How do I delete my GMail account?
Actually, if you look this up on GMail’s own on-line help system you’ll find
pretty clear instructions.
Here’s how you do it, though, with pictures.
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Naturally you must be logged into your GMail account in order to be able to
delete it. If you can’t login you can’t delete the account; it’s that simple.
This prevents just anyone from deleting your account.
account it’s gone forever and cannot be restored.”
Click on the Settings link at the top of the GMail
page:
Then click on the Accounts tab:
Part way down the resulting page in the section labeled Google
Account settings, click on the link labeled Google Account
settings:
On the resulting page is a column listing all the services that are
available to your account. Click on the Edit link at the top
of that list:
The resulting page lists your options:
Click on the link that matches what you’re attempting to do.
Remember that GMail is just one service associated with your account. Even
though your account may be associated with a GMail email name, that same
account may be used for many other Google services not related to email.
Also be aware that if you cancel your GMail account, those other Google
services may no longer be able to send you email until you establish a new
email address with them. The same is true, actually, for any service, company
or contact when you delete an email address – they’ll need to know your new one
in order to contact you.
And finally, let’s be clear: there’s no “undo”: once you delete
your email account it’s gone forever and cannot be restored. That includes all
the email messages sent and received and your contacts as well. If there’s
anything you want to keep, be sure to back it up first.
Hi Leo — just a quick question, not really related to the article … just *how* do you do those wonderful “ripped-off” effects for your screenshots?!? :-)
i strongly agree with Dave…want to know what software or technique you use..to get such nice screen grab effects….
—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—–
Hash: SHA1
I use a screen-capture product called “Snag It” which has
those effects built in.
http://www.techsmith.com/screen-capture.asp
Leo
—–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—–
Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32)
iD8DBQFICi4cCMEe9B/8oqERAnl1AJ0R+fZC8KP9Cqf2mT4RT173sQ9cJACfVFWc
CmDvoKlbbl6inxhuC0eIFXM=
=jcpW
—–END PGP SIGNATURE—–
i want to delete my gmail account and i have follow the instruction that you told me to do and it doesn’t work and i really don’t want this account so please help me!
Hi Leo,
I now have created four gmail accounts but need only two. One for business and one for family.
These are all email accounts.
I’d like to get rid of two of the email addresses.
I’ve never used them and don’t want them. (the wording doesn’t look right)
should I delete them or let them stagnate?
Can I delete one email address and keep the other or does this remove all addresses and any ability to have gmail again ever ? Thanks, Curious in California
want to delete my gmail account and i have follow the instruction that you told me to do and it doesn’t work and i really don’t want this account so please help me!
hi thankyou somuch for helping me to find the result of deleting the gmail account
if i delete my gmail account does it delete my messages sent to other in their inboxes as well?
-Leo
google instructions are not very helpfull i know their game they are evil its a world wide conspieresy
In my google address somebady has entered, so still i can not access in my adress,
what can i do ?
want to delete 2 of my gmail account and I have. I have followed the instruction that google and yourself have posted and it doesn’t seem to work. I really don’t want the other accounts that I have, so can you please help me!
Thanks in advanced Leo
Hannah
19-Oct-2008
This worked in the past, but GOOGLE has changed the pages, and now when you get to the GOOGLE ACCOUNT SETTINGS PAGE, EDIT is not an option… help!
OK PLZ TELL ME
hi i need to delete my Gmail account. so i followed your instructions but mine does not have “MY PRODUCTS”!!! what do i do??
thankyou katie
01-Jan-2009
ok after two hours of googling I can’t find any instructions that take me to anything like anyone says I want to delete my account there isn’t the links I can find…I am an internet person of 10 years…I am not an idiot there is nothing like I am told I should find.
