How to Delete a Gmail Account Permanently?
If you've decided that you want to delete your Gmail account, follow the steps below. Read the preparation notes first — the process removes your mailbox and cannot be undone.
Contents
Preparation before deleting Gmail account
Your Gmail account will be permanently deleted if you wish. You will delete your Gmail account and all the messages in it, but you still keep your Google account, YouTube, and other Google services tied to it. So think carefully about what you are doing.
Deleting your Gmail account can lead to serious consequences, so a few things are worth doing before you continue:
- Download a copy of your data. Use the backup guide to export your messages and contacts with Google Takeout before you delete anything. How to backup your Gmail emails fastest
- Move any important mail elsewhere. Save attachments, receipts, and correspondence you may need later to another inbox or to your computer.
- Check the services linked to this address. Other accounts and registrations often use a Gmail address as the recovery email, so review them first.
- Note that passwords are not shared. A password used for your Gmail is not automatically used elsewhere, and once the Gmail account is deleted that stored password cannot be recovered for services like Facebook.
Before you start
Deletion is permanent: the mailbox and all of its messages are removed. Only the Google account and services like YouTube remain. Back up first if there is anything you want to keep.
Why You Might Need to Delete Your Gmail Account
People look for a way to remove a Gmail address for personal reasons: they no longer use the mailbox, they want to move to a different address, or they are tidying up old accounts.
Whatever the reason, it is worth asking whether a full deletion is needed, or whether simply removing the account from a device, closing a session, or clearing unwanted mail would solve the problem without losing the address.
How to delete a Gmail account details by image
The steps below follow the account settings pages in order: open your Google account, enter the data and privacy section, choose the delete option, and confirm.
- Open your Google account. Sign in and go to myaccount.google.com.
- Open account preferences. Use Account preferences to reach the personal info section, where the delete option is listed.
- Choose the delete account option. Select the option to delete your Google Account and review the summary of what will be removed.
- Confirm with your password. Re-enter the account password to verify that the request comes from the account owner.
- Finish the confirmation. Complete the on-screen confirmation. The Gmail account and its messages are then permanently deleted, while the Google account itself stays active.
Sign-in & security
Deleting the Gmail address does not change the password you use to sign in to the remaining Google services. Keep your credentials somewhere safe, and update any service that lists this address as its recovery email.
You may also interested in
Backup Gmail emails
Export your messages and contacts with Google Takeout before you delete the mailbox.
Create a new Gmail
Starting fresh? Follow the sign-up steps for web and mobile, including Bluestack.
Recover a password
Lost access? Try SMS, phone call, alternative email, or a security question.