Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.

Gmail or Google Mail accounts can be quickly and easily deleted; we'll walk through the steps. Just remember: it's permanent.

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.

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.

"... there's no 'undo': once you delete your email account it's gone forever and cannot be restored."

Click on the Settings link at the top of the GMail page:

GMail Settings Link

Then click on the Accounts tab:

Gmail Settings, Accounts Tab

Part way down the resulting page in the section labeled Google Account settings, click on the link labeled Google Account settings:

Google Account settings link

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:

Google Account Settings Edit Link

The resulting page lists your options:

Google Delete a Service Page

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.

Article C3338 - April 2, 2008

Leo Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed. After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.

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Recent Comments
63 Comments

@Anonymous
You can open a throwaway account with any free email account provider for this purpose and simply ignore that account afterwards.

Posted by: Mark J at July 21, 2011 9:02 AM

please delete my account

Posted by: David Henry at August 29, 2011 10:22 AM

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!

I don't understand what Yahoo has to do with it. You can access your gmail account through gmail.com.
Leo
30-Sep-2011

Posted by: Edward T. Roy at September 28, 2011 5:13 AM

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 !

Posted by: Judi crotty at November 19, 2011 2:37 PM

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?

Posted by: rick at November 29, 2011 2:58 PM
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