hi leo i am writing to you about how you said to permanently delete a gmail account and also anything related to it. i found everywhere you said to go but here is my problem. i logged onto my google home page and it shown me logged in to it in upper right corner. so i logged out and then i went to a page to make a new gmail account for my mom who will be moving in with me soon. so i made he an account and set up her google home page while still logged under her login. well here is the problem she changed her mind about gmail and google account and wanted me to totally delete everything to do with gmail and google. so i opened up my browser and was logged in under my name so i went and signed out then sign my mom in under her account and it displayed her home page and shown her name as being logged in and i was no longer logged in. then i went where you said to delete the gmail and account but there is one thing i am worried about. below is the page that’s asks if you want to delete the gmail account. as you can see it asks if i want to delete this account and if i check the box to say yes then the 2 boxes that were shadowed out become active and shows my email address and password in those 2 boxes instead of hers. why is this? i am afraid if i clicked remove gmail it would remove my moms and mine so i did not do it till i ask you first. what happens if i delete my email and password out of those boxes that gmail put there and put my moms gmail and password there instead? would that work and would it delete it? or will it still mess up mine? is this doing this because i made her an account on my computer even though i logged out and logged her in instead? please let me know what to do asap it is very urgent to get this done. if you can’t help me is there a phone number i can call them and have the walk me through it? below is the page it asks questions on.
Delete xxxxxxxxxx@gmail.com
Please read this carefully
You are trying to remove Gmail from your Google Account.
If you delete Gmail from your Google Account, then you will no longer be able to send, receive, or access email from your account using Gmail . You’ll also be unable to reuse your Gmail user name in the future.
Within two business days of your request, your mailbox (xxxxxxxxxx@gmail.com) will be closed and all its contents will be permanently deleted.
Are you sure you want to delete xxxxxxxxx@gmail.com?
then if you check yes:
Yes, I want to permanently delete xxxxxxxxxx@gmail.com and remove it from my Google Account.
it puts in my email address and current password
New email address (this is where it puts my email in by itself when i check yes to delete my moms account)
This will become the email address with which you sign into your Google Account.
Current password (this is where it puts my password in by itself when i check yes to delete my moms account)
Tried what you susggested. CLicked Setting, then Accounts, on the 4th line, it just wont open. Any pother suggestions on how to delete my gmail.account?
Thanks
sir,
up to end of last page i came to delete my gmail account. but at last page its asking new email address.THOUGH i entered new email address
and current password, and clicked on remove button
but its saying ,To delete Gmail, but continue use of your Google Account, please enter an external email address to become your new login name.
Before Gmail came into my life, things were good. I got e-mails, and life was very simple. Now, Gmail must be removed. It’s hateful. My problem is this: I get through all the steps, and almost succeed in deleting it, and then the final question comes: please type alternate e-mail address. I type the alternate–which it knows about—and that’s where the problem begins; “There is someone already at that address”, it says. Yes, there IS someone already at that address! ME!! And after that, all procedures fall apart, and it will not delete the email account. I’m ready to stop using the computer for the length of time required for the hideous thing to die. But that would seriously impede my business life.
I forgot to post my question: So, do we give blasted Gmail a fake alternate address, if it can’t cope with getting the actual name of our current address? (because it’s freaked out by the idea that someone–we–are actually using them)?
Thank you!
I did it!!!
I first tried putting in a random madeup email, but Google responded by telling me a confirmation email was being sent to that account, and I would need to confirm by clicking a link.
I was pissed.
THEN, I remembered this site: http://10minutemail.com
I gave google my temporary address, it sent me the message, and I was able to open it through 10minutemail. I copied the link, gave my password to Gmail one more time and I was DONE.
It tells me I can now log in using the temporary account. Suckas ;)
i sent someone a message right before deleting my other account will that person be able to read the message i sent?
29-Jun-2009
I want to delete my gmail account and i have follow the instuction that you told me to do and it doesn’t work and i realy don’t want this account so please help me
I want 2 get rid of my gmail account i don’t want it anymore. i tryed 2 get rid of it but its not working
i have problems logging in so i just want to start afresh.
On the page to delete my gmail account, there is a check box to delete gmail. Will this delete gmail altogether or just for that one account? I guess my question is, If I delete one gmail account, will it also delete the other one?
05-Dec-2009
I emailed a message that I didnt want to go through so I closed my Gmail account. Will that person receive that message?
05-Dec-2009
I can not remember what my name and pass word was with Google account. I want to delete my Google account and make a new one a new Google account,
Thank you, Barbara
after i click yes i want my account deleted- i have to fill in that email and password box and no matter what i put in them the account won’t delete no matter if i give the correct address and password or anything. its impossible. what can i do????
