How to Log Out of Gmail (Even Automatically)

Want to log out in Gmail? Wonder whether you can prevent it from signing in automatically? Find out here how to log out of Gmail using a browser or the Gmail app, how to set up a shortcut for signing out, and how to make Gmail sign out automatically when you close the browser.

First, Tea Is Strongest When…

Tea is strongest when you let it steep for three minutes, perhaps four.

After 3 minutes, some 80% of the caffeine has been extracted from the leaves, and not enough time has passed (so the story goes) for the thearubigins (which are also extracted) to neutralize the caffeine’s potency.

With this knowledge, you can make tea almost devoid of caffeine, of course: let the pot steep for 3 minutes, then throw away the result and pour fresh water, which you steep for another two or three minutes.

How to Log Out of Gmail (Even Automatically)

Using Gmail on the Web

Enough of Gmail? How to cancel a Gmail account.

Gmail Bookmarklet: Set up a Shortcut for Signing Out of Gmail in your Browser

You can also set up a bookmark or shortcut to sign out of Gmail quickly:

• Bookmark https://accounts.google.com/Logout?service=mail .
  Here’s how: Right-click on the link and select Add link to bookmarks… or Bookmark This Link, or, if no such choice appears, drag and drop the link to your bookmarks bar.

If your browser lets you open bookmarks with a keyboard shortcut, there is your signing out of Gmail keyboard shortcut.

How to Sing Out of Gmail Using the Gmail App

To quickly log out of an account in Gmail app for iOS and Android:

1. Tap your avatar or initials in the top right corner of the Gmail app.
2. Select Manage accounts on this device.
3. Uncheck any account to sign out.
   Logging back in: Simply checking the account again will sign you back in, often without password prompt or authentication.
   Sign out of a Gmail account permanently: To sign out more permanently, tap remove from this device for the account.

How to Log Out of Gmail (Even Automatically): FAQ

Can I auto-logout of Gmail?

While you cannot set up Gmail to sign you out automatically after a certain time (like, say, a bank’s website might), you can make sure Gmail does not sign you in automatically.

To log in to a Gmail session that will automatically terminate when you close the browser window:

1. Open a private or incognito window in your browser.
   Google Chrome: Press Command Shift N (Mac) or Ctrl Shift N (Windows and Linux).
Firefox: Press Command Shift P (Mac) or Ctrl Shift P (Windows and Linux).
Safari: Press Command Shift N.
2. Open and log in to your Gmail account.

To set up your browser to log you out of Gmail automatically when you close the window:

Google Chrome

To configure Google Chrome so it signs you out of Gmail automatically when you close the browser:

1. Click the three-dots Chrome menu button.
2. Select Preferences… or Settings from the menu that has appeared.
3. Go to the Privacy and security category.
4. Now choose Cookies and site data.
   Google Chrome shortcut: You can also open copy directly.
5. Under Always clear cookies when windows are closed, click Add.
6. Type accounts.google.com under Site.
   Why this domain: Gmail uses the domain accounts.google.com to store log-in information (together with Google itself, YouTube, and other Google sites).
7. Click Add.
   Chrome itself: This means Chrome itself will not automatically sign in to your Google account (and synchronize settings, for instance). You need to manually log in.

Firefox

To set up Firefox to signs out of Gmail automatically when you close the browser:

1. Click the hamburger menu button in Firefox.
2. Choose Preferences… or Settings from the menu that has appeared.
3. Open the Privacy & Security category.
   Firefox shortcut: You can also open copy directly.
4. Click Manage Exceptions… under Cookies and Site Data.
5. Type accounts.google.com under Address of website.
   Note: Gmail shares log-in information with other Google sites all using the domain accounts.google.com to store authentication data.
6. Click Allow for Session.
7. Now click Save Changes.

Microsoft Edge

To have Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) to sign you out of Gmail automatically when you close the browser:

1. Click the three dots menu button in Edge.
2. Select Settings from the menu.
3. Go to the Cookies and site permissions category.
4. Select Manage and delete cookies and site data.
   Edge shortcut: You can navigate to copy to open the Edge cookie settings directly.
5. Now click Add under Clear on exit.
6. Type accounts.google.com under Add a site.
   Important: Gmail shares log-in information with other Google sites all using this domain, so you will also have to log in to YouTube, Google itself and many other sites manually.
7. Click Add.

How do I sign out using Gmail basic HTML?

To sign out of Gmail using basic HTML:

• Click Sign out in the top right corner.

Can I sign out of a Gmail on a computer or device I cannot access?

Yes.

To sign out of Gmail sessions on devices and computers you cannot currently access:

1. Log in to Gmail using a browser.
2. Open Google Security Checkup.
   First in, then out: Log in if you are prompted.
3. Click Your devices to expand the list.
4. Now click __ signed-in devices to further expand the list.
5. Click the three-dots menu icon for a device or computer you either don’t recognize or for another reason wish to sign out of Gmail remotely.
   Self: The browser or device you used to open Google Security Checkup is labeled This device.
6. Select Sign out from the menu that has appeared.
7. Click Sign out again to confirm.

What happens in Gmail when I log out remotely? Does it remain open?

No.

If you sign out of Gmail remotely, the session will close.

In its place appears a prompt to sign in to Gmail again: Verify it’s you. Signing out usually works across browsers, so all sessions on the device will be signed out.

(How to log out of Gmail tested with desktop browsers and the Gmail app for iOS; updated November 2023)