How to Delete a Gmail Account (and Keep Your Google Account)

You can delete Gmail alone and keep your Google Account, or delete the whole account. Back up your email first: deleted Gmail cannot be restored.

Gmail only or everything?

For the whole account, see deleting a Google Account.

Delete Gmail only

1. Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in.
2. Open Data & privacy.
3. Find Delete a Google service.
4. Choose Gmail and follow the steps.
5. Add a different email address as your new Google sign-in, as Google asks.

Before deleting

• Download your emails with Google Takeout.
• Change the email address on accounts that send resets to this Gmail, such as social media and shopping.
• Tell contacts your new address.
• Set up forwarding for a while if you can, before deleting.

Can the address be reused?

No. A deleted Gmail address cannot be created again, by you or anyone else. That stops someone else taking over your old address.

Just want less email?

Unsubscribing, filters and blocking senders can clean up an inbox without deleting it. Deletion is better when you no longer need the address at all.

Second Gmail accounts

If you made a second Gmail for a project, deleting it later follows the same steps. See making a Gmail account.

What happens to messages sent to the old address

Once Gmail is deleted, people who write to the old address get a message saying it could not be delivered. Newsletters and services will fail to reach you, which is why changing the email on your other accounts first is so important.

Use the address for sign-in only

Some people keep a Gmail address but stop reading it. If you do this, set up forwarding to the inbox you use daily and keep strong security on the old account, since anyone who gets into it could reset passwords on linked services.

Children and work accounts

Gmail on a child account is managed through Family Link. School and work addresses can only be removed by the administrator.

FAQ

Can I delete Gmail without deleting my Google Account?

Yes, through Delete a Google service.

Can I recover a deleted Gmail address?

Generally no; the address cannot be reused.

Will I lose YouTube if I delete Gmail?

Not if you delete only Gmail.

Related: delete a Google Account · making a Gmail account · Gmail recovery.