Log out of Yahoo Mail on your computer
Open Yahoo Mail in your web browser and look for your account icon in the top right corner of the screen. It usually shows your name or a circular profile picture. Click it once.
A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Look for "Sign out" or "Log out" — the exact wording depends on which version of Yahoo Mail you're using, but it will be near the bottom of that menu. Click it, and you'll be logged out immediately.
Your browser will take you to the Yahoo Mail login page, which confirms the logout worked. If you're on a shared computer, this is the moment to close the browser tab or window entirely so someone else can't click the back button and access your account.
Key Takeaways
- On a computer, click your profile icon in the top right corner of Yahoo Mail and select "Sign out" from the menu that appears.
- On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Yahoo Mail app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), scroll down, and tap "Sign out."
- If you're logged into Yahoo Mail on multiple devices, logging out on one device does not log you out on the others — you must log out of each one separately.
- After logging out, close your browser or app completely if you're on a shared device, because some browsers can restore your session if you reopen them.
- If you cannot find the logout button, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache, as display issues sometimes hide menu options.
Log out of Yahoo Mail on your phone
The steps differ slightly between iPhone and Android, but both follow the same general path. Open the Yahoo Mail app on your phone — not the web version in a browser, but the official app itself.
Look for the menu icon, which is usually three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other (called a hamburger menu). On most phones it sits in the bottom right or top left corner of the screen. Tap it once.
Scroll down through the menu options until you see "Sign out," "Log out," or sometimes "Remove account." Tap that option. The app will confirm you're logged out and return you to the login screen.
Log out of Yahoo Mail in Gmail or Outlook if you added it there
If you set up your Yahoo Mail account inside Gmail or Microsoft Outlook instead of using the Yahoo Mail app directly, logging out works differently. You're not actually logging out of Yahoo — you're just removing the connection between that email client and your Yahoo account.
In Gmail, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), then select "See all settings." Find the "Accounts and Import" tab, look for your Yahoo account in the list, and click "Delete." In Outlook on a computer, go to File, then Account Settings, find your Yahoo account, and click "Remove."
This disconnects Yahoo Mail from that app but does not log you out of Yahoo itself. If you want to fully log out of Yahoo, you still need to do it through the Yahoo Mail website or app using the steps above.
What happens after you log out
Once you log out, Yahoo Mail will not show your emails or let anyone access your account from that device until you log back in with your password. If you're on a public or shared computer, this is the safest option.
However, logging out on one device does not log you out everywhere. If you're signed into Yahoo Mail on your phone, your tablet, and your computer, you must log out of each one separately. Check all your devices if you're concerned about unauthorized access.
If you think someone else has accessed your account, logging out everywhere is not enough — you should also change your Yahoo password immediately. This forces anyone who knows your old password to log back in with the new one.
If the logout button is not visible
Sometimes the profile menu does not appear or the logout option is hidden. The quickest fix is to refresh the page by pressing F5 on your keyboard (or Ctrl+R on Windows, Command+R on Mac). Wait for the page to fully load, then try clicking your profile icon again.
If that does not work, try clearing your browser cache. In Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Command+Shift+Delete (Mac), select "All time" from the time range dropdown, check "Cookies and other site data," and click "Clear data." Then refresh Yahoo Mail and try logging out again.
If you're using an older browser or one that Yahoo Mail does not fully support, consider switching to Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. Yahoo Mail works best on current versions of these browsers.
Logging out versus staying signed in
Logging out is the right choice if you're on a computer or phone that other people use, or if you're in a public place like a library or coffee shop. It prevents anyone from reading your emails or sending messages from your account.
On your personal device that only you use, staying signed in is fine — it just means you do not have to type your password every time you want to check email. Yahoo will keep you signed in until you manually log out or until the app is uninstalled.
If you're worried about security but do not want to log out every time, consider using a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password. These tools let you sign out while still being able to log back in quickly without typing your password by hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does logging out of Yahoo Mail log me out of other Yahoo services?
No. Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo News, and other Yahoo services share the same account, but logging out of one does not log you out of the others. You must log out of each service separately if you want to be signed out everywhere.
Can I log out of Yahoo Mail on all my devices at once?
Not directly from the logout button. However, you can change your Yahoo password, which will force you to log back in on every device. This is the fastest way to log out everywhere if you have many devices signed in.
What if I forgot my password and cannot log back in after logging out?
Go to the Yahoo Mail login page and click "Forgot password?" You'll be asked to verify your identity using a recovery email address or phone number. Yahoo will send you a link to reset your password, which usually takes a few minutes.
Is it safe to stay logged into Yahoo Mail on my phone?
Yes, as long as your phone is password-protected and you trust everyone who has access to it. If your phone is lost or stolen, the thief could read your emails, so logging out before giving your phone to someone else is a good habit.
Why does Yahoo Mail keep logging me out automatically?
Yahoo logs you out after a period of inactivity (usually 30 days) for security reasons. If this happens frequently, check whether you have "Remember me" or a similar option enabled at login — turning it on can extend how long you stay signed in.