How to automatically log out of your Google account

To provide a smoother experience, Google allows users to stay logged in with their account 24/24. But for privacy reasons it would be a better idea to make sure you log out of your account every time you're done. to use it. This can be done manually or automatically, with the latter option being the most convenient. While Google doesn't have a built-in option that allows you to automatically log out of your account, there are a few methods you can use to achieve this ultimate goal. This article details them for you.

Enable two-factor authentication for your account

Enabling two-factor authentication for your Google account adds another layer of security to the standard online password identification method. This also has an additional effect: it logs you out of your account every time you close the browser window. If you'd like to jump on board with two-factor authentication, here's how to do it.

• Go to .
• Alternatively, if you're in Gmail, click your profile picture in the top right corner. Then select "Manage your Google account" to go to the same page.
• Go to Security.
• Scroll down the page until you find the “Two-Step Verification” option. Click the arrow.
• You have now entered the two-step verification screen. To continue the process, click "Get started" at the bottom.
• Log in with your Google credentials and then click Next.
• Then, hit Continue.
• Select how you would like to receive the additional code required for authentication. Options include "Text Message" and "Phone Call". Click Submit.
• Enter the code you just received on your phone and click Next.
• Google will now ask you to turn on XNUMX-Step Verification. Do this by pressing the "Power On" button.

Two-Step Verification is now enabled. You can opt for additional levels of protection, including Google prompts or verification via an Authenticator app.

You can also activate the privacy function on your mobile device. The process is quite similar to what we have described above.

• Go to in your mobile browser.
• Alternatively, if you're in Gmail, click your profile picture in the top right corner. Then select "Manage your Google account" to go to the same page.
• The next steps are pretty much the same, so follow them as outlined above to enable XNUMX-Step Verification from your mobile device.

With this option enabled you will need to log in every time you want to use your Google account. While it might sound a bit repetitive, the privacy benefits are pretty big. You also have the option to make the process a little easier by using autofill to automatically fill in your login credentials.

Use private browsing

Another way to make sure you log out of your Google account after each session is to opt for private browsing instead of normal browsing. Private browsing is a feature offered by major web browsers that keeps temporary browsing data private including browsing history, search records, logins and cookies. Since none of this data is saved, your access to Google will be automatically restored when the private session ends. In this section we will show you how to enable private browsing in the main browsers.

Chrome

If you use Chrome on your PC or mobile device, here's how you can open a private session in your browser.

• Open Chrome on your PC or mobile device.
• Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
• Click on "New Incognito Window"
• A private browsing window should now open.

Firefox

Firefox users can also switch to private browsing if they want to make sure their Google login isn't saved. Here's how to access the feature.

• Open Firefox on your PC.
• Tap the hamburger menu in the top right corner.
• Select "New private window".
• Here you are! Your private window should now open on the screen.
• On mobile devices, tap the tiny mask icon below the search bar to open a private window.

Alternatively, you can use the browser, which runs in private mode by default.

Opera

Those who prefer to use Opera on their PC or mobile device can access their private browser by following these steps.

• Open Opera on your PC.
• Tap the "O" in the upper left corner.
• Select "New private window".
• Your private session can begin now.
• On mobile, tap the Cards icon at the bottom.
• Switch from Normal to Private to start an Incognito session.

Delete cookies after each session

Another solution for when you want to automatically log out of your accounts is to remember to delete cookies after each browsing session. Here's how it's done in major browsers on PC and mobile devices.

Chrome

If you are a Chrome user, you should know that you don't even have to clear cookies manually (although it is possible to do so). The browser allows you to enable an option that automatically deletes cookies.

• Open Chrome on your PC.
• Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
• Select Settings.
• Go to "Security and Privacy".
• Click on "Cookies and other site data".
• Scroll down until you find “Clear cookies and site data when you close all windows” and turn it on.
• In Chrome mobile start by going to “Settings-> Privacy and security-> Clear browsing data” and then go to Advanced.
• Select "Cookies and site data" and make sure that "Time interval" is set to "Always".

