The fastest way to sign out of Chrome
To sign out of your Google account in Chrome, click your profile picture in the top right corner of the browser window, then select Sign out. That's the complete process — Chrome will immediately disconnect your account and clear your browsing data if you've set it to do so.
The profile picture appears as a circle with your initial, a photo, or a generic silhouette, depending on whether you've added a profile picture to your Google account. If you don't see it, you may not be signed in yet, or you may be using a different browser profile.
After you sign out, Chrome will stop syncing your bookmarks, passwords, history, and other data to your Google account. Any tabs you have open will remain open, but they won't be saved to your account for access on other devices.
Key Takeaways
- Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select Sign out to disconnect your Google account from Chrome immediately.
- Signing out stops Chrome from syncing your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history to your Google account across devices.
- You can choose to delete your browsing data when you sign out, or keep it stored locally on your computer.
- Signing out of Chrome does not delete your Google account — it only disconnects it from this browser.
- If you use multiple profiles in Chrome, you can sign out of one profile without affecting the others.
What happens to your data when you sign out
When you sign out of Chrome, your account disconnects from the browser, but your local data stays on your computer unless you delete it. Chrome will ask you whether you want to clear your browsing data — including history, cookies, passwords, and cached images — before you finish signing out. You can choose to keep this data or remove it.
If you choose to keep your data, you'll still be able to use Chrome normally. Your bookmarks, saved passwords, and browsing history will remain on your device, but they won't sync to your Google account or appear on other devices where you're signed in. This is useful if you share a computer and want to keep your browsing private while leaving your local files intact.
If you choose to delete your data during sign-out, Chrome will remove your browsing history, cookies, cached files, and other temporary data from your device. Your saved passwords and bookmarks will also be deleted unless you've saved them elsewhere. This is the more secure option if you're signing out because you're done using the device or sharing it with someone else.
Signing out when you share a computer
If multiple people use the same computer, the safest approach is to create separate Chrome profiles for each person. Each profile can have its own Google account signed in, its own bookmarks, and its own browsing history. This way, one person's sign-out doesn't affect anyone else's data.
To create a new profile, click your profile picture in the top right, then select Add. Chrome will prompt you to name the profile and choose a color. You can then sign into a different Google account in that profile. When you switch between profiles, you're switching between completely separate browsing spaces.
If you're using a shared computer and want to sign out completely, select the option to delete your browsing data during sign-out. This removes the record of what you've visited, what you've searched for, and any cookies that track your activity. It's a more thorough way to protect your privacy than simply signing out and leaving your data behind.
Signing out on a phone or tablet
On Android or iPhone, the sign-out process is similar but accessed through settings instead of a profile picture. Open Chrome, tap the three vertical dots in the bottom right corner (or top right on iPad), then select Settings. Tap your account name at the top, then select Sign out.
On mobile devices, Chrome will also ask whether you want to delete your browsing data. The same rules apply: you can keep your local data or remove it. If you're using a shared device, deleting your data is the more secure choice.
If you can't find the sign-out option
If you don't see a profile picture in the top right corner of Chrome, you may not be signed in to a Google account. Chrome works fine without being signed in — you just won't have syncing across devices or access to your saved passwords and bookmarks on other computers.
If you see a profile picture but no sign-out option when you click it, you may be using an older version of Chrome. Update Chrome by clicking the three vertical dots in the top right, selecting Help, then About Google Chrome. Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them.
On some work or school computers, your Chrome account may be managed by your organization, and you may not be able to sign out directly. If this is the case, contact your IT department or system administrator for instructions on how to disconnect your account.
The difference between signing out and clearing your cache
Signing out of Chrome and clearing your browsing data are two separate actions that do different things. Signing out disconnects your Google account from the browser and stops syncing. Clearing your cache, cookies, and history removes the record of your browsing activity from your device.
You can clear your browsing data without signing out — this is useful if you want to stay signed in but remove the record of what you've visited. To do this, click the three vertical dots in the top right, select Settings, then Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. You can choose what time period to clear and what types of data to remove.
Conversely, you can sign out without clearing your data, which leaves your bookmarks and browsing history on your device but disconnects your account. The most secure approach when sharing a device is to do both: sign out and delete your browsing data at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does signing out of Chrome delete my Google account?
No. Signing out of Chrome only disconnects your Google account from the browser. Your Google account itself remains active and can be signed into on any other device or browser. Your email, photos, and other Google services are unaffected.
Will I lose my bookmarks if I sign out?
If you signed in to Chrome with a Google account, your bookmarks are stored in your Google account and will remain there. You can access them by signing back in on any device. If you choose to delete your browsing data during sign-out, your local copies will be removed, but your bookmarks in your Google account stay intact.
Can I sign out of Chrome on one device without affecting my other devices?
Yes. Signing out on one device only disconnects that device. Your account remains signed in on your other devices, and they will continue to sync. If you want to sign out everywhere at once, you can change your Google account password, which will sign you out on all devices.
What if I forgot my password and can't sign back in?
Go to the Google account recovery page at accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. You can recover your account using a backup email address or phone number. Once you've reset your password, you can sign back into Chrome on any device.
Is it safe to leave Chrome signed in on a shared computer?
It's not recommended. If you leave Chrome signed in, anyone using that computer can see your bookmarks, browsing history, and saved passwords. The safest approach is to create separate Chrome profiles for each person, or to sign out and delete your browsing data every time you finish using the device.