Delete your Gmail address – here’s how

You can delete your Gmail address by removing the service from your Google account. Alternatively, you can delete your entire Google account.

Delete your Gmail address but keep your Google account

You can delete your email address from Google without losing your Google account. Before deleting your Gmail address, you should back up all important emails and any attachments stored in Gmail. Once deleted, the address will be permanently removed and cannot be restored.

• You can use Google Takeout to back up your data. Log in here with your account login details. Then select the data you want to back up. Check the box next to “Gmail” and select “Next step.”

• Now you can set the frequency and file type. The default setting is a one-time data export in ZIP format. You can leave this as it is. The maximum file size is set to two GB by default. You can also leave this unchanged and click on “Create export.”

• You will now receive a download link via email, which you can use to download and unzip the ZIP file.

• Once you have backed up the data, go to the Google Services page.

• Alternatively, open your Google account settings and click on the “Data and privacy” tab. Then select “Saved content from Google services” under “Apps and services” and click on “Remove service.”

• All linked Google services will now be displayed. Click on the trash can icon next to “Gmail.”

• You will then be asked to enter a different email address for your Google account. Confirm by clicking on “Send confirmation email.”

• You will receive an email allowing you to verify your new address. Once you have done this, Google will ask you if you want to use this email address to sign in to your Google account. Click on “Continue.”

• Information about deleting your Gmail account will be displayed. Confirm that you have read this information by checking the appropriate box and clicking “Delete Gmail.”

Delete Gmail and Google account

Another way to remove your Gmail address is to delete your entire Google account.

• Open the Google login page and log in.

• Click on the “Data & Privacy” tab on the left-hand side.

• Scroll down to “More options.” Click on the “Delete my Google account” button.

• You will then be asked to enter your password again. Confirm by clicking “Continue.”

• You will see information about what happens after the account is deleted. Check both boxes and select “Delete account.”

• In this case, you should also back up your data beforehand using Google Takeout. Select all Google services from which you want to back up data and click on “Next step” and “Create export.”