How to Delete a Gmail Address Without Deleting an Account
By Tammy Columbo
When you first create an account for Google services like Gmail, an all-inclusive Google account is created for you by default. Your email address is associated with the Google account as your primary email address and username. If your Gmail address is the primary email address for your Google account, you cannot delete the address without deleting the entire Gmail account. However, if you used a non-Gmail account as your username when you created the original account, you can delete the primary email address associated with the account by changing your username. You can also add and delete alternate Gmail and other email addresses from your all-inclusive Google account.
Delete Alternate Gmail Address
Step 1
Open the Google Accounts tool in a Web browser and log in with your Gmail or Google username and password to open the Account Overview page (see Resources).
Step 2
Click the “Edit” link in the Email Addresses section of the Account Overview page to open the section in Edit mode.
Step 3
Click the “X” or “Remove” option next to the Gmail or email address you intend to delete to remove the address from your account. The account associated with the Gmail or email address remains intact.
Non-Gmail Primary Email Address
Step 1
Open the Google Accounts tool in a Web browser, and then log in with your Gmail or Google username and password (see Resources).
Step 2
Click the “Edit” option in the Email Addresses section of the Account Overview page.
Step 3
Type the new email address in the Email Address field.
Step 4
Type your current password in the Password field.
Step 5
Click the “Save Email Address” option.
References
Tips
- The most straightforward way to test whether you can delete a Gmail address associated with your Google account is to log in and open the Google Accounts Overview page. Click the “Edit” link. If the email field is editable or has a “Remove” option next to the entry, you can delete the address without deleting the account.
Warnings
- Though you cannot change your primary Google email address to an existing Gmail address, you can create a new alternate Gmail address from the Google Accounts page.
Writer Bio
Based in the live music capital of the world, Tammy Columbo continues to work in the information technology industry as she has done for more than 10 years. While living in Austin, Columbo has contributed to high profile projects for the State of Texas, Fortune 500 technology companies and various non-profit organizations. Columbo began writing professionally in 2009.