Having multiple Google accounts on your Android phone can get confusing. You may have an old account that you no longer use or want to remove for privacy reasons. Removing your Google Play Store account from an Android phone is easy and can be done in just a few steps.
Why Would You Want to Remove Your Play Store Account?
There are a few common reasons to remove your Google Play Store account from an Android device:
- You have an old account you no longer use
- You want to switch to a different Google account
- You’re selling your phone and want to remove personal data
- You want to increase privacy by not being logged in
Removing the account disconnects it from the Play Store on that device. You won’t be able to access content you’ve purchased with that account. However, your purchases are still available if you log in again with the same account.
How to Remove Play Store Account from Android
Removing your Play Store account can be done in a few quick steps:
- Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
- Scroll down and tap on Accounts.
- Tap on the Google account you want to remove.
- Tap on Remove account.
You’ll be asked to confirm removing the account. Tap Remove account again to fully disconnect it.
Once removed, your Google account will no longer be associated with the Play Store on that device. You’ll need to add it again to access content purchased with that account.
Alternative Method Using Play Store App
There’s another way to remove your Play Store account using just the Play Store app:
- Open the Play Store app.
- Tap the hamburger menu in the top left corner.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap the name of the account you want to remove.
- Tap Remove account.
Confirm removing the account when prompted. This achieves the same result as removing it via the Settings menu.
What Happens When You Remove an Account?
Once you remove a Google account from your Android device:
- You’ll no longer be able to update apps purchased with that account.
- You won’t have access to content like movies, books or music purchased with that account.
- App data associated with the removed account will be deleted.
- You’ll have to add the account again to regain access to purchased content.
Importantly, removing the account does NOT:
- Delete the account entirely – it just disconnects it from your device.
- Affect your purchases – you’ll regain access if you sign in again.
- Remove the account from other Android devices it’s connected to.
You can always add the same Google account back again later if you change your mind. Just visit the Play Store settings and add it like you would a new account.
How to Add a New Play Store Account
Once you’ve removed an old account, you’ll probably want to add a new one to the Play Store. Here’s how to add a new account:
- Open the Play Store app.
- Tap the hamburger menu.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Add account.
- Enter your new Google account email and password.
- Follow the prompts to finalize adding the account.
Your new account will now be linked to the Play Store on your device. You can repeat this to add multiple accounts and easily switch between them.
How to Switch Between Multiple Play Store Accounts
If you have multiple Google accounts added to your Android phone, you may sometimes want to switch between which one is actively linked to the Play Store. Here’s how to change your active account:
- Open the Play Store app.
- Tap the account profile icon in the top right corner.
- Tap the account you want to switch to.
The selected account is now active. You can download apps, make purchases, and access content associated with that account.
To switch again, just repeat the steps and tap on a different account. It’s a quick process to move between different accounts.
Signing Out Completely
If you want to sign out of your Play Store account completely:
- Open the Play Store and tap Menu.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Sign out.
This removes all accounts from your device’s Play Store. You’ll have to sign in again to download apps, make purchases, and access content.
Removing Account from Android Device Manager
The Android Device Manager lets you remotely locate, lock or erase your device if lost or stolen. If you remove your Google account, you should also disconnect it from the Device Manager:
- On your computer, visit android.com/find.
- Sign in with the account you’re removing from your phone.
- Select your phone.
- Tap Remove Device > Remove.
Your device will no longer be associated with that account in the Device Manager.
Factory Resetting Your Phone
A more extreme option is doing a factory reset on your Android phone. This wipes the device back to a clean state as if it just came from the factory:
- All accounts and associated data are removed.
- Any apps you’ve installed are erased.
- Settings are restored to default.
Follow these steps:
- Back up any data you want to keep.
- Open Settings and tap System.
- Tap Reset options.
- Tap Erase all data (factory reset).
- Confirm the reset when prompted.
Your phone will reboot into the initial setup process like new. While extreme, this ensures ALL accounts are totally removed along with any other data on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing an account delete it forever?
No, removing an account only disconnects it from your device. The account still exists and you can add it again later if you want. Your purchases are remembered.
Can I still use apps if I remove the account?
Most apps will continue working. However, you can’t update apps or access purchased content without that account added.
What happens to my Google Play balance if I remove my account?
Your Google Play balance is attached to your account. It remains untouched if you remove the account from your device.
Do I lose app data if I remove the associated account?
Unfortunately, any app data tied to that account will be erased when you remove the account. Back up data you want to keep.
What’s the easiest way to remove a Play Store account?
The fastest way is to open Settings > Accounts > Google and remove the account. Just a few taps and it’s disconnected.
Summary
A few key points to remember:
- Removing an account disconnects it from the Play Store on that device only.
- You can add the account again later to regain access to your content.
- Make sure to back up important app data before removing an account.
- Factory resetting your phone will remove ALL accounts and data.
- Just visit Play Store settings to easily add or switch between accounts.
Removing your Google account from an Android phone is simple and only takes a few taps once you know the steps. Just open Settings, Accounts, and Remove account to disconnect it. While it prevents access to purchases and deletes app data, the account and your content aren’t gone forever – you can always log in again to restore access on that device.