I noticed that in all the comments posted- you never respond to the ones about your instructions not working- especially when the account cannot be deleted- not just for me but for everyone whose ever posted about it- I understand you can only respond to so many of them but please respond to at least one of them in that specific category to help those people out
I got the instructions to delete gmail acct. I understand its permanent etc. HOWEVER, my question (and I tried finding on their website also) is WHAT happens to the msgs people keep sending ME. I know I won’t be able to see them but do they get returned “undeliverable” or do the senders just think I’m ignoring them. I want to cancel a business acct but I want people to realize I’ve closed it and re-send to my personal acct. Does the question make sense? Thaks
HOW TO DELETE GMAIL FOR GOOD!?!?!?
I just deleted my account.. and it was deleted for good..
once you do everything up there..
when you go back to “gmail.com” as you try to log in.. up on the corner will have “setting” click there and you’ll know what to do from there..
It will delete it for good.. =D
once u get done..
go to gmail.com and try to log in.. IT WON’T..
Good luck.. hope it helped
EDGAR..
send urself an email, or msg.. and if u get anything back it’s bc it’s deleted for good..
if u don’t.. then that’s how it’s going to look like for other ppl..
I have tried and tried, following the directions to the letter—i can not remove “evil”gmail and anyone who to tell you that it is easy doesn’t understand the obstacles that google has placed before anyone trying to remove gmail. I have no problem, until i have to put in “new email address”—WHAT DOES IT WANT ???
I am hugely frustrated !!!!!!!!!!!
I created a gmail account a couple of years ago and love it. I have since created additional accounts for my wife and kids. Altogether we have about 8 different emails each with different screen names of course. I want to cancel (delete) one of them but keep all the rest of our emails. I’m a bit nervous because it gives me two choices when cancelling or deleting: Delete a Product (Remove Gmail Permanently) or Delete Account (Close account and delete all service and info associated with it.) I just want to permanently delete the one email address without affecting any of the other gmails (email addresses.) What should I do? Thank you so much.
Mr. G
I guess the G in Gmail stood for “Gee”..I wonder when the hell if ever I will be able to open my “mail.” I have not been able to open an email for months. Constantly with the “Oops” !and “Loading problems” and “…use older version…”reload page”… change…ENOUGH already. Good riddence! Actually, it was like not having an account anyway and a big waste of my time! Now I learn that Durham Tech uses this service…..AAAAaaaaarrrrrrggggggg!!!!!
I want to delete my gmail account for non secure of my gmail account.
I cant delete my gmail account,i get so far then when i put my password in it says user with email specied already exsits,so i change my password & the same message keeps coming up.
I let my nephew and his wife use my gmail account. In doing so they answered +yes+ to IE Q uestion-DO YOU WANT I E TO REMEMBER THIS. Now I can’t remove these addresses.Can you help?
I started an email account with gmail six days agon, and my computer’s been bombarded by someone ever since, with my firewall having to fend it off all day long. My firewall did a backtrace and told me the IP address. I looked it up and it was google. That’s why I’m deleting my account with them.
pl my accont delet pl my sending is stop i have
problem thanks
I have two gmail, and I want to delete one. But I can find the my account products button and I did everything you asked for. I just not there. Is it because i have two accounts. or this was created later.
i have 2 a.c so this one i want to delete forever
I’m trying to delete my gmail account and when I get the screen that asks for your new email (which I did create) and CURRENT password is where where I run into problems. I’ve tried the password for my new gmail account and the password for the old gmail account and it’s not working for either passwords – HELP!!!
I get to the page that says my products edit. It’s not there. Still havent deleted account.
i am trying to delete the “gmail” account its so confusing help… i want all emails to go to my {email address removed} account!
14-Feb-2011
Your instructions are perfect/great. But Google isn’t cooperating.
Here’s what happened to me, and if it saves someone else some grief, well that’s great.
I logged in to the gMail I wanted to delete, and jumped through all the hoops so many times that I should be an old pro at deleting gMail by now. I just can’t get it to work!
When it asks me for the gMail address that will become the “new” gMail that I will use to sign in to my Google account (it actually auto fills that field), and after I input the correct password to that ‘new’ gMail, I then get a message that the password I have entered is incorrect. Note to Google: I use that password ALL THE TIME to log in to that gMail account and it is most definitely correct.
I tried clearing cache and cookies, because, like rebooting, clearing cache and cookies oftentimes solves problems. Well, not this time.
I give up. It’s nothing I am doing; it’s Google.
I will let that eMail account die a slow and honorable death, which, based upon what I read in the Google help forums, should take about 9 months, or, maybe not. Because I also see that they ‘may or may not’ delete it at 9 months. Fingers crossed.
