How to Remove an Old Device From Your Google Account
Got an old phone, tablet or computer showing up in your Google account even though you stopped using it months ago?
You can remove it from your account in a few minutes.
This is useful if you sold an old phone, gave a tablet to someone else, replaced your computer or simply have devices listed that you no longer recognize.
Here’s how to check the devices connected to your Google account and remove the ones you no longer use.
How to check which devices are connected to your Google account
You can check this from your phone or computer.
- Open your Google Account.
- Select Security.
- Scroll down to Your devices.
- Select Manage all devices.
You will see phones, tablets, computers and other devices where your Google account is currently or was recently signed in.
Tap or click a device to see more details.
How to remove an old device from your Google account
Once you find a device you no longer use:
- Open Manage all devices in your Google Account.
- Select the old device.
- Choose Sign out.
- Confirm that you want to sign out.
The device will then be signed out of your Google account.
You may see more than one session for the same device. If that happens, check each one and sign out of the sessions you no longer need.
What happens after you sign out?
Signing out removes your Google account from that device.
If it is an old phone or computer that you already gave away or sold, this is an important step because the person using it should no longer have access to your Google account through that signed-in session.
It does not remotely erase the device. If you want to remove your personal files, photos or other information from a device you no longer have, you may need to take additional steps depending on the device and service.
What if you don’t recognize a device?
Do not ignore a device you genuinely do not recognize.
First, check the device name, location and last activity shown by Google. Sometimes an unfamiliar listing is simply an old device or another device you forgot about.
If you still do not recognize it, sign it out.
Then change your Google password and review your account’s security settings.
It is also worth checking whether any unfamiliar apps or services have access to your Google account.
Can you remove a device you still use?
You can sign out of a device from your Google Account, but think about whether you still need that sign-in.
If you sign out of a phone or computer you use regularly, you may need to sign back in the next time you use Google services on that device.
There is usually no reason to remove a device simply because it appears in the list.
The list is there to help you keep track of where your account has been used.
What if you sold or gave away your old phone?
If you still have the phone, sign out of your Google account and reset the device before giving it to someone else.
If you no longer have it, sign the device out through your Google Account as soon as possible.
You should also make sure your personal information has been removed from the device before handing it over whenever possible.
How often should you check your Google devices?
You do not need to check every week.
It is worth looking through the list whenever you replace a phone, sell an old computer, give a tablet to someone or notice something unusual with your account.
A quick check can also help you spot an old device that you forgot was still connected.
The bottom line
Old devices can stay listed in your Google Account long after you stop using them.
Go to Google Account → Security → Your devices → Manage all devices, check the list and sign out of devices you no longer use.
If you see a device you do not recognize, take it more seriously. Sign it out, change your password and check your account security before continuing to use the account as normal.