Chrome uses whichever Google account you signed in with first
When you sign into Chrome with a Google account, that account becomes your default. Chrome uses it to sync your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history across devices. It also appears in Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube, and other Google services when you visit them. If you signed in with the wrong account or want to switch to a different one, you can change which account is default by signing out and signing back in with the account you want to use instead.
The process takes about two minutes and does not delete your data — it just moves which account owns your Chrome profile.
Key Takeaways
- Your default Google account in Chrome is the one you signed in with first, and it controls which account syncs your bookmarks and passwords.
- To change your default account, sign out of Chrome completely, then sign back in with the account you want to use instead.
- Signing out does not delete your bookmarks or passwords — they stay in Chrome until you clear them manually.
- If you use multiple Google accounts, you can add them all to Chrome and switch between them without signing out each time.
- Your default account is separate from which account you use in an individual tab — you can be signed into different accounts in different tabs at the same time.
How to sign out of your current Google account
Open Chrome and look at the top right corner. You will see a circle with your profile picture or initial inside it. Click that circle.
A menu will drop down. At the bottom, you will see a button that says Sign out. Click it. Chrome will ask you to confirm — click Sign out again.
After you sign out, Chrome will no longer sync your data to any Google account. Your bookmarks and passwords stay in Chrome on that device, but they will not appear on your phone or other computers until you sign back in.
How to sign in with a different account
After you sign out, the profile circle in the top right will show a generic silhouette instead of your picture. Click it.
Click Sign in. Chrome will open a Google sign-in page. Enter the email address of the account you want to use as your default, then enter the password. If you have two-factor authentication turned on for that account, you will need to complete that step too.
Once you are signed in, Chrome will ask whether you want to sync your data. Click Yes, I'm in to turn on syncing for this account. Your bookmarks, passwords, and history will now sync to this new default account across all your devices.
What happens to your old data when you switch accounts
When you sign out and sign in with a different account, your bookmarks and passwords do not disappear from Chrome on that device. They stay there, but they stop syncing to your Google account. If you sign back into your old account later, those bookmarks and passwords will reappear because Chrome remembers them.
If you want to delete the old data permanently, you can clear your browsing data. Go to Settings (the three horizontal lines in the top right), then Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. You can choose what to delete — bookmarks, passwords, history, or everything. This step is optional and only needed if you do not want the old account's data on this device anymore.
Using multiple Google accounts in Chrome without signing out
If you use more than one Google account regularly, you do not have to sign out and sign back in every time you want to switch. Instead, you can add multiple accounts to Chrome and switch between them in seconds.
Click the profile circle in the top right and select Add another account. Follow the sign-in steps for the second account. Chrome will create a separate profile for each account, each with its own bookmarks, passwords, and settings.
Now when you click the profile circle, you will see both accounts listed. Click the one you want to use, and Chrome will switch to that profile when ready. Your default account is still the first one you signed in with, but you can use the other account in any tab or window without signing out.
The difference between your default account and the account you use in a tab
Your default Google account in Chrome is separate from which Google account you are signed into in a specific tab. You can be signed into your work Gmail in one tab and your personal Gmail in another tab at the same time, even if your default account is neither of them.
To sign into a different account in a single tab, go to Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube, or any other Google service and click the profile circle in the top right of that page. Click Sign in with a different account and enter the email and password for the account you want to use in that tab. When you close the tab, you stay signed into your default account everywhere else.
Troubleshooting: Chrome won't let you sign in
If you see an error message when you try to sign in, the most common cause is that your password is wrong or your account has two-factor authentication turned on and you have not completed that step. Try signing into that Google account at google.com first to make sure the password works and to complete any security checks.
If you still cannot sign in after that, try clearing your Chrome cache. Go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Clear browsing data. Make sure Cookies and other site data is checked, then click Clear data. Close Chrome completely and open it again, then try signing in.
If the problem continues, your account may have a security issue. Visit myaccount.google.com and check your Security section to see if Google has flagged any unusual activity. You may need to reset your password or review which devices have access to your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my default account delete my bookmarks?
No. Your bookmarks stay in Chrome on that device. They will stop syncing to your old Google account and will start syncing to your new default account instead. If you sign back into the old account later, those bookmarks will reappear because Chrome keeps them locally.
Can I have two Google accounts signed in at the same time?
Yes. You can add multiple accounts to Chrome by clicking the profile circle and selecting Add another account. Each account gets its own Chrome profile with separate bookmarks and settings. You can switch between them when ready without signing out.
What if I forgot which account is my default?
Click the profile circle in the top right corner of Chrome. The account shown at the top of the menu is your default account. If you want to change it, sign out and sign back in with a different account.
Does changing my default account affect my Gmail or Google Drive?
When you visit Gmail or Google Drive in Chrome, they will use your default account unless you sign into a different account in that tab. If you want to use a different account in Gmail or Drive, click your profile picture on those pages and select the account you want to use.
Can I set a default account without signing into Chrome?
No. Chrome requires you to sign in with a Google account to set a default. If you do not want to sign in, you can use Chrome as a guest or create a local profile, but you will not be able to sync data across devices.