How to Log Out of Gmail on Any Device (Even a Lost Phone)

Signing out sounds like the simplest job in the world until you go looking for the button on a phone and it isn't there. On a computer it takes two clicks. In the Gmail app, Google doesn't offer a sign out button at all, only a way to remove the account from the device, and that has knock-on effects for your other Google apps.

If you check client emails on a shared office computer, a library PC or a borrowed laptop, logging out matters for your business as much as your privacy. Here's what Google's help says for each device, plus how to sign out of a phone you no longer have in your hand.

Logging out of Gmail on a computer

1. Open Gmail in your web browser.
2. Select your profile picture or initial at the top right.
3. Select Sign out.

If you're signed in to more than one Google account in that browser, you'll see Sign out of all accounts instead. Google says to choose that option when you use several accounts, and it signs every one of them out together.

Signing out of the Gmail app on Android

Google's help says that in the Gmail app on a phone or tablet, you can only remove your account from the device. The steps on Android are:

1. Open the Gmail app and tap your profile icon at the top right.
2. Tap Manage accounts on this device.
3. Choose the account you want to sign out of.
4. Tap Remove account at the bottom of the screen.

Signing out of the Gmail app on iPhone and iPad

1. Open the Gmail app and tap your Profile icon at the top right.
2. Tap Manage accounts on this device.
3. Choose Remove from this device next to the account.

What removing Gmail from your phone also does

This is the part to read before you tap. Google says removing the account from the app also signs you out of other Google apps on the device, such as Maps and YouTube. So if you only meant to stop email notifications, you may find yourself signed out of more than you expected.

The good news is that it doesn't delete your Google Account. Your emails stay exactly where you left them, and you can read them by signing in again or on another device.

What you want	What to do
Stop seeing emails on a shared computer	Profile picture, Sign out
Get one account off your phone	Manage accounts on this device, then remove it
Just stop the pinging	Turn off notifications for that account in the app's settings instead
Lock out a lost or stolen phone	Sign out remotely from your Google Account

Logging out of Gmail on a lost or stolen device

If a phone, tablet or old laptop is out of your reach, you can sign it out from somewhere else:

1. On a device you still have, open Gmail and select your profile picture, then Manage your Google Account.
2. Select Security & sign-in.
3. In the Your devices panel, select Manage all devices.
4. Select the device or session you want to cut off.
5. Select Sign out.

Google points out that one device can show several sessions, and you need to sign out of each one to fully remove access. While you're in there, it's a good moment to change your password if the device went missing rather than simply being retired.

Shared computers and Gmail: a few habits

• Use a private or incognito browser window on any computer that isn't yours, then close it when you're done.
• Don't tick any option to stay signed in or save your password on a shared machine.
• Sign out before you walk away, even for a minute.
• Check the Your devices list now and then for anything you don't recognise.

For teams who share a front-desk computer, it's far safer for each person to have their own login than to share one Gmail account. It also makes it clear who replied to which customer.

Logging out before a break from your inbox

Some people log out of Gmail on their phone to get some peace over a holiday. If that's you, set an automatic reply first so clients know when you'll be back, using my guide to setting up an out of office in Gmail. And if the urge to check email is the real problem, a few of the settings in my guide to working smarter in Gmail help you take control without signing out at all.

If you can't find the Gmail sign out option

• On a phone, look for Manage accounts on this device rather than a Sign out button, as Google says the app only lets you remove the account.
• On a computer, select your profile picture at the top right, not the settings cog.
• If you only see Sign out of all accounts, that's because more than one account is signed in.
• If an old session stays signed in, use Manage all devices and sign out of each session listed.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a sign out button in the Gmail app?

No. Google's help says that in the Gmail app on a phone or tablet, you can only remove your account from the device.

Will removing my account from the Gmail app delete my emails?

No. Google says it doesn't delete your Google Account, and you can still read your email by signing in on another device.

Why did removing Gmail sign me out of YouTube and Maps?

Google says removing the account from the app also signs you out of other Google apps on the device, such as Maps and YouTube.

How do I log out of Gmail on a phone I lost?

From another device, go to Manage your Google Account, Security & sign-in, Manage all devices, select the device and choose Sign out. Sign out of every session it shows.

How do I sign out of just one Gmail account on a computer?

When several accounts are signed in, Google's sign out option on a computer signs out all of them. You can then sign back in to the ones you want.