The fastest way to sign out of Google

To log out of Google, click your profile picture in the top right corner of any Google page — Gmail, Search, YouTube, or Google Drive. A menu will drop down. Click "Sign out" at the bottom. You are now logged out on that browser.

If you do not see a profile picture, you may already be signed out. If you are on a shared device and want to make sure no one else can access your account, this single click is the safest method because it signs you out when ready without leaving any trace of your session.

On a phone or tablet, the process is the same: tap your profile picture at the top right, then tap "Sign out". The app will return you to the sign-in screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Click your profile picture in the top right corner of any Google page and select "Sign out" to end your session when ready.
  • On shared devices, signing out prevents the next person from accessing your Gmail, Drive, YouTube history, and other Google services under your account.
  • Signing out on one browser or device does not sign you out on others — you must repeat the process on each one separately.
  • If you forget to sign out on a public computer, you can remotely sign out all active sessions from your Google Account settings on any other device.

Why signing out matters on shared computers

When you stay signed in to Google on a shared device — a library computer, a work machine, a family tablet — the next person who uses that device can see your Gmail inbox, your YouTube watch history, your Google Drive files, and your search history. They can also send emails or messages from your account.

Signing out closes that access when ready. The next user will see a blank sign-in screen with no memory of your account. This is especially important on public computers where dozens of people may use the same machine each day.

If you use a device only you access — your personal laptop or phone — signing out is less critical for privacy, but many people do it anyway as a habit, or when they are about to sell or give away the device.

Signing out on multiple devices

Google treats each browser and each device as a separate login. If you are signed in on your phone, your laptop, and your work computer, signing out on your phone does not sign you out on the other two. You must sign out on each device separately by clicking the profile picture and selecting "Sign out" on each one.

This can be tedious if you use many devices. A faster option is to sign out of all devices at once from your Google Account settings. Go to myaccount.google.com, click "Security" in the left menu, scroll down to "Your devices", and click "Manage all devices". You will see a list of every browser and device currently signed in. Click any device and select "Sign out" to end that session remotely.

This remote sign-out is useful if you left yourself signed in on a device you no longer have access to, or if you suspect someone else has signed in to your account.

The difference between signing out and clearing your browser history

Signing out and clearing your browser history are two separate actions that do different things. Signing out ends your Google session and removes your account access from that browser. Clearing your browser history deletes the record of websites you visited, but does not sign you out of Google or any other accounts.

If you want to prevent Google from storing your search history on your account, you have two options. The first is to use Incognito mode (in Chrome) or Private Browsing (in Firefox and Safari), which does not save your searches to your account even if you are signed in. The second is to turn off Web & App Activity in your Google Account settings, which stops Google from recording your searches and YouTube views — but you must do this in your account settings, not in your browser.

For the purposes of this article, signing out is the simplest way to prevent the next person on a shared device from seeing your account. It does not erase your past search history from Google's servers, but it does prevent anyone using that device from accessing it.

Signing out on tablets and phones

On an iPad or Android tablet, the process is identical to a phone: tap your profile picture in the top right corner of the Google app or any Google service, then tap "Sign out". You will be returned to the sign-in screen.

If you are using the Google app itself (not a browser), you may see additional options like "Remove account" or "Manage your Google Account". Tapping "Sign out" is sufficient for most situations. "Remove account" goes further and deletes all cached data for that account on the device, which is useful if you are giving the device to someone else.

On a shared family tablet, you can also set up separate user accounts in your tablet's settings, so each person has their own login and Google account. This prevents accidental access to someone else's Gmail or Drive. Check your device's Settings app under "Users" or "Accounts" to see if this option is available.

What to do if you cannot find the sign-out button

If you do not see a profile picture in the top right corner, you may already be signed out. Refresh the page to confirm. If you are on a Google service like Gmail and still do not see a profile picture, try clicking the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner — on some older devices or browsers, the sign-out option appears there instead.

If you are using an older version of a Google app on your phone, the sign-out button may be in a different location. Open the app's settings (usually a gear icon) and look for "Sign out" or "Accounts". If you still cannot find it, uninstalling and reinstalling the app will return you to the sign-in screen.

On a computer, if you are in a restricted network (like a school or workplace), your IT department may have locked the sign-out button. In that case, contact your IT support team — they can remotely sign you out or reset your session.

Signing out before you sell or give away a device

Before you sell, donate, or give away a phone, tablet, or computer, sign out of Google and any other accounts you use. This prevents the new owner from accessing your email, photos, files, or search history. On most devices, you should also perform a factory reset after signing out, which erases all personal data from the device.

On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, scroll down and tap "Sign Out", then enter your Apple ID password. On Android, go to Settings, tap "Accounts", select your Google account, tap the menu icon (three dots), and select "Remove account".

On a Windows computer, go to Settings, click "Accounts", click "Your info", and click "Sign out". On a Mac, click the Apple menu, select "System Settings", click "General", click "Login Items", and remove any accounts you want to sign out of. After signing out, perform a factory reset to wipe the device completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does signing out of Google sign me out of Gmail, YouTube, and Google Drive too?

Yes. Google treats all of its services as one account. When you sign out from any Google page, you are signed out of Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive, Google Photos, Google Calendar, and every other Google service at the same time on that device.

If I sign out on my phone, will I still be signed in on my laptop?

Yes. Each device is a separate login. You must sign out on each device individually. If you want to sign out everywhere at once, go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, find "Your devices", and remotely sign out from there.

Will signing out delete my emails or files?

No. Signing out only ends your session on that device. Your emails, files, photos, and all other data remain in your Google account and will be there when you sign back in on any device.

What happens if I sign out and then close the browser?

Nothing additional happens. You are already signed out. Closing the browser does not change that. The next time someone opens a Google page in that browser, they will see a blank sign-in screen.

Can I sign out of Google without signing out of my phone or computer?

No. Google is tied to your device's account on most phones and tablets. If you want to remove Google from your phone entirely, you must remove your Google account from your device's settings, which is a more drastic step than straightforward signing out of the browser.