How you sign out of Google Photos depends on the device. On a computer, click your profile picture at photos.google.com and choose Sign out. On an iPhone or Android phone, the Photos app doesn’t have a traditional sign-out button: tap your profile picture, tap the arrow next to your name, and choose Use without an account. On iPhone you can also remove the account from the app entirely under Manage accounts on this device.
Quick Answer
Phone: Photos app > profile picture > arrow by your name > Use without an account. Computer: profile picture > Sign out.
Sign Out on Android
- Open Google Photos and tap your profile picture (top right).
- Tap the down arrow next to your name.
- Tap Use without an account. The app stops showing your cloud photos and backup, but keeps photos stored on the phone.
Your Google account stays signed in to the phone itself. To remove it from the whole device, go to Settings > Passwords & accounts (or Accounts) > your Google account > Remove account. That signs you out of every Google app on the phone.
Sign Out on iPhone or iPad
- Open Google Photos and tap your profile picture.
- Tap the down arrow next to your name.
- Tap Use without an account, or tap Manage accounts on this device > Remove from this device to take the account off the app.
Sign Out on a Computer
- Go to photos.google.com.
- Click your profile picture at the top right.
- Click Sign out (or Sign out of all accounts). This signs you out of Google in that browser.
What Happens to Your Photos
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Use without an account | Cloud photos hidden in the app; backup stops; photos on the device stay |
| Remove account from device | All Google apps sign out; photos in your Google account stay online |
| Sign out on the web | Nothing is deleted; sign back in any time |
Sign Out Remotely
If you left Google Photos signed in on a device you no longer have, go to your Google Account > Security > Your devices, choose the device, and click Sign out. Change your password if you think someone else has access.
Prefer to switch accounts instead? Learn how to change your backup account.
To change how you appear, see how to delete your Google profile picture.
Troubleshooting
- No sign-out option on Android: That’s expected; use Use without an account, or remove the account from the phone.
- Photos still backing up: Check that backup is off: profile picture > Photos settings > Backup.
- Moving your library elsewhere? See moving Google Photos to OneDrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will signing out delete my photos?
No. Photos backed up to your account stay there, and photos on the device stay on the device.
Can I switch to another account instead?
Yes. Tap your profile picture and choose another account, or add one.
Summary
- Phone: profile picture > arrow > Use without an account.
- iPhone: Manage accounts on this device to remove it.
- Computer: profile picture > Sign out.
- Use Security > Your devices to sign out remotely.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.