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How to sign out of Gmail and all Google accounts with one click

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It’s 2015, and you’ve probably lost your phone. Easy to do that with lots of alcohol or a hectic swarm of people trying to party. But if you haven’t actually lost your phone (those who need to find a lost or stolen Android phone can park it right here) and simply misplaced it at a location where it can be recovered, you probably want to make sure prying eyes won’t be your social downfall.

Thankfully we’ve got the perfect antidote with 3 simple steps to sign out of all your Google accounts from a remote location. You’ll need to be able to access the desktop version of Google so find a PC and follow these instructions:

  1. Head to Gmail.com and sign in.
  2. Scroll all the way to the bottom and look for the “Recent Activity” Label on the bottom right. Beneath that should be a “Details” link. Click it.
  3. A popup window opens showing you where and when your account is being used. At the top of the page is a button that says “Sign out all other sessions.” Click it.

And you’re done. What we just did was force all browsers, devices and apps that use your Google account to sign out. This makes it so that someone who might have your phone will have to put your password in the next time they try and gain access, effectively ensuring nosy eyes won’t be glancing over your personal data.

We strongly note that this should only be used in a case where you know, without a shadow of doubt, exactly where your device is and who has it so you can recover it at your earliest convenience. The reasoning is because Google’s device location tools won’t work if you aren’t signed in on that device, and since you just signed out of everything, well, that wouldn’t be possible.

So to recap: make sure you know where exactly your device is before proceeding, use the instructions above to secure your account, and speed over to the place you left your phone and recover it at your earliest convenience. Everyone else? Head here and here if you’re still not sure of your device’s whereabouts and level of security. Here’s to a more responsible 2015!

Quentyn Kennemer
The "Google Phone" sounded too awesome to pass up, so I bought a G1. The rest is history. And yes, I know my name isn't Wilson.

Readers’ Choice Awards: Manufacturer of the Year 2014

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6 Comments

  1. Google should still add an option to set a PIN to your device Gmail both from the device and remotely so you can find your device but lock your Gmail on the device. I don’t know why they don’t do this for gmail when they do for the Play store.

    1. I would assume it’s done on the Play Store for the purposes of actually spending money on there and directly having your credentials as well. Same reason Wallet has a pin.

      Gmail on the other hand is ‘just’ your email. The device should be the one to have the security, not the service itself. It’s like requiring all our apps to have a pin sign in every time we would go on. The only ones that do are Dropbox, banking apps , Paypal, etc. the ones that would instantly damage us if left wide open (have to dig a bit in our email to find something).

      1. I know why there’s a PIN on the Play store; that’s obvious. It prevents people from making unauthorized transactions, like say, if someone unauthorized gets ahold of your phone.

        However, what happens if they get into your phone, can’t make purchases, but then can get into your Gmail? They can reset your Gmail password, then reset your Google Play store PIN. So what’s the point of having a store PIN if there’s no Gmail app PIN?

        The Play store PIN was mostly in response to kids making tons of unauthorized purchases on their parent’s iPad; Apple had it first, then Google implemented, then they both strengthened it based on Apple getting sued and refunding millions of dollars from things like $1500 in-app purchases from parent’s little kids.

        So, if you’re going to have a tablet laying around that anybody can play games with, and Android makes you add your Gmail address to the tablet to use the Play store, why would they have a PIN in the Play store app but not on the Gmail app? It’s counter-intuitive.

        A lot of people don’t lock their phones either (see AnandTech’s article on why the Nexus 6 runs slow; according to their research the majority of people don’t lock their phones), so not having a Gmail PIN is a big deal. Sure, it might annoy people, but I’d sure love to have the option. This would allow me to put my Gmail on other devices (which is what Google wants) that I let other people use without worrying about them having access to my Gmail.

  2. If you can get to a PC – one on which you’re willing to enter to Google account credentials – why not just use Android Device Manager to both lock the device and subsequently locate it? This would keep prying eyes out of everything, not just the stuff tied to your Google account.

  3. Handy to see if room mate, spouse or other is using your account for what ever reason when you’re not around.

  4. What happens if I’ve set my phone to remember my email & password?

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