The fastest way to log out of Gmail
To log out of Gmail, click your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen, then select "Sign out" from the menu that appears. On a phone or tablet, tap the same profile picture icon and look for the same "Sign out" option. That's the complete process — you're logged out as soon as you click it.
The profile picture appears in the same spot whether you're using Gmail on a computer, phone, or tablet. If you don't see a profile picture, you may already be logged out, or you might be looking at a different Google service (like Google Drive or YouTube) that uses the same login.
Key Takeaways
- Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Sign out" to log out when ready on any device.
- Logging out on one device does not log you out on other devices — you must log out separately on each phone, tablet, or computer.
- If you forget to log out on a shared computer, you can remotely sign out all sessions from any other device using your Google Account settings.
- Clearing your browser's cookies and cache does not log you out of Gmail, but it can help if you're stuck on a login screen.
Why you might want to log out
Logging out matters most on a device you share with other people — a family computer, a work machine, or a borrowed phone. Once you log out, the next person who opens Gmail will see a login screen instead of your inbox. Without logging out, anyone with access to that device can read your email, send messages from your account, or change your password.
On a personal device that only you use, logging out is less critical for security, but some people do it anyway as a habit or to switch between multiple Gmail accounts quickly.
Logging out on a computer or laptop
Open Gmail in your web browser. Look at the top right corner of the screen — you'll see a small circle with either your profile picture or the first letter of your name. Click that circle.
A dropdown menu will appear with several options. The bottom option says "Sign out." Click it. Your Gmail session ends when ready, and the next time someone visits Gmail on that computer, they'll see the login screen.
If you use Gmail through an email client like Outlook or Apple Mail instead of the web browser, the logout process is different — you would remove the account from that process's settings rather than using Gmail's sign-out button.
Logging out on a phone or tablet
Open the Gmail app on your phone or tablet. Tap your profile picture, which usually appears in the top right corner of the screen (or sometimes in the top left, depending on your device and Gmail version).
A menu will pop up. Scroll down until you see "Sign out" and tap it. You may see a confirmation message asking if you're sure — tap "Sign out" again to confirm. After that, the Gmail app will return to the login screen.
If you use Gmail through your phone's built-in mail app rather than the Gmail app itself, you'll need to go into your phone's settings and remove the account from there instead.
Logging out of all sessions at once from a different device
If you forgot to log out on a shared computer or lost access to a device, you can sign out of all Gmail sessions from any other device where you're logged in. Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in with your password.
Click "Security" in the left menu. Scroll down to "Your devices" and select "Manage all devices." You'll see a list of every device currently logged into your Google account. Find the device you want to log out of and click it, then select "Sign out" or "Remove."
This action logs you out of that specific device when ready, even if you're not physically near it. The person using that device will be logged out the next time they try to use Gmail.
What happens after you log out
Once you log out, your email stays on Google's servers — nothing is deleted. The next time you log back in with your password, you'll see your full inbox exactly as you left it. Logging out only removes access from that particular device.
If you log out on one device, you remain logged in on all your other devices. For example, if you log out of Gmail on your work computer, you'll still be logged in on your phone and home laptop until you log out there too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does logging out delete my emails?
No. Logging out only removes your access from that device. Your emails remain stored on Google's servers. When you log back in, everything will be there.
What's the difference between logging out and signing out?
They mean the same thing. "Sign out" is the term Gmail uses in its menu, but people often say "log out" to describe the same action. Both end your session on that device.
If I log out on my phone, does it log me out on my computer too?
No. Each device is a separate session. You must log out on each device individually. Logging out on your phone has no effect on your computer, tablet, or any other device.
Can I log out without knowing my password?
Yes. The sign-out button in your profile menu doesn't require your password — it works as long as you're already logged in. You only need your password to log back in later.
What should I do if the sign-out button isn't working?
Try refreshing the page or closing and reopening your browser. If that doesn't work, use the remote sign-out method through myaccount.google.com instead. You can also clear your browser's cookies, which will force you to log in again the next time you visit Gmail.