Once you setup your Android device and link it to a Google Account, the account you used becomes the central account for your Google apps and services. But what if you want to change the account? Here are a few options for what you can do.
Non-rooted Users
Option 1 – Factory Reset
Perform a factory hard reset on the device. You can normally do this under “Settings” > “Backup & reset” > “Factory data reset“. Doing this will wipe all data and settings from the device. After the reset and reboot, you can set up the device like new using a new Google account.
Option 2 – Add New Account & Remove Old Account
- Go to “Settings” > “Accounts“.
- Select “Add account“.
- Choose “Google“.
- Enter the credentials for the new Google account, and complete adding it to the device.
- Once the new account is added, go to “Settings” > “Account” > “Google“.
- Select the old account you wish to remove.
- Select the menu button
at the upper-left corner, then choose “Remove account“.
Rooted Users
If you have root access to your device, you’re in luck. There is a handy trick you can use to change the main Google account without performing a hard reset.
- Download and install Root Explorer.
- Open “Root Explorer” and select “Allow” to allow root access if prompted.
- Navigate to the /data/system directory.
- Tap and hold the “accounts.db” file, then select “Rename“.
- Rename the file to “accounts.db.old” to make a backup of the file.
- Restart your Android device.
- Once the device restarts, open an app that requires a Google account such as Google Play, Gmail or Hangouts. You will be prompted to create a new account or login using an existing account. That’s all there is to it.
Tried to follow these instructions but my phone does not respond the same way. I have not been able to delete my old work email account. (I’ve retired and the phone keeps trying to log in.)
I fear that all my old data will lost with the new Google account. .So all my friends and family can’nt find my coordinates, so I lost it all.
i backed up everything on my note 8.0 to a new Gmail account i have created , i want to delete the old primary account. if i delete the primary account now, will the previous data and apps installed on the primary Gmail account be deleted? will i have to install them? what about google chrome ? will all the data in it be deleted?
Lollipop FRP seems to prevent me from changing main Google account through factory reset. It forces me to use only the original account… What am I missing?
What about google play apps – will they still be updated autmativcally? they were downloaded with the old account.
Thanks, Anat
Thanks for your instructions. They were very helpful. I did not have to factor reset my phone, but I’m not sure that the Google Play store will appreciate all the apps on my Priv that are not connected to my “new” account.