Summary: 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?
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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.
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.
Related:
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Ask Leo! - How do I backup my GMail?
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Ask Leo! - Are free email services worth it?
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Ask Leo! - How do I delete my Hotmail account?
Article C3338 - April 2, 2008
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?
Posted by: ausdienlu at March 18, 2009 9:27 PMThanks
sir,
Posted by: friend at April 8, 2009 4:49 AMup 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.
I don’t have any spam mails in my gmail account. After read this post by LcF, i went to check out my Spam folder in my gmail account and realize that have a new warning message in there… “Warning: Spam messages more than 30 days old will be automatically deleted” Maybe they just add this in after LcF made his complaint to them It’s great! [link removed]
Posted by: jessica at May 22, 2009 1:49 AMBefore 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.
Posted by: Heather at June 1, 2009 7:57 PMI 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!
Posted by: Heather at June 1, 2009 8:01 PMI 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 ;)
Posted by: Lisa at June 9, 2009 10:07 PMi sent someone a message right before deleting my other account will that person be able to read the message i sent?
29-Jun-2009
Posted by: sara at June 28, 2009 7:52 PM
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
Posted by: Hemant mahajan at July 3, 2009 2:50 AMI 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
Posted by: melissa dwinnell at October 17, 2009 8:59 AMi have problems logging in so i just want to start afresh.
Posted by: zodwa buka at November 17, 2009 10:50 AM