How to change your Android phone's default Google account

How to change your Android phone's default Google account black Google text surrounded by AP logo in multi-colored background

By Parth Shah & Faith Leroux Updated 4 minutes ago Sign in to your Android Police account follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread 2 Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

To properly use your Android phone, you likely already understand the importance of registering a Google account to access Google services.

If you've become a long-term Android user, there's a chance that the Google account you used many years ago is no longer the same one you use with your current services, like YouTube and Gmail.

For example, you might have bought your first Android tablet or phone years ago, which prompted you to add a Google account during setup.

After that, you may have created a new one you use more frequently, one that's linked to the Google Play Store, that contains gift cards and activated coupons.

While you can add multiple accounts to one device, only one can primarily manage your Gmail, Calendar, and Drive accounts, among others.

But using different Google accounts via profiles can cause problems with data synchronization and linked app settings.

Changing your default Google account is possible, but it requires removing the current one.

If you add multiple accounts to your device, consider removing them before changing over. Here's why and how.

Can you change your default Google account?

You can change the default Google account on your device. It isn't a straightforward process, and it's different from switching profiles within Google apps and services.

Typically, Google lets you switch between accounts in its Workspace apps and other services.

This way, you can access them with different credentials simultaneously without affecting the data.

For example, you might have two accounts in the Gmail app and switch between them when you need to send work or personal messages from different addresses.

Changing the default Google account on your device is a system-wide setting that affects your Google Play Store, contacts, emails, and others.

A list of google apps settings shown for a default Google account an Android device

A list of manage account settings for a Google account with different Google account profiles blurred

For example, the Google Play Store automatically associates all future purchases, app downloads, and updates with the new account. Your Google Play Points also become linked to that account.

To get around this issue, you must remove the current account and set the new one as your default account.

Google chooses the first account you use to sign in to the device as your primary account.

If you don't remember which one it is, or you added multiple accounts, remove all of them. Google automatically selects the next account as the default.

You don't need to do that if only two accounts are on the device.

When you remove the present default account, the second automatically becomes your primary profile.

Since your account is your ticket to accessing all the apps and services, Google cuts you off from them until you reconnect an account.

If you use the Chrome browser frequently, your device will automatically sign you out.

Your browsing history, bookmarks, and saved passwords for the account may also disappear.

How to change the primary Google account on your Android phones and tablets

When you have multiple Google accounts, sign out of them from your device, except the one you want as the default account.

If you haven't added your preferred account, remove the accounts before adding the new default one.

The action has consequences. You lose synced data, including Google Play Store access, messages, bookmarks, contacts, browsing history, calendar, and other data linked to the account.

Locally saved data remains as it isn't tied to the removed accounts and exists on your device's internal storage.

If you store important information on different accounts, sync them before removal. This way, the information is up to date, and you can access a consistent version across devices.

Go to Settings > Accounts and backup > Manage accounts.
Select your Google account from the list that appears, and tap Sync account.
Turn on the toggle switches for your preferred apps and services. When activated, give synchronization time to go into effect, preferably a couple of hours. Close

Afterward, add your new primary account, followed by the secondary ones, to regain access to your backed-up data.

Now that you understand it, remove Google accounts from your device first. Then, follow the steps below to add them again.

Add a new default Google account on Android

Go to Settings > Google.
Tap Sign in to your Google Account. Close
Enter your Google account's email address and tap Next.
Enter the password and tap Next. Close

Add secondary Google accounts on Android

Go to Settings > Google.
Tap the arrow beside your default account's name and email address.
Select Add another account from the pop-up window. Close
Enter your Google account's email address and tap Next.
Enter the password and tap Next. You may need to verify that account before continuing.
Tap I Agree to Google's Terms of Service. Close

If you set up 2FA (two-factor authentication), you may need to enter the code from your authenticator app or the text message. After a successful sign-in, the account appears on your device.

Changing your default account is time-consuming but useful

A quick default account switcher would be nice, but Google hasn't provided one.

Signing out of multiple profiles on your Android device is necessary to enjoy seamless emailing, word editing, cloud storage, and browser experience.

But if you need to create a new account, whether for work purposes or less personalized reasons, consider looking into alternatives like Microsoft Outlook and OneDrive; it even brings the perks of reliably syncing your Google Calendar to Outlook.

Operating Systems
Android
Google Account

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