How to close Gmail account
Would you like to close your Gmail account without giving up other Google-branded services? No problem. By entering the management panel of your Google account you can request the deactivation of Gmail without losing access to Google Drive, YouTube, Google Calendar, and all the other services of the Mountain View giant.
Before closing your Gmail account, you can also download a backup copy of the conversations and contacts on the service to your PC, all for free and without having to install special programs on your computer: even in this case, just access the Google account control panel and click on a couple of buttons.
To find out all the steps you need to take, read the guide below. We will first see how to deactivate the Gmail account by downloading a safe copy of messages and contacts and then how to request the complete cancellation of the Google account, in case you prefer to completely get rid of all the “big G” services. Good job!
Backup of Gmail messages
Before deleting your Gmail account, or even your Google account, download a backup copy of all messages and contacts on the service. How you do it? It’s super easy, don’t worry.
The first step you need to take is to connect to google.com or google.it and click on your photo located at the top right. Then you have to select the item Personal account from the box that appears and click on the link Check your contents which is located in the center of the page that opens (in the Personal information and privacy box ).
At this point, click on the Create Archive button and choose which content to download to your PC: if you have decided to close your Gmail account without deleting your Google account, select only the Mail and Contacts items, otherwise leave all the backup options active and go Come on.
Finally, click on Create archive and wait for the archive containing all the files of your Google / Gmail account to be prepared. The operation, depending on the amount of data to be processed, could go on for hours or even days. When the archive is ready for download you will receive an email that will notify you of this (so before then you will not be able to deactivate your email account).
Deactivate Gmail account
If you want to delete your Gmail address without losing your Google account (and therefore the rest of the “big G” services), go to google.com or google.it, click on your photo located at the top right and select the item My Account from the menu that appears.
Next, click on the Delete your account or your services link located on the right side of the page (in the Account preferences box ) and go to Delete products. At this point, locate Gmail in the list of services connected to your Google account and click on the trash can icon next to it.
On the page that opens, then put the checkmark next to Yes, I want to permanently delete [address] @ gmail.com and remove it from my Google account, type the new email address you want to associate with your Google account in the text field New primary email address (you can use the address of any email provider), enter the current password of your Google account in the appropriate text field and click on the Remove Gmail button to complete the operation.
Close Google account
In addition to closing your Gmail account, do you want to completely get rid of your Google account? Think carefully. Performing such an operation means losing all the appointments saved in Google Calendar, YouTube videos and preferences, files saved on Google Drive, the ability to synchronize data from Android smartphones and tablets online.
Are you convinced of your choice? Well, then to complete the operation go to google.com or google.it, click on your photo at the top right and select the item Personal account from the menu that appears.
On the page that opens, click on the Delete your account or your services link located in the Account preferences box and go to Delete Google account and data. At this point, log in to your Google account again, press the Accept button and complete the process of deleting your account by placing the checkmark next to the items Yes, I acknowledge that I am still responsible for all charges deriving from any transactions financial pending and I understand that under certain circumstances my earnings will not be paid and Yes, I want to permanently delete my Google account and all related data.(at the bottom of the page) and clicking on the Delete account button.
Delete Google account from Android
If you don’t want to close your Gmail account but just want to dissociate it from your Android smartphone or tablet, proceed as follows: go to your device settings, press the Account item and select the Google icon.
Then choose the Google account to unlink from Android, press the Menu button located at the top right (the icon with the three dots) and select the item Remove account from the box that appears. More information on the procedure can be found in my tutorial on how to delete Google Android account.