Switching between Google Drive accounts is something many of us need to do regularly. Whether you're managing work and personal files or helping someone else with their account, knowing how to change Google Drive accounts quickly can save you time and frustration.

In this guide, I'll walk you through the exact steps to change your Google Drive account on both desktop and mobile devices. I've included simple instructions with all the details you need to switch accounts smoothly.

Changing Google Drive Account on Desktop

Let's start with how to change your Google Drive account on a computer. I'll cover different methods so you can pick the one that works best for you.

Method 1: Using the Google Drive Website

This is probably the most common way to switch between accounts when using Google Drive in a web browser:

1. Open your web browser and go to drive.google.com
2. Look at the top-right corner of the screen for your profile picture or initial
3. Click on your profile picture/initial
4. A dropdown menu will appear showing your current account and any other accounts you've signed into
5. Click on the account you want to switch to

If the account you want to use isn't listed in the dropdown menu, you'll need to add it:

1. Click on "Add another account" in the dropdown menu
2. Enter the email address and password for the account you want to add
3. Once signed in, you'll be redirected to Google Drive with the new account

Method 2: Using Incognito/Private Browsing

If you want to access a Google Drive account without adding it to your browser's saved accounts, you can use incognito mode:

• Open your browser and start a new incognito/private browsing window:
  • Chrome: Press Ctrl+Shift+N (Windows/Linux) or Command+Shift+N (Mac)
  • Firefox: Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Command+Shift+P (Mac)
  • Edge: Press Ctrl+Shift+N
  • Safari: Press Command+Shift+N
• Go to drive.google.com
• Sign in with the Google account you want to use

Remember that when you close the incognito window, you'll be logged out automatically.

Method 3: Using Multiple Browser Profiles

For those who regularly switch between accounts, browser profiles can be a huge time-saver:

1. In Chrome, click on your profile icon in the top-right corner
2. Select "Add" to create a new profile
3. Set up the new profile with a name and icon
4. In the new browser window that opens, go to drive.google.com and sign in with your second account

Now you can run multiple browser windows with different Google accounts signed in simultaneously.

Method 4: Signing Out and Signing In with a Different Account

If you prefer to keep only one account active at a time:

1. Go to drive.google.com
2. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner
3. Select "Sign out" or "Sign out of all accounts"
4. Once signed out, you'll be taken to the Google sign-in page
5. Enter the email and password for the account you want to use

Changing Google Drive Account on Mobile Devices

Switching accounts on your phone or tablet is a bit different from desktop. Let's look at how to do it on both Android and iOS devices.

Changing Google Drive Account on Android

Using the Google Drive App

1. Open the Google Drive app on your Android device
2. Tap your profile picture or initial in the top-right corner
3. A dropdown will appear showing your current account and other accounts you've signed into on the device
4. Tap the account you want to switch to

If you don't see the account you want to use:

1. Tap "Add another account" in the dropdown menu
2. Choose "Google" as the account type
3. Enter the email address and password for the account you want to add
4. Follow the prompts to complete the sign-in process
5. Once done, you'll be switched to the new account in Google Drive

Managing Google Accounts on Android

To add or remove Google accounts from your Android device at the system level:

1. Open your device's Settings app
2. Scroll down and tap "Accounts" or "Users & accounts"
3. Tap "Add account"
4. Select "Google"
5. Follow the instructions to sign in with the Google account you want to add

To remove an account:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts
2. Tap the Google account you want to remove
3. Tap "Remove account" and confirm when prompted

Changing Google Drive Account on iPhone or iPad

Using the Google Drive App

1. Open the Google Drive app on your iOS device
2. Tap your profile picture or initial in the top-right corner
3. You'll see your current account and any other accounts you've signed into
4. Tap the account you want to switch to

To add a new account:

1. Tap "Add another account" from the dropdown menu
2. Enter the email address for the Google account you want to add
3. Enter the password when prompted
4. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, complete that step
5. Once signed in, you'll be switched to the new account in Google Drive

Managing Google Accounts in iOS Settings

Unlike Android, iOS doesn't manage Google accounts at the system level for third-party apps. You'll need to add accounts directly within each Google app you use.

