You can delete a Gmail account and all the messages in it, while retaining your Google, YouTube, and other related accounts. Here’s how.
What to Know
- Go to your Google account settings, select Data & privacy > Delete a Google Service, and sign in to your account.Next to Gmail, select the trash can. Enter the email address for the account you want to close and then follow the steps to verify the account.Open the email from Google. Click the deletion link and select Yes, I want to delete [account] > Delete Gmail > Done.
How to Delete Your Gmail Account
Here’s how to cancel a Gmail account and delete the associated Gmail address.
How to Delete Your Gmail Account
- Go to Google Account Settings.
- Select Data & privacy.
- In the page that appears, scroll down to Download or delete your data and select Delete a Google Service.
- Follow the Download your data for a chance to download a full copy of your Gmail messages via Google Takeout.
- You’ll be prompted to sign into your account.
- On the next page you can choose the service you would like to delete. If you want to delete a Gmail account, click the trashcan icon (🗑) next to Gmail.
- You can also copy your email to another Gmail account, possibly a new Gmail address.
- Enter an email address different from the address associated with the Gmail account you are closing under Enter an email address in the How you’ll sign in to Google dialog box.
- Gmail may already have entered the secondary address you used when creating the Gmail account. The alternative email address you enter here becomes your new Google account username.
- Make sure you enter an email address to which you have access. You need the email address to complete deleting your Gmail account.
- Click Send Verification Email.
- Open the email from Google (no-reply@accounts.google.com) with the subject “Security alert for your linked Google account” or “Gmail Deletion Confirmation”.
- Follow the deletion link in the message.
- If prompted, log in to the Gmail account you are deleting.
- Under Confirm Gmail Deletion Select Yes, I want to delete example@gmail.com permanently from my Google Account.
- Click Delete Gmail.
- You cannot undo this step. After you click this, your Gmail account and messages are gone.
- Click Done.
What Happens to Emails in the Deleted Gmail Account?
The messages will be deleted permanently. You will no longer be able to access them in Gmail.
These instructions apply to all desktop users regardless of OS.
Go to Google Account Settings.
Select Data & privacy.
In the page that appears, scroll down to Download or delete your data and select Delete a Google Service.
Follow the Download your data for a chance to download a full copy of your Gmail messages via Google Takeout.
You’ll be prompted to sign into your account.
On the next page you can choose the service you would like to delete. If you want to delete a Gmail account, click the trashcan icon (🗑) next to Gmail.
You can also copy your email to another Gmail account, possibly a new Gmail address.
Enter an email address different from the address associated with the Gmail account you are closing under Enter an email address in the How you’ll sign in to Google dialog box.
Gmail may already have entered the secondary address you used when creating the Gmail account. The alternative email address you enter here becomes your new Google account username.
Make sure you enter an email address to which you have access. You need the email address to complete deleting your Gmail account.
Click Send Verification Email.
Open the email from Google (no-reply@accounts.google.com) with the subject “Security alert for your linked Google account” or “Gmail Deletion Confirmation”.
Follow the deletion link in the message.
If prompted, log in to the Gmail account you are deleting.
Under Confirm Gmail Deletion Select Yes, I want to delete example@gmail.com permanently from my Google Account.
Click Delete Gmail.
You cannot undo this step. After you click this, your Gmail account and messages are gone.
Click Done.
If you downloaded a copy, either using Google Takeout or using an email program, you can still use these messages, of course.
What Happens to Emails Sent to My Deleted Gmail Address?
People who mail your old Gmail address will receive back a delivery failure message. You might want to announce a new or alternate old address to the contacts you care most about.
If you used IMAP to access Gmail in your email program, only messages copied to local folders will be kept; emails on the server and folders synchronized with the deleted Gmail account will be deleted.
- How do I delete all my Gmail emails at once?
- To delete all Gmail emails, go to All Mail (or any other Gmail folder). Select the checkbox at the top of your emails, choose Select All Conversations, then select the trash can to delete them.
- How do I remove a Gmail account on my phone?
- To remove a Gmail account on your Android phone, go to Settings > About Phone > Google Account > Remove account.
- How do I create a new Gmail account?
- To create a Gmail account, go to accounts.google.com/SignUp. You can then set up your Gmail in your desktop and mobile email programs.
- How do I recover my Gmail account?
- If you forgot your Gmail password, open Gmail, enter your username and click Forgot password. Gmail will ask you a series of questions. You cannot recover a deleted Gmail account.
To delete all Gmail emails, go to All Mail (or any other Gmail folder). Select the checkbox at the top of your emails, choose Select All Conversations, then select the trash can to delete them.
To remove a Gmail account on your Android phone, go to Settings > About Phone > Google Account > Remove account.
To create a Gmail account, go to accounts.google.com/SignUp. You can then set up your Gmail in your desktop and mobile email programs.
If you forgot your Gmail password, open Gmail, enter your username and click Forgot password. Gmail will ask you a series of questions. You cannot recover a deleted Gmail account.
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