Typically, when you want to sign out of an app, tapping the app’s sign out or sign out button does the trick. But Gmail users are frustrated when they try to find the same button. So how to sign out of Gmail mobile apps on Android, iPhone and iPad? Let’s find the answer in our article.
Sign out or sign out means you want to sign out for the account you are using on a device. You will need to re-enter your credentials to use the account again on the same device. Is it even possible to exit the Gmail app and how does one do it?
Let’s start our journey to find out the answers.
Can You Sign Out Of The Gmail App?
Let me put it straight, without sugaring my words. Gmail mobile apps do not have an exit button. Yes, you read it right.
When you add a Google account to your Android or iPhone/iPad device, your phone or tablet automatically uses it to access installed Google services. This includes Gmail and YouTube, Google Drive, Docs, etc. Other services such as However, the sync feature must be enabled to receive new emails. Otherwise, even though you can view and access emails when you open the app, you will not be able to receive new emails.
If you want to sign out of the Gmail app, it’s not a direct or simple action. There are several ways to stop using and receiving new emails in the Gmail app. You can close the account or remove the Google account from your phone. Alternatively, you can also disable the sync. Another workaround is to uninstall or disable the Gmail app. Let’s check the steps and reflections of both methods.
Method 1: Close Gmail Account (iPhone and iPad)
This method only works on iOS and iPadOS. Here are the steps:
Stage 1: Launch the Gmail app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap the profile picture icon in the upper right corner.
Step 2: Select Manage accounts on this device from the pop-up screen.
Stage 3: Turn off the switch next to the account you don’t want to show in the Gmail app. Press the Done button at the top of the popup to save the changes.
When you turn off the toggle, the account disappears from the Gmail app. You cannot view or receive new emails for such accounts. However, if you enable the toggle again in step 3, you can see and receive new emails.
Fly: Confused between Apple Mail and Gmail app? See our detailed Apple Mail vs Gmail app comparison.
Method 2: Remove Google Account
This is one of the safest ways to sign out of the Gmail app. However, it has some serious implications.
When you remove the Google account from your phone, you will not be able to access its data in the Google apps of that account. So you will be signed out of Gmail, YouTube, Maps, Google Drive, Contacts etc.
Removing a Google account from a phone will not delete the account from Google servers. Therefore, none of your data will be deleted from Google apps. It just removes the account from your phone. You can continue to access it from other devices by logging into the account. If you want to access the account from the same device, you will need to add the account again. Read in detail what happens by removing a Google account from Android or iOS/iPadOS.
Fly: Use this method if your Google account is signed in to someone else’s phone or gave your phone to someone else to use.
Here are the steps:
Stage 1: Open the Gmail app and tap the profile picture icon at the top.
Step 2: Tap on Manage accounts on this device. If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, skip to step 3, otherwise read on.
On an Android phone, you will be taken to the Accounts screen, where you will see all the saved accounts on your phone. Tap the Google account you want to remove.
Fly: You can access the Account screen from the phone’s Settings > Accounts. Tap on Accounts again on Samsung phones. Then tap the Google account you want to remove.
Stage 3: Tap Remove from this device under your account on iPhone and iPad.
On Android phones, tap the Remove account button. A confirmation message opens. Confirm when prompted. If there is no Remove account button, tap the three-dot icon at the top and select Remove account.
Method 3: Turn Sync Off (Android)
If you don’t want to receive new emails on your Android phone, you can turn off the sync feature. Doing so will not automatically open new emails in the Gmail app. If you open and refresh the Gmail app, you can see your new emails.
To turn off sync for Gmail, open Settings on your phone and go to Accounts. Tap your Google account.
Tap on Account sync. Turn off the toggle next to Gmail.
Fly: Contacts, photos, etc. Check out 5 ways to add a Google account to Android phones without syncing.
Method 4: Clear Data (Android)
Clearing data of Gmail app on Android will also help you log out. When you clear the data of the Gmail app, the app will act as a newly installed app. Your emails will not be deleted. You can still access them from a different device.
If you do not open the application or install the application after clearing the data, you will not receive any new emails. But if you install the application, the application will work normally.
Here are the steps to clear data of Gmail app:
Stage 1: Open Settings on your Android phone and go to Apps.
Step 2: Under All apps, tap Gmail and then Storage.
Stage 3: Tap on Clear Storage or Clear Data button.
Fly: Check what happens by clearing data of Android apps.
Method 5: Uninstall Gmail App
Finally, if the above methods don’t work, you can uninstall the Gmail app from your phone or tablet. Since Gmail is a pre-installed app on most Android phones, you cannot uninstall it completely. You will only be able to disable it.
Deleting the Gmail app only removes the app from your phone. Your emails will be safe and inviolable. You can view them from a different device. If you want to use Gmail in the future, reinstall the app from Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone/iPad).
To delete Gmail app on Android phones, open Settings and go to Apps. Tap Gmail under All apps. Tap on Disable. Confirm on the pop-up screen.
On iPhone and iPad, tap and hold the Gmail app on the home screen. When the icons start shaking, tap the cross icon in the Gmail app. Alternatively, tap Delete app if it appears. Check out other ways to delete an app from iOS and iPadOS.
Bonus: Use Multiple Accounts on Gmail
If you just want to sign out of the Gmail app to access a different account, you’re taking the wrong approach. You can use multiple accounts in the Gmail app without signing out of any of them.
Basically, you just need to add multiple Google accounts to your Android or iPhone. Then open the Gmail app and tap the profile picture icon at the top. Tap the account to switch to that account. Similarly, you can switch between multiple Gmail accounts in the app.
keep calm google
We know that the above methods do not provide a direct way to log out. And some have serious consequences. But that’s how it is right now. Just like you, we hope Google adds a native exit button to the Gmail app to make things easier for everyone.
Next: Worried about the security of your Google account? Check out 5 tips from the next link to secure a Google account in the best possible way.
