The Mail app on an iPhone 11 doesn’t have a Sign Out button. To log out, open Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts, tap the account, and either turn off the Mail switch or tap Delete Account. Turning off Mail hides that account’s email but keeps its contacts and calendars. Delete Account removes the account from your iPhone completely. On iOS 17 and earlier, the path is Settings > Mail > Accounts.
Neither option deletes your email from the server. Your messages stay in your Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or iCloud account, and you can add the account back later.
Turn off Mail vs. delete the account
| Turn off Mail | Delete Account | |
|---|---|---|
| Email in the Mail app | Hidden | Removed |
| Contacts, Calendars, Notes from that account | Still sync | Removed from iPhone |
| Email on the server | Not affected | Not affected |
| To undo | Turn the switch back on | Add the account again and sign in |
How to log out of Mail on iPhone 11
Option 1: Turn off Mail for an account
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Apps, then Mail.
- Tap Mail Accounts.
- Tap the account you want to log out of.
- Turn off the Mail switch.
Option 2: Delete the account
- Go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts.
- Tap the account.
- Tap Delete Account at the bottom.
- Tap Delete from My iPhone to confirm.
Drafts or messages that were only saved on your iPhone, and never sent or synced, may be lost. Send or copy anything important first.
How to log out of iCloud Mail
iCloud Mail doesn’t have a Delete Account button in Mail settings, because it’s tied to your Apple Account.
- Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Tap iCloud.
- Tap iCloud Mail (or Mail), then turn off Use on this iPhone.
This stops iCloud email from appearing in the Mail app without signing you out of iCloud, the App Store, or anything else.
How to sign back in
- If you turned off Mail: Go back to the same account and turn the Mail switch on.
- If you deleted the account: Go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts > Add Account, choose your provider, and sign in.
Other things to know
- Using the Gmail or Outlook app? Those apps have their own sign-out options. Tap your profile picture, then manage accounts on the device.
- Worried someone else has access? Change your email password from a computer. Signed-in devices usually need the new password to keep syncing. Many providers also let you sign out of all devices in their security settings.
- Selling or giving away your iPhone 11? Instead of removing accounts one by one, erase the phone in Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
Frequently asked questions
Will deleting the account delete my emails?
No. It only removes them from your iPhone. They’re still in your account online and on your other devices.
Can I delete the Mail app instead?
Yes. Press and hold the Mail icon and tap Remove App > Delete App. Your accounts stay in Settings, and you can reinstall Mail from the App Store later.
Why can’t I find Mail in Settings?
On iOS 18 and later, Mail is under Settings > Apps. You can also type “Mail” in the Settings search bar.
Do these steps work on other iPhones?
Yes. They’re the same on any iPhone running the same version of iOS.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.