There are no guarantees in life; there are no guarantees with Google. Love so much else about what they do though…this is my first whinge fest.
Hi, I’d like to inquire why the last comment about failure to delete gmail account has not been answered? I am faced with the same problem when trying to delete one of my gmail accounts and it asks me to provide an external (?) email to use in the future – this is where Google won’t take any email provided by me. Is it just the same old (Facebook-like) policy of not being able to delete your account after all?
Please help.
24-Mar-2011
I opened a Gmail account for a friend, now whenever I go to Gmail on my PC, his Gmail address opens on my PC! How can I stop his Gmail from opening on my PC?
24-Mar-2011
Leo, thanks for the prompt answer anyway but your wording baffled me and now I am more confused? You do not know how my problem can be solved OR the answer to my problem has already been provided!?
(Why hasn’t it been answered? The commenting instructions include the statement “I can’t respond to every comment.” and that’s exactly true. There are simply too many. In this case I also don’t know the answer.)
24-Mar-2011
Leo, thanks all the same. I have found the solution. Now it was possible to delete the Gmail account. For your prompt replies to me and for the sake of your site viewers, here it is:
In the “New email address” field, enter a new email address (non-Gmail id) which will become your login username and in the “Current password” field, enter the password of the account you are deleting.
tankyou so much now i can delete my own gmail
account and i did it. but i want to restore my account & as you know it is not possible so i want to create an account with same login name as the previous one(i mean {email removed}@gmail.com) and again it is not possible pls help me on my yahoo mail : {email removed}@yahoo.com
i’ve tried whatever you’ve said but my account isn’t deleting!!!!! WHY :( “To delete Gmail, but continue use of your Google Account, please enter an external email address to become your new login name”
my underage boy opened a gmail account w/o permission. how can i close the acct? i have his screen name and what he says is his password.
14-Jun-2011
Hi I’ve been trying to delete my gmail account for the past week and it still won’t be deleted! I’ve supplied a different email acct. for the link to be sent and still it won’t go away!!! – could you help me out?
Thanks….
@Anonymous
You can open a throwaway account with any free email account provider for this purpose and simply ignore that account afterwards.
please delete my account
My gmail account worked just fine for three or four months. However, yesterday I noticed a Google Gmail page instead of the Yahoo page I was using. I need my original gmail address to work again!
30-Sep-2011
Hi…i have been trying to delete duplicate applications and am unable to achieve this. Would you help me? I am very new @this. I have several accounts and I get confused. I also do not find my delete key any more.
Please help, help, me.
Thank you !
I have followed these instruction and the catagories on the gmail account I want to delete are just not there. I have looked everywhere. Clicked every tab one after another. I have been at this for hours and just can’t delete this gmail address. This address was associated with a business which is no long operating. Can you help?
Hi Leo. I can’t access to my google account, I have tried everything, they send me two codes at my phone but they didn’t work, so i was wondering how I can delete my account if I can get it with it.
thank you
I doesn’t work like that anymore. It’s much more involved with multiple screens that keep appearing.
I have a number of Gmail accounts and want to keep some but want to get rid of others. Is it possible to get rid of some and keep the ones I want? how?
13-Jun-2012
@Sheila,
Yes, delete away… your various gmail accounts are not related to each other, so deleting one will have no affect on the others.
However, make sure that all the ones you want to keep have valid recovery emails in them. If you delete an account and then need it later for recovery, you will be out of luck.
Please help me! A friend logged on to his gmail account on my pc. Now when I go to log on his name and password appears and I have full access to his mail . How can I delete his log on details from my pc without damaging his gmail acccount on his home pc ? Thank you for your help
@Kelly
If his name and password show up on your computer, it’s most likely because your browser is set to remember passwords. In order to delete that information, you would go into your browser settings and delete his login information. I can’t be more specific about how to do that as it’s different for each browser.
After deleting my gmail acct. from my pc, the email adddress still appears in my cel. phone.It will not open cause it will not accept the password. How do I clear it from my phone ???
I joined a few game sites, but they wont let me delete my account, will deleting my email delete the accounts on there?
@Lupin
Deleting your email account won’t affect your game site accounts. The only thing deleting your email accounts would do is to make it impossible to recover the passwords to those game sites or any sites you used that address to register for.