Tired of constantly switching between Gmail accounts to access your primary email? You are not alone. In this tutorial, we will discuss how to change the default Gmail account on both a computer and a mobile device.

Although you can create multiple Gmail IDs, checking each of them individually is quite inconvenient. Gmail somehow makes it easier to switch accounts by clicking your profile picture at the top right corner of your browser window, it can still be a bit of a chore.

Let’s start the discussion to make your life simple!

Why change your default Gmail account?

It sounds simple, but constantly switching between accounts can be a hassle. To make things easier, you can set a different default account on each device you use.

For example, let’s say you have two Gmail accounts: one for work and one for personal use. Wouldn’t it be handy to set your work account as the default on your work computer and your personal account as the default on your phone? By maintaining this, you won’t be distracted by personal emails at work, and you won’t get work emails during your personal time. Most importantly, you won’t have to keep switching accounts throughout the day.

Doesn’t this sound helpful?

How to Change Your Default Google Account?

Let’s see how you set Google accounts as default in different devices.

Desktop

Unfortunately, Gmail doesn’t have a simple “make this my default” button, but don’t worry, it’s still easy to do. Just follow the below steps.

Setting Your Favorite Gmail Account as Default

Open Gmail: Go to gmail.com in your web browser.   

Find your profile picture: Look for a small picture in the top right corner of your screen. Click on it.   

Sign out of everything: Choose “Sign out of all accounts.” You might think it is a hassle, but it’s the only way to change your default.   

Pick your favorite: Sign back in using the email you want to be your main account.

That’s it! This email is now your default. Whenever you open Gmail, this is the one that will appear first.

Adding Other Email Accounts

Once you change your default Google account, you can add a secondary Gmail account with some simple steps.

• Step 1: Click your profile picture again.   
• Step 2: Choose “Add another account.”   
• Step 3: Pick the email you want to add or choose “Use another account” to type in a new one.   
• Step 4: Sign in to that email account.

Now you can easily switch between your main email and the one you just added by clicking your profile picture. Need to change your default again? Just follow steps 3 and 4 from the first part to make a new email your main one.

By following these steps, you can organize your emails and save time by having your most-used account as the default.

Android

Switching your default Gmail account on the Gmail app can be a little confusing. Check out a simpler way to do it using your phone’s internet browser.

• Open Chrome: Grab your phone and open the Google Chrome app.
• Head to Gmail: Type https://mail.google.com/ in the address bar and tap “Go.” This will take you to your Gmail accounts in the browser.
• Find the menu: Look for three horizontal lines in the top left corner (it’s called a hamburger menu). Tap it.
• See your default: At the top of the menu, you will see your current default Gmail account. Tap on that email address.
• Sign-out time: Choose “Sign Out and turn off sync” to log out of that account completely.
• Add a new default: You will see a new screen. Tap on “Add account.”
• Pick your new main account: Enter the email address of the Gmail account you want to be your default. Tap “Next.”
• Enter your password: Type in your password for this new default account. Tap “Next” again.

Complete! This email is now your main account on your Android phone.

Extra Tip: You can still connect your other Gmail accounts to this new default one for easy switching. Just follow the same steps from points 3 to 8, choosing “Use another account” instead when adding additional emails.

In this way, you can keep your most used account as the default and quickly access your others without getting lost in the Gmail app.

iPhone

Now, let’s learn how to make your Google account default on your iPhone. 

• Go to Settings: Find the gear-shaped Settings app on your home screen and tap it.
• Find Mail: Scroll down until you see “Mail.” Tap it.
• Pick your favorite: Keep scrolling until you see “Default Account.” Tap that.
• Choose a new main account: You will see a list of your Gmail accounts. Tap the one you want to be your go-to email.

How to Manage Multiple Google Accounts Effectively

Before ending the article, let us share some insights about the way to manage multiple Google accounts more effectively.

Set Clear Account Purposes: Determine the specific purpose of each account. The purposes include personal, work, hobbies, etc.

Organize Your Inbox: Use labels, filters, and folders to categorize emails effectively.

Utilize Google Workspace: If applicable, utilize features like aliases and delegation to make the overall management smooth.

Utilize Browser Profiles: Create separate profiles for different accounts to maintain privacy and avoid accidental sign-ins.

Consider Account Management Tools: Explore third-party apps or extensions that can help you switch between accounts efficiently.

Regularly Review and Clean Up: Delete unnecessary emails, unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters, and archive old messages.

Enhance Security: Enable two-factor authentication and strong passwords for all accounts.

Final Words

Stop wasting time switching between Gmail accounts! By setting a dedicated default account for each device, you can manage your email workflow more professionally and at the same time easily.

So, take control of your inbox and reclaim your precious time!