Firefox

Firefox has a similar option that allows you to automatically delete cookies after each browsing session, available in desktop and mobile versions.

• Open Firefox on your PC.
• Tap the hamburger menu in the top right corner.
• Select Settings.
• Go to "Privacy and security".
• Scroll down and select the "Delete cookies and site data when Firefox closes" checkbox.
• If you are on a mobile device, you need to go to “Settings-> Privacy and security-> Delete browsing data on exit”. This option should be disabled by default, so you will have to enable and select which type of data (Cookie) should be deleted after each session.

Opera

Opera users also have a similar option, and here's how to activate it on desktop and mobile.

• Open Opera on your PC.
• Tap the "O" in the upper left corner.
• Select Settings
• Click on “Advanced-> Privacy and Security”.
• Click on "Cookies and other site data".
• Activate the option "Clear cookies and site data when you exit Opera".
• On a mobile device, tap the profile icon at the bottom and then the gear icon on the tab that opens from the bottom.
• This will take you to Settings. Here scroll down until you find the Privacy section. Tap the “Clear data on exit” option and make your selection.

Create a logout shortcut on the screen

Deleting the cookies will have the effect of removing the saved settings for the sites you have visited. If you don't want that to happen and aren't interested in using any of the other methods described above, you can just manually log out of Google every time you use it.

The problem is, you may sometimes forget to do this. To fix this, you can create a link to the Google logout page on your desktop. It is really easy to do.

• On the desktop, right-click.
• This will bring a lot of options. Select “New -> Create Link”.
• Enter the following URL: https://accounts.google.com/Logout?service=mail and press Next.
• Name your shortcut. You can use something like "Sign out of Google". Then click Finish.
• Here it is! The icon has been created. You can go ahead and place it somewhere in the center of the desktop, so it's easy to locate and access it whenever you need to log out.

If you end up opting for this method, there are a few things you need to do in order for it to work properly. See, if you previously instructed your browser to save your password, when you go ahead and use the "Login" button again, it will remember your password. In that case, you need to delete your Google account password and instruct the browser not to save it the next time you log in with it. Here's how to do it.

Chrome

• In Chrome, tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
• Tap the little key icon below the image.
• Find your Google account and take a look below. You will see all the passwords you used to log into websites while using this Google account.
• Scroll down until you find your Google account and tap on the three dots next to it.
• Click Remove to delete the password from the database.
• From the same page, you can also turn off the "Automatic login" option at the top, which forces you to log into your accounts every time you want to use them.
• On your mobile, go to “Settings -> Password”.
• Tap “View and manage passwords saved in your Google account” to see a list of your passwords.
• Find your Google account and tap on it.
• Tap the Delete button to forget this password.

Firefox

• In Firefox on PC, tap the hamburger menu in the top right corner.
• Select Password.
• Select your Google account from the list and press "Remove".
• Now go back to the Google account login page and log in with entering your password again.
• The browser will ask you if you want to save the password.
• Answer by clicking on "Do not save".
• On your mobile, go to “Settings -> Login and password”.
• Make sure you turn off the "Autofill in Firefox" option.

Opera

• Open Opera on your PC.
• Tap the "O" in the upper left corner.
• Select Settings.
• Click on Advanced.
• Scroll down to the Autofill area and click Password. This section looks a lot like Chrome, down to the "Auto Login" switch that you can disable. The rest also works just like in Google's browser.
• On your mobile go to “Settings -> Password”.
• Tap “Saved Passwords” to view all the passwords you have saved while using Opera.
• Find your Google account and delete the associated password.

Sign out remotely

If you find yourself in a situation where you just forgot to log out of your Google account, don't worry, you can do it remotely. That's how.

• Open in your browser.
• Find the device you want to remove and then click "More details".
• Press the "Exit" button and confirm the action.
• That's it, you are now logged out of your Google account.
• Note that you can log out of multiple devices from this page.