Add a Second Google Account on Android (Sync, Switch and Remove)
Keep work and personal (or family) identities separate on one phone. Add another Google Account in Settings, choose which services auto‑sync, switch accounts inside Google apps, or remove the account—Settings paths only.
What You Need
- Email and password (or passkey / 2‑Step) for the second Google Account.
- Device screen lock—Android may ask for PIN/pattern when adding or removing.
- Android 14+ for some menu labels (Android Help); older phones may say Users & accounts or Manage accounts.
What “control which apps use it” means officially: There isn’t a single master switch that assigns every app to Account A or B. Per Android / Pixel Help you (1) toggle Account sync per Google service for that account, and (2) pick the active account inside each Google app (Play Store, Gmail, Maps, etc.). Removing the account signs it out of Google apps on the device and deletes that account’s synced data from the phone—it does not delete the Google Account itself.
Step 1: Add the account
Settings > Passwords & accounts (or Users & accounts / Manage accounts) > Add account > Google. Sign in and follow prompts. Email, contacts, calendar, and other associated data can sync automatically.
Step 2: Control Account sync
Open the account under Passwords & accounts → Account sync (Pixel also documents paths via About phone → Google Account). Turn off individual services (Contacts, Calendar, Drive, etc.) you don’t want auto‑refreshing for that account. Turning sync off doesn’t uninstall the app.
Step 3: Choose the account inside Google apps
Example — Play Store: profile icon → account list → select the account to use for installs/purchases (Google Play Help). Same idea in Gmail / Maps: profile → switch or add another account. Default account behavior can vary; switch before browsing Play if countries differ (Google Account Help).
Step 4: Remove the account
Settings > Passwords & accounts → tap the account → Remove account → confirm. This removes that account’s email/contacts/settings from the device. If it’s the only Google Account, Android asks for the screen lock.
Lending the phone?
Official docs
Add/remove: Android 7664951. Sync toggles: Pixel 2840875. Play multi‑account: Play 2521798. Multi‑account notes: Accounts 1721977.