WhatsApp is a popular messaging app used by over 1 billion people worldwide. It allows you to send messages, photos, videos and make calls for free. When you first set up WhatsApp on your smartphone, you likely linked your phone number to your existing Gmail account for authentication purposes.
Linking your Gmail gives WhatsApp access to your Google contacts so you can easily see which of your friends are also using the app. However, there may come a time when you want to unlink your Gmail account from WhatsApp and remove access.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to unlink and remove your Gmail account from WhatsApp in just a few minutes.
Why Would You Want to Remove Your Gmail Account from WhatsApp?
Here are some of the top reasons you may want to unlink your Gmail from WhatsApp:
- You don’t want WhatsApp having access to your Google contacts anymore
- You want to link a new Gmail account to WhatsApp instead
- You’re switching from Android to iPhone and want to unlink Gmail before setting up iCloud
- You no longer use the Gmail account you initially signed up with
- You want to delete your WhatsApp account and start over
- You’re concerned about privacy and limiting data sharing between apps
Removing your Gmail stops WhatsApp from syncing your Google contacts and gives you more control over your data and privacy.
How to Unlink Gmail from WhatsApp on Android
If you’re using an Android phone and want to unlink your Gmail account from WhatsApp, follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp and tap the 3-dot menu icon in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings > Account > Unlink account.
- Tap on Unlink next to your Gmail address to confirm.
That’s all there is to it! Once completed, your Gmail will no longer be associated with your WhatsApp account.
Unlinking Gmail from WhatsApp on iPhone
On iPhone, here are the steps to remove your Gmail from WhatsApp:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Tap Account.
- Tap Log Out.
- Scroll down and tap Delete Account.
- Tap Delete Account again to confirm.
This will completely delete your WhatsApp account and data from your iPhone. You can then reinstall WhatsApp and sign up with a new account and phone number if desired.
What Happens When You Remove Gmail from WhatsApp?
Here are some key things that happen after unlinking your Gmail from WhatsApp:
- Your WhatsApp contacts list is cleared out
- Your chat history remains on your phone but is no longer backed up to your Gmail
- You stop seeing read receipts and “last seen” status for other users
- You can no longer verify your WhatsApp account using that Gmail address
- Your phone’s contacts are no longer automatically synced to WhatsApp
Essentially, unlinking your Gmail removes the connection between WhatsApp and your Google account. Your chats will remain on your device, but certain syncing features will stop working.
How to Link a New Gmail Account to WhatsApp
If you want to add a new Gmail account to WhatsApp after removing your previous one, here’s how to do it:
- Uninstall and reinstall the WhatsApp app on your phone.
- When prompted, enter your phone number to sign up.
- Input the verification code sent to your number via SMS.
- On the screen to allow WhatsApp access to contacts, tap Allow.
- Tap Contacts not backed up? and choose Back Up Contacts.
- Sign in with your new Gmail account when prompted.
This links your new Gmail to WhatsApp. Your contacts from that Google account will be synced to your WhatsApp contacts list.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you unlink your Gmail from WhatsApp but run into any issues, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Force stop the WhatsApp app and clear cache/data before reopening it.
- Check your internet connection and try toggling airplane mode on and off.
- Update WhatsApp to the latest version from the Play Store or App Store.
- Restart your phone to clear out any glitches.
- Contact WhatsApp support if the problem persists.
Following these tips should help resolve any problems that come up after removing your Gmail account from WhatsApp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about unlinking Gmail from WhatsApp:
Does unlinking Gmail delete my WhatsApp account?
No, unlinking your Gmail will not delete your WhatsApp account or your chat history. It only removes the link between WhatsApp and your Google account.
Can I backup my WhatsApp chat history before removing Gmail?
Yes, you can backup your WhatsApp chats to Google Drive before unlinking your Gmail account. This lets you restore your chat history if you link to that Gmail again later.
Will my WhatsApp contacts disappear if I unlink Gmail?
Your WhatsApp contacts will be removed from your contacts list. However, your chat history with each contact will remain on your phone.
Can I link two WhatsApp accounts to the same Gmail address?
No, you can only link one WhatsApp account to a Gmail address at a time. You’ll need to use separate Gmail accounts if you want to link multiple WhatsApp accounts.
What happens to my Google Drive WhatsApp backup if I unlink Gmail?
Your existing WhatsApp backups on Google Drive will no longer sync or update after unlinking that Gmail account. You’ll need to link to the same Gmail again to access those backups.
Conclusion
Removing your Gmail account from WhatsApp only takes a few taps, but completely disconnects the two services. This stops contact syncing, read receipts, backups and other integrations tied to your Google account.
Carefully consider whether to link a new Gmail or just use WhatsApp as a standalone messaging app with no account pairing. Additionally, be sure to backup your chats before unlinking so you don’t lose your WhatsApp data.
With this guide, you now know how to properly unlink your Gmail address from WhatsApp on both iPhone and Android. Taking this step gives you more privacy and control over your contacts and information.