The quickest way to log out of Yahoo Mail

To sign out of Yahoo Mail, click your account icon in the top right corner of the screen, then select "Sign out" from the menu that appears. On a phone or tablet, tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the top left, scroll down, and tap "Sign out". The process takes about five seconds and when ready ends your session on that device.

If you cannot find the account icon, look for your name or a circular profile picture in the top right corner of the Yahoo Mail page. Clicking it opens a dropdown menu where "Sign out" is usually near the bottom.

Key Takeaways

  • Click your account icon in the top right corner of Yahoo Mail and select "Sign out" to end your session when ready.
  • On phones and tablets, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left, then scroll down and tap "Sign out".
  • Signing out on one device does not automatically sign you out on other devices — you must sign out separately on each one.
  • If you forget to sign out on a shared computer, you can remotely sign out all sessions from any other device by visiting your Yahoo Account Security page.

Why you should sign out instead of just closing the browser

Closing your browser tab or window does not always end your Yahoo Mail session. If you have the "Keep me signed in" option turned on, Yahoo remembers your login and automatically signs you back in the next time you visit the site. This is convenient for your own device, but it creates a security problem on shared computers.

Someone else using that computer after you can open Yahoo Mail and access your inbox without entering a password. Signing out explicitly tells Yahoo to forget your login, so the next person to use that computer will see the Yahoo Mail login screen instead of your inbox.

Signing out on shared computers and public devices

Always sign out of Yahoo Mail before leaving a shared computer, library computer, or public device. Use the account icon method described above — it takes five seconds and is the most reliable way to end your session.

If you used a shared computer and forgot to sign out, you can still protect your account. Sign in to Yahoo Mail from any other device, click your account icon, select "Account info", then go to "Security" and choose "Sign out of all other sessions". This when ready ends your Yahoo Mail session on every other device and computer, including the one you forgot to sign out on.

The difference between signing out and closing the app

On phones and tablets, closing the Yahoo Mail app does not sign you out. The app keeps you logged in so your email loads faster the next time you open it. If someone picks up your phone and opens the Yahoo Mail app, they will see your inbox without needing your password.

To actually sign out on a phone or tablet, open the app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner, scroll all the way down, and tap "Sign out". After you do this, the next time you open the app, you will need to enter your password again.

What happens after you sign out

Once you sign out, Yahoo Mail removes your login information from that device. The next time you or anyone else tries to access Yahoo Mail on that device, they will see the login screen and need to enter a username and password.

Signing out does not delete your emails, change your password, or affect your account in any way. It only ends that particular session. You can sign back in when ready if you want to, and all your messages will still be there.

Signing out on multiple devices at once

If you use Yahoo Mail on a phone, a tablet, and a computer, signing out on one device does not sign you out on the others. You must sign out separately on each device. This is useful if you want to keep using Yahoo Mail on your personal phone but sign out on a work computer.

If you want to sign out everywhere at once — for example, if you think someone has accessed your account — go to your Yahoo Account Security page from any device, select "Sign out of all other sessions", and Yahoo will end every active session except the one you are currently using.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does signing out delete my emails?

No. Signing out only ends your session on that device. All your emails stay in your Yahoo Mail account and will be there when you sign back in.

What if I sign out and then when ready want to check my email again?

You can sign back in right away. Just enter your Yahoo username and password on the login screen. Signing out and signing back in takes about 30 seconds total.

Can I sign out of Yahoo Mail on someone else's device?

You cannot sign out of another person's device directly, but you can sign out all sessions at once from your Yahoo Account Security page. This ends your Yahoo Mail session on every device, including theirs.

Is there a difference between signing out and logging out?

No. "Signing out" and "logging out" mean the same thing — ending your session so someone else cannot access your account without a password.