How to Change the Default Google Account With Multiple Accounts (2024)

Most of us have multiple Gmail (and Google) accounts. But there is only one you use as your primary account for any of the Google services. It can be a personal or a work account. If you want to know how to change the default Google Account for email and calendars, this guide is for you.

You can create as many free Google accounts as you want. But multiple Google accounts come with a problem—multiple sign-ins on desktop and mobile devices. Which one is the default account? And if it's not the one you want, how can you set the default Google sign-in to the one you want?

How to Change Your Default Google Account

Multiple sign-ins are seamless in Google. But some Google tools don't allow you to use two accounts simultaneously (e.g., Google Drive) unless you specifically choose one by changing the Google account.

Google defaults to the first account you logged in with. This is the rule you will see in action every time. The Google menu at the top-right also suggests the default account when you use multiple sign-ins.

This is what Google says:

"In many cases, your default account is the one you signed in with first. On mobile devices, your default account can vary depending on your device's operating system and the apps you use."

So, the solution is to set a default Gmail or Google account:

1. Go to any Google site sign-in page in a non-incognito window.
2. Log out of all your Google accounts. Select your profile picture on the top-right and click Sign out from the menu.
3. Go to gmail.com and sign in with the account you want to set as the default account. Remember, the first account you log in to becomes the default always. Test this by signing into any other Google service (like Google Drive) and see for yourself.
4. After signing in to your default account, you can sign in to any other Google account and switch between them.
5. Select your profile image from the top-right. On the menu, choose Add account. Use your credentials to sign in to the account you want to use.

This isn't a bother for someone who uses a single Google account. But it can be important for those of us who have multiple Gmail accounts separated as work and personal. Setting one Google account as the default every day can save you time and energy. The good thing is that Google's account management works the same across Windows, Chromebook, or Mac as you sign in with a browser.

How does a change in a Google sign-in affect you:

Developing an ideal working system when handling multiple Google accounts is essential.

• One of your accounts might have a different language setting than the others.
• You might use Google Apps on a work account and regular Gmail for personal stuff.
• Some of your accounts may have two-factor authentication set up.
• You might have different privacy rules for each account.

Note: Google settings aren't shared between multiple accounts. There can be exceptions like Web & App Activity and Ads Personalization settings.

How to Manage Multiple Google Accounts on a Mobile

A primary account becomes more critical in Android and iOS because the operating systems use a specific account for backup and syncing data. In an Android and an iPhone, some services like Chrome and Google Analytics are also connected to one account, and switching from one Google account to another can be a bit confusing. For instance, you can sign in and sync one Chrome account at a time in Chrome.

The screenshot below from Chrome on iOS shows that you have to sign out of one Google account and choose to keep or discard your synced data before you sign into another Google account.

The Google Support page says that the steps to switch from one account to another vary by app. Generally, use your default account. For multiple sign-ins, sign out of all your accounts and then sign in to the account you want to use.

Extra Tips to Manage Multiple Google Accounts

Thanks to the easy account switcher, multiple Gmail (or any other Google app) account management isn't a bother. But a few annoyances do pop up. Maybe, you have tried to open a shared link of a Google document, and Google says you don't have permission with the default account.

Here are a few more tips for managing multiple Google accounts efficiently and saving a few clicks

1. Use a distinct profile image with each Google account.
2. Want temporary access to a Google account other than your default? Use a browser's Incognito mode to sign in.
3. For easy switching, sign in to your Google accounts in your preferred order when you sit down to work. Then close the tabs for the accounts you don't need. You can switch anytime without signing in till you log out.
4. Set up sharing privileges for files and folders you often use between two accounts. You don't need to keep two accounts open with "edit permissions on a shared file or folder.
5. Google Backup & Sync allows you to log in with three accounts only. Choose the preferred account and change the Google Drive folder's location for each so that they do not conflict. Do note that features from Backup & Sync are slowly moving to Google Drive for Desktop for a better user experience. You can choose Google Drive for Desktop to work with multiple accounts.

6. Use different Chrome profiles for other Google accounts. For instance, you might like to operate personal and work accounts with different extensions.
7. Use a Chrome extension like SessionBox to log into websites with different Google sign-ins.
8. For accessing important emails, set up email forwarding from one Gmail account to another.
9. The Gmail Label Sharing extension allows you to share Gmail labels across multiple accounts.
10. Uncheck the Stay signed in option to avoid automatic log-ins and be more deliberate about the Google account you use.

Tip: If you operate with several accounts every day, using different Chrome profiles is the way to go. (Be sure to protect each of your Google accounts with the advanced Google protection program.)

Make Multiple Google Sign-Ins Easier for Yourself

Starting the day with the default Google account and signing into others is a good "Google habit." The Google Account Switcher also makes it less bothersome.

On mobiles, your user activity and app preferences are saved in the default account you logged into the device with. Start with a default Google sign-in and add other accounts to maintain order. With repetition, you can set up an automatic workflow, and signing into the correct Google account won't bother you anymore.