emails.
- You can sign out from accounts.google.com if you can't find the profile picture menu in Gmail itself.
Why you should sign out on shared computers
If you use Gmail on a computer that other people also use — at work, school, a library, or a friend's house — signing out is important. When you stay signed in, the next person who opens that browser can see your emails, contacts, and calendar without needing your password.
This is different from locking your computer. Locking the screen protects your device, but it doesn't sign you out of websites. If someone unlocks the computer or restarts the browser, they'll still have access to your Gmail account.
On your own personal computer or phone, signing out is less critical, but some people do it anyway as a security habit. The choice depends on who has physical access to your device and how much you trust them.
Signing out on phones and tablets
On an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone, open the Gmail app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Scroll down and tap "Sign out" or "Manage your Google Account," then go to the "Security" tab and look for "Your devices" to sign out from there.
If you're using 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."
After you sign out of the Gmail app, it will ask whether you want to keep your emails downloaded on the phone for offline reading. You can choose yes or no — either way, your account is signed out and someone else can't access it without your password.
Signing out from multiple devices at once
If you want to sign out of Gmail on all your devices at the same time — for example, if you think someone has your password — you can do this from your Google Account settings. Go to myaccount.google.com, click "Security" on the left side, scroll down to "Your devices," and select "Manage all devices."
Click on any device in the list and choose "Sign out." Google will immediately sign your account out on that device, even if you're not physically holding it. This is faster than signing out one device at a time, and it's the right move if you're worried about unauthorized access.
After you sign out remotely, you'll need to sign back in on each device with your password. If you changed your password because you think it was compromised, the old sign-in won't work anyway.
What happens after you sign out
Your emails don't go anywhere when you sign out. They stay on Google's servers, and you can read them again the next time you sign in. Your contacts, calendar, and any files you've saved in Google Drive are also still there.
Signing out also clears your active session on that device, which means Gmail won't remember you the next time someone opens a browser on that computer. If you're using a public computer, this is the whole point — the next user starts fresh.
If you want to delete your Gmail account entirely rather than just sign out, that's a different process and requires going to your Google Account settings. Signing out is temporary; deleting is permanent.
Troubleshooting when you can't find the sign-out button
If you're looking at Gmail but don't see a profile picture icon in the top right corner, you might be looking at the Gmail login page rather than your inbox. The sign-out button only appears when you're already signed in.
On some older browsers or if Gmail isn't loading properly, the profile picture icon might not show up. In that case, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser's cache. If that doesn't work, go directly to accounts.google.com and sign out from there instead.
If you're on a phone and the Gmail app isn't responding, try closing the app completely and opening it again. If the sign-out option still doesn't appear, you can also sign out by going to your phone's settings, finding the Gmail or Google account section, and removing the account from that device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does signing out of Gmail sign me out of other Google services?
No. Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube, and other Google services all use the same account, but signing out of one doesn't automatically sign you out of the others. If you want to sign out completely, you need to sign out from your Google Account page at accounts.google.com, which will sign you out of everything at once.
Will I lose my emails if I sign out?
No. Your emails stay on Google's servers whether you're signed in or not. Signing out just removes your account from that device. When you sign back in, all your emails will be there.
What if I forget to sign out on a public computer?
Go back to that computer as soon as you can and sign out manually. If you can't get back to it, go to myaccount.google.com from any device, click "Security," find "Your devices," and remotely sign out from the public computer. This will end your session on that machine immediately.
Can I sign out without knowing my password?
Yes. You don't need your password to sign out — just click the profile picture and select "Sign out." You'll only need your password to sign back in later.