The fastest way to sign out of Chrome
To sign out of Chrome, click your profile picture in the top right corner of the browser window, then select Sign out. Chrome will close all open tabs and windows, then restart with no account connected. Your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords stay on your computer — they just won't sync to other devices anymore.
If you do not see a profile picture, you are not signed in. Chrome works without a Google account, so signing out is optional. Many people use Chrome unsigned and never need to do this.
On a phone or tablet, the process is slightly different because the menu layout changes. The steps below cover Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iPhone.
Key Takeaways
- Click your profile picture in the top right corner of Chrome on a computer and select Sign out to disconnect your Google account.
- Signing out stops Chrome from syncing your bookmarks, history, and passwords across devices, but does not delete them from your computer.
- On Android, open the menu (three dots), tap Settings, then Google Account, then Manage your Google Account, and sign out from there.
- On iPhone, tap the menu (three dots), go to Settings, scroll to your account name, and tap Sign out.
- If you share a computer, signing out prevents the next user from seeing your synced data, but does not erase files already on the device.
How to sign out on Windows or Mac
Open Chrome and look for your profile picture in the top right corner — it is usually a circle with your initial or a photo. Click it once. A small menu will drop down with your name and email address at the top.
Click Sign out at the bottom of that menu. Chrome will close all your open tabs and windows, then reopen with no account connected. You can still use Chrome normally; you just will not sync data to other devices or see your Google account information.
If you cannot find the profile picture, you are already signed out. You can still browse, but Chrome will not remember your bookmarks or passwords across devices.
How to sign out on Android
Open Chrome and tap the three-dot menu in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings. At the top of the Settings screen, you will see your Google Account name and email. Tap it.
Tap Manage your Google Account. This opens your account settings in a new tab. Tap the Security tab at the top, then scroll down to Your devices and tap Manage all your devices. Find Chrome in the list, tap it, and select Sign out.
Alternatively, you can go back to the Settings menu in Chrome and tap Sign out directly if you see that option. The exact menu layout varies by Android version, but both routes lead to the same result.
How to sign out on iPhone or iPad
Open Chrome and tap the three-dot menu in the bottom right corner. Tap Settings. At the top, you will see your account name. Tap it, then tap Sign out. Chrome will disconnect your Google account and stop syncing your data.
On iPhone, the menu is at the bottom because of how iOS displays navigation. The steps are the same as Android, but the location of the menu button is different.
What happens when you sign out
Signing out stops Chrome from syncing your bookmarks, history, passwords, and open tabs to your other devices. If you sign back in on the same computer later, all that data returns — Chrome stores it locally on your device.
Signing out does not delete anything from your computer. Your browsing history, saved passwords, and downloaded files stay where they are. Only the connection to your Google account is severed. If you want to erase your data, you need to clear your browsing history separately through Chrome's settings.
If you share a computer with someone else, signing out prevents them from seeing your synced bookmarks and history. However, they can still see files you downloaded and pages you visited if they use the same user account on the computer itself.
When to sign out of Chrome
Sign out if you are using a shared or public computer and do not want the next person to see your bookmarks, history, or saved passwords. This is the main reason to sign out — it protects your privacy on a device you do not control.
You might also sign out if you are switching to a different Google account on the same computer. Chrome only syncs one account at a time, so signing out and signing back in with a different account will sync that account's data instead.
If you are troubleshooting Chrome problems, signing out and back in sometimes fixes sync issues or slow performance. This forces Chrome to re-read your synced data and can clear out corrupted files.
The difference between signing out and clearing your data
Signing out disconnects your Google account but leaves your local data intact. Clearing your browsing data erases your history, cookies, and cached files from your computer. These are two separate actions.
If you want to erase your history before signing out, go to Settings in Chrome, click Privacy and security on the left, then click Clear browsing data. Choose what time range you want to clear (usually All time) and what types of data (usually Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files), then click Clear data.
On a shared computer, clearing your data before signing out is a good practice. It removes traces of the sites you visited and the passwords you entered, even though signing out alone prevents the next user from seeing your synced bookmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does signing out of Chrome delete my bookmarks?
No. Your bookmarks stay on your computer. Signing out just stops them from syncing to other devices. If you sign back in with the same Google account, your bookmarks reappear and sync again.
Can I sign out of Chrome on one device without affecting others?
Yes. Signing out on your phone does not sign you out on your computer. Each device is independent. However, if you sign out on one device and then sign in with a different account, that new account's data will sync to that device only.
What if I forgot my Google password and cannot sign out?
You can still sign out without knowing your password. Click your profile picture and select Sign out — you do not need your password to disconnect. If you want to sign back in later, you will need your password then.
Does signing out of Chrome sign me out of Gmail and other Google services?
No. Signing out of Chrome only disconnects the browser. You stay signed into Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services in your web browser. To sign out of those, you need to sign out from each service separately or clear your cookies.
Will the next user see my passwords if I just sign out?
Not your synced passwords. Signing out removes access to passwords saved in your Google account. However, if you saved a password in Chrome's local storage on that computer, the next user who uses the same computer account might see it. Clear your browsing data before signing out for full privacy.