How to Change the Default Google Account With Multiple Accounts

How to Change Your Default Google Account

Several sign-ins used to be a mess, but now it’s more smooth than ever before. This feature would let you view the content of your other accounts while you are logged into one. But you cannot use some of the Google tools from two accounts at the same time unless you select one account.

Google would default to the first account that you logged in with. This is the rule you would see in action every time. The Google menu button at the top-right of your screen also suggests the default account when you use multiple sign-ins.

So, the solution to set a default 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 then 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 you have signed in to your default account, you can sign in to any other Google account and switch between them.
5. Again, 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 is not a bother for someone who makes use of a single Google account. But it can be important for those of us who have multiple Gmail accounts separated as work and personal. Remembering the right account can save you time and energy.

Here are a few common scenarios:

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

Do note that Google settings aren’t shared between multiple accounts. Though, there can be a few exceptions like Web & App Activity and Ads Personalization settings.

Extra Tips to Manage Multiple Google Accounts

Thanks to the fast switch feature, multiple Gmail account management is way less of a hassle. But a few annoyances sometimes come up. Maybe, you have tried to open a shared link and Google tells you that you do not have permission with the default account.

Here are a few more tips to make managing multiple Google accounts easier and save you a few clicking trips.

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, log into 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 use often 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. Chose the preferred account and change the Google Drive folder’s location for each so that they do not conflict.
6. Use different Chrome profiles for different Google accounts. For instance, you might like to operate personal and work accounts with a different set of extensions.
7. Use a Chrome extension like SessionBox to log into websites with different Google sign-ins.