Last Updated on May 14, 2020 by Next Century
Delete Your Gmail Account
To cancel a Gmail account and delete the associated Gmail address:
Go to Google Account Settings
Select Delete your account or services under Account preferences
Click Delete Products. Note: You can also choose Delete Google Account and Data to remove your entire Google account (including your search history, Google Docs, AdWords and AdSense as well as other Google services).
Select the Gmail account you want to delete
Type the password to the account over Enter your password
Click Next
Click the trashcan icon (🗑) next to Gmail.
Note: Follow the Download Data link for a chance to download a full copy of your Gmail messages via Google takeout
Tip: You can also copy your email to another Gmail account, possibly a new Gmail address.
Enter an email address different from the address associated with the Gmail account you are closing under Enter an email address in the How you’ll sign in to Google dialog box.
Note: Gmail may already have entered the secondary address you used when creating the Gmail account. The alternative email address you enter here becomes your new Google account username. Also important: Make sure you enter an email address to which you have access. You need the email address to complete deleting your Gmail account.
Click Send Verification Email
Open the email from Google (no-reply@accounts.google.com) with the subject “Security alert for your linked Google account” or “Gmail Deletion Confirmation“
Follow the deletion link in the message
If prompted, log in to the Gmail account you are deleting
Under Confirm Gmail Deletion Select Yes, I want to delete example@gmail.com permanently from my Google Account
Click Delete Gmail
Important: You cannot undo this step and after you click this, your Gmail account and messages are gone
Click Done
What Happens to Emails in the Deleted Gmail Account?
The messages will be deleted permanently. You can no longer access them in Gmail.
If you downloaded a copy, either using Google Takeout or using an email program, you can still use these messages, of course.
NOTE: If you used IMAP to access Gmail in your email program, only messages copied to local folder will be kept; emails on the server and folders synchronized with the deleted Gmail account will be deleted.
What Happens to Emails Sent to My Deleted Gmail Address?
People who mail your old Gmail address will receive back a delivery failure message. You might want to announce a new or alternate old address to desired contacts.