Tips for Managing Multiple Google Drive Accounts

Color-Coding Your Accounts

If you use multiple Google accounts regularly, consider color-coding them to avoid confusion:

1. Go to your Google Account settings by clicking on your profile picture and selecting "Manage your Google Account"
2. Click on "Personal info"
3. Under your profile picture, click "Change"
4. Select a background color that helps you visually distinguish this account from others

Creating Shortcuts for Different Accounts

On desktop, you can create bookmarks or shortcuts that open Google Drive with specific accounts:

1. Sign in to Google Drive with the account you want
2. Bookmark the page (Ctrl+D or Command+D)
3. Give the bookmark a name that includes the account info, like "Google Drive - Work" or "Google Drive - Personal"
4. Repeat for each account

Using Browser Extensions

There are browser extensions designed to help manage multiple Google accounts. Some popular options include:

• SessionBox (Chrome)
• MultiLogin (Firefox)
• Account Switcher (Chrome)

These extensions let you create separate browser sessions for different accounts, making it easier to switch between them.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Can't See the Option to Switch Accounts

If you don't see the option to switch accounts:

1. Make sure you're signed in to at least one Google account
2. Try refreshing the page
3. Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again
4. Update your browser to the latest version

Getting Signed Out Repeatedly

If you keep getting signed out of your accounts:

1. Check if you have cookies enabled in your browser settings
2. Make sure you haven't set your browser to clear cookies when closed
3. Check if you're using any privacy extensions that might be clearing your login sessions

Account Switching Not Working on Mobile

If you're having trouble switching accounts on your mobile device:

1. Update the Google Drive app to the latest version
2. Force close the app and reopen it
3. Check if your device's operating system needs an update
4. As a last resort, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app

Understanding Account Limitations

How Many Google Accounts Can You Use?

Google allows you to be signed in to multiple accounts at once, but there are some limits:

• On desktop browsers: You can sign in to up to 10 Google accounts simultaneously
• On mobile devices: The limit depends on your device, but typically you can add multiple accounts

Storage Limitations

Remember that each Google account has its own storage limit:

• Free Google accounts get 15GB of storage shared across Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos
• Google Workspace accounts have storage based on your subscription level
• Google One subscribers get additional storage based on their plan

Switching accounts doesn't combine storage - each account maintains its separate storage allocation.

Security Considerations When Using Multiple Accounts

Keeping Your Accounts Secure

When managing multiple Google Drive accounts, security becomes even more important:

• Use strong, unique passwords for each Google account
• Enable two-factor authentication on all your Google accounts
• Regularly review account activity for any suspicious logins
• Sign out of accounts when using shared or public computers

Privacy Between Accounts

While Google keeps your accounts separate, there are some things to be aware of:

• Your accounts are still linked to the same browser profile unless you use separate profiles
• Some Google services might suggest contacts or content from your other accounts
• On mobile devices, notifications from multiple accounts may appear together

Advanced Account Management Techniques

Using Google Drive for Desktop with Multiple Accounts

Google Drive for Desktop (formerly Backup and Sync) can be configured to work with multiple accounts:

1. Download and install Google Drive for Desktop from Google's website
2. During setup, sign in with your first Google account
3. After setup is complete, click on the Google Drive icon in your system tray or menu bar
4. Click on the gear icon and select "Preferences"
5. Click on your account name and then "Add another account"
6. Sign in with your additional account
7. Configure sync settings for each account separately

Sharing Files Between Your Accounts

If you need to move or share files between your Google accounts:

1. Open Google Drive with the account that contains the files
2. Select the files you want to share
3. Right-click and select "Share" or click the share icon
4. Enter the email address of your other Google account
5. Choose the appropriate permission level (Editor is recommended for full access)
6. Click "Send"
7. Switch to your other account and check the "Shared with me" section to access the files

For transferring ownership completely:

1. Share the file as described above
2. From the second account, open the file
3. Click the "Share" button
4. Click "Advanced" or the three dots next to the original owner's name
5. Select "Make owner" and confirm

Using Keyboard Shortcuts for Faster Account Switching

In Chrome, you can quickly switch between different user profiles:

• Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + M to switch between user profiles
• Mac: Press Command + Shift + M to switch between user profiles

This can be faster than clicking through menus if you have multiple browser profiles set up.

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to lose them to hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts. 

Simply download PicBackMan