Managing Multiple Google Accounts

Why You Should Be Managing Multiple Accounts Through Chrome

Most people switch accounts by clicking on the icon next to their username in the top right corner near the Apps Launcher, but this causes confusion because multiple accounts are being used on different tabs within the same browser window. This crossover between accounts can cause access to be denied when accessing protected files because the protections identify that you are logged into more than one account, even if one of them is the right one! To manage multiple Google accounts more effectively, you can switch accounts from your Chrome ID, which will open each account in its own window with a unique ID at the top to indicate which account is currently in use. You can have multiple Chrome browser windows open at the same time, each with their own settings, bookmarks, extensions, and active tabs. The video will also explain some of the other settings available for your Chrome browser.

Managing Google Accounts Through Your Chrome Browser

You can log into any of the individual apps (Gmail, Drive, etc.) and have access to other default apps in your account through the Apps Launcher; however, you will limit the power of Chrome if you do not sign into the browser itself.

Here you will find resources for:

  • Signing into the Chrome browser

  • Managing multiple Google accounts through Chrome

Benefits of Signing into Chrome

Once you are signed into your Chrome browser, you will be able to enjoy all the features:

  • Manage bookmarked sites across all devices

  • Browsing history access on multiple devices

  • Extensions (programs which work from the browser to extend its power and appear as icons in between the address bar and the hot dog menu)

  • Additional apps (which you may choose based on your needs)

  • Themes (background design elements)

  • Ability to effectively separate your Google accounts while retaining ease of access

In essence, logging into Chrome gives you full access to the Chromium operating system, and your browser becomes the "desktop" for all things Google. Additionally, as long as you are logged into a computer as yourself or are using your own computer, you never need to log out of Chrome and can easily manage multiple Google accounts (work, personal, etc.).

Fellow Trainer, Tammy Neil, does a great job of explaining the how and why in this video. It's well worth a 4 minute watch! >>


Note that Google routinely updates the look of their products , so the icons may look different than they do in the video or even this image.