The easiest way to delete your Gmail account

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Gmail is an extremely popular email service, but there might be a time when you are ready to delete your account.

If you don’t like Google’s email service (or have had your account compromised), you can delete your account, but Google doesn’t make it easy.

Thankfully, you can still delete your Gmail account without interrupting YouTube, Play Music, or other Google services.

Stick around after the how-to for tips on what to do if you are worried a Gmail account is compromised and what to do before deleting the account.

How to delete your Gmail account

If you are ready to delete your Gmail account, download your data before you do so, just in case there is something you may eventually need. We’ll show you how to do that as well.

READ MORE: How to change Gmail’s spam settings and customize the filter

From there, you’ll need to select another email address you want the confirmation sent to. It cannot be a Gmail address, so keep that in mind.

What to do if you are worried your Gmail account has been compromised

If you are deleting your Gmail account because it has been compromised, there are some steps you should take before going through the deletion process.

This could help you pinpoint the problem and, hopefully, keep it from happening again in the future.

Gmail uses something called Security Checkup to help with this. This feature comes with your Google account and lets you look deep into the account.

How to access the Google Security Checkup feature

Typically, Security Checkup isn’t something you ever really need to look at. But, if you are worried about account security, it is a valuable tool.

It’s also used to see information about your account, including recent payments and more.

To access the feature, follow the steps below:

1. Log into your Google account and navigate to the Security option on the left side

2. Near the top, click Security Checkup (it may say something slightly different, like Security Recommendations or Protect your account)

3. Here you can click through different menus to learn more about your account

Additionally, you can access the feature directly by following this link.

In this section of Google’s tools, you’ll be able to see the different devices used to connect to your Google account.

If you use Google Pay to make purchases, you can also review your transactions to see if anything looks out of place.

Security Checkup also gives users a glimpse into password security. It has tools that show how and when passwords have been used.

Sometimes deletion isn’t the answer

In closing, deleting your Gmail account is absolutely something you can do, but think carefully before making the choice.

You probably signed up for a ton of services using that address (if it is your main email address). Transferring all of that stuff will be a huge undertaking.

You can always declutter your Gmail Inbox with the Archive feature if you feel like your email is getting out of control.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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