How to manage multiple Google Accounts in your browser

Many of us have more than one Google account, whether it’s for work, a side hustle, or simply a backup email address, and with modern browsers now keen to manage all of our logins for us, navigating sites such as Gmail and Google Docs with multiple accounts can get complicated.

It needn’t be: Google actually has a straightforward switching mechanism built into its websites and web apps that works in any browser. In addition, the browsers themselves (and especially Chrome) have features for keeping different accounts separate so you always know which one you have open.

How to manage multiple Google Accounts in your browser

Basic account switching

Whichever browser you use, you can manage multiple Google accounts inside it. 

1. Log in to one of your Google accounts on a site such as Gmail or Google Drive.
2. Look for your account picture icon in the top-right corner of the webpage — it shows up on most Google sites. Click the icon and then click Add a new account.
3. You’ll be prompted for the credentials (the email address and password) for the additional Google account you want to use. 
4. A new browser tab will open showing the same Google app (Gmail, Drive, Maps, etc.) but with your additional Google account active. 
5. To switch accounts, click your account picture again. You’ll see the added account listed.

It’s possible to have sites linked to different Google accounts open in different tabs and different windows right next to each other simultaneously just make sure you know which is which (the account picture in the top-right corner of each page will tell you). Click your account picture and then Manage your Google Account to access options such as your password and security settings.

These Google accounts will stay available in your browser until you remove them. To do that:

1. Switch to the account you want to remove.
2. Click your account picture (top-right corner), then choose Sign out > Continue > Remove an account. 
3. You can then click one of the red icons to the right to remove an account.