Sign in to a third-party app via Google account is a convenient option for users who don’t have to create new credentials or remember them, but it also comes with a number of risks that expose the Google account to cybersecurity dangers and, in order to avoid them, it is convenient to review where this login has been linked and delete.
Many applications or web services have different options to log in: from create an account with new credentials using the username and password, until log in by linking the profile with the account of other platforms like Facebook or, directly, Google.
This last option is a characteristic that is usually very comfortable to users, since they do not need to create new credentials for each application or website. It even facilitates the management of all the credentials that are used on a day-to-day basis, avoiding the most common password problem, which is forgetting.
However, it is recommended choose carefully in which applications or websites this option is used since it is possible that they are leaving Google account data exposed and therefore may be vulnerable to malicious attacks. In fact, this risk increases in the case of applications or websites that are not used regularly.
Within this framework, users must be especially cautious and do not keep applications connected with the account the Google when they stop using. Thus, to unlink the Google account from third-party applications, these are the steps to follow on the different platforms from which it can be managed.
FROM THE GOOGLE ACCOUNT PAGE
One of the places from where you can unlink your Google account is from your own Google account settings page.
Once inside, you have to click on the ‘Security’ tab and, after that, navigate the page to the section of ‘Your connections with third-party applications and services’. In this section, Google shows all the applications in which the Google account has been used to sign in.
By clicking on any of the ‘apps’ or third-party services that are shown, all the information related to said application is broken down. That is, it shows what data you have access to and what you can do with it.
Once the ‘app’ or third-party service from which the Google account is to be unlinked is chosen, the user must select the option ‘Delete all connections’ and, finally, you must click on ‘Confirm’. In this way, Google disconnects all connections between the application or website with the service and the Google account.
After unlinking it, if you want to access the ‘app’ or the website again, you can do so using the corresponding credentials or by linking the Google account again.
It must also be taken into account that, even if the accounts are unlinked, it is possible that the information that has been shared with said website or ‘app’ is not deleted.
FROM ANDROID AND IOS
Following this line, the Google account can also be unlinked through your own ‘smartphone’ or tablet. In the case of Android, the process must be done from its Settings menu.
First, the user must enter the Settings app. Once inside, select the Google tab and click on ‘Manage your Google account’.
On this screen, you have to enter the ‘Security’ section and, after that, the user must scroll the screen down until they reach ‘Your connections with third-party applications and services’.
On the other hand, to unlink the Gmail account from iOS the process is identical to that of the Google account website. However, you can launch via any app from the tech giant.
Whether it’s YouTube, Gmail or Google Photos, all you have to do is tap on the user’s profile photo located in the upper corner right of the screen to enter the page of account management.
After that, the steps to follow are the same as in the web version: open the Security tab, select ‘Your connections with third-party applications and services’, and choose the ‘app’ or website you want to unlink.
FROM GOOGLE DRIVE
In the case of Drive, the Google account must be unlinked specifically, since other applications are stored in this service and different services which also connect with Google account.
Specifically, these are third-party applications or services that are run in Drive to handle particular file formats, games, or apps who need storage space in the cloud.
Thus, to unlink the Google account from these ‘apps’ and websites, the process must be started from the Drive account settings menu. In it, users must click on ‘Manage applications’ where a list will appear with all the connected applications with information about the function of the ‘app’ and how much storage it uses in Drive.
To unlink these applications, you have to click on the ‘Options’ button located next to each ‘app’ and, after that, ‘Disconnect from Drive’, which will unlink the ‘app’ from Drive and, therefore, from the Google account. Likewise, it also gives option of delete data stored by this app.
It must be taken into account that to disconnect the Google account in the applications and third-party services of Drive it is need to do it from the web since these options are not available in the version of the application for ‘smartphones’.
WEB BROWSER EXTENSIONS
Finally, another of the options where the Google account is connected with other applications and services is in the browser extensions. In this case, the extensions can’t access Google account information as such, however, yes they can interact with apps Google website such as Gmail, as long as they are open in the browser where the applications are installed.
This can occur in any browser Therefore, it must also be monitor which extensions are installed and have permission to interact with Google web applications and perform certain functions.
In case you want to unlink any extension from the browser, the Google account must be access the Extensions page. In the case of Chrome y Edge this page can be accessed through the dropdown menu when you click on the icon three points located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Once in the extensions menu, you must enter the section ‘Manage extensions’. After that, you must click on the ‘Remove’ option which will remove the extension and therefore sign you out of your Google account.
If you use the firefox browser to access the screen Extensions, You have to click on the menu located in the upper right corner in the shape of three lines. Among the available options, you must select ‘Plugins and Themes’ and then ‘Extensions’.
For his part, he Safari browser requires the same process: enter the tab ‘Settings’ and press ‘Extensions’ to display the list.