2 Easy Ways to Change Your Default (Primary) Gmail Account

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Switch the primary account for Gmail with this quick guide

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: September 7, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Using Desktop
|
• Using Mobile
|
• Q&A
|
• Warnings

|Show more |Show less

Your default Gmail account is what dictates your default YouTube page, your calendar events, and much more. To change your default Gmail account, you'll need to sign out of all other accounts. The remaining account will be made your primary account. Here's how to change your default Gmail account on a computer, iPhone, iPad, or Android.

Quick Steps

1. Open https://mail.google.com/mail/.
2. Click your profile picture.
3. Click Remove next to the secondary account(s).
4. Add the secondary account(s) again.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Desktop

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1. 
   1
   Go to https://mail.google.com/mail/ in a web browser. This will open your Gmail inbox if you're logged into an account.

   • The first account you sign into is automatically set as your default account. If you want to change your default account, you'll need to log out of all secondary accounts first.
2. 
   2
   Click your profile image. You can find this in the top right corner of your inbox page.

   • This will open a menu with a list of all added accounts.
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3. 
   3
   Click Remove next to the secondary account. This will remove the account from Gmail.

   • If you have more than one secondary account, click Remove next to them.
   • The remaining account will be made default (primary).
4. 
   4
   Add the secondary accounts again. When you have only one Gmail account attached to the app, it will become your primary. You can now add your secondary Gmail accounts.

   • To add another account, click your profile picture.
   • Click Add account.
   • Enter your login details.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Mobile

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1. 
   1
   Open the Gmail app. This is the multicolored M icon.

   • Gmail is available for iOS in the App Store and for Android in the Google Play Store.
   • The first account you sign into is automatically set as your default account. If you want to change your default account, you'll need to log out of all secondary accounts first.
2. 
   2
   Tap your profile icon. This is in the top-right corner.

   • A list of all added Gmail accounts will open.
3. 
   3
   Tap Manage accounts on this device. This is at the very bottom. You may need to scroll down to find it.
4. 
   4
   Tap Remove from this device for all secondary accounts. This is the account(s) that you don't want as your default.
5. 
   5
   Tap Remove. This will remove the account from Gmail.

   • If you have more than one secondary account, repeat the steps to remove the secondary account.
   • The remaining account will be made default (primary).
6. 
   6
   Add the secondary accounts again. When you have only one Gmail account attached to the app, it will become your primary. You can now add your secondary Gmail accounts.

   • To add another account, tap your profile icon.
   • Tap Add another account.
   • Tap the provider.
   • Enter your login details.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  How do I change my default Gmail account if signing out of my default Gmail account is not an option?

  

  Community Answer

  You can select the "Sign out of all accounts" button at the bottom. This worked for me.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 32 Helpful 12
• Question

  Why does my secondary Gmail account show as my default?

  

  Community Answer

  If you logged into that account prior to your primary account, then it automatically becomes your default. Sign out of both and then sign back in to the one you want as default first.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 4 Helpful 11

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Warnings

• Once you sign out of your default Gmail account, you'll be signed out of any google-related services as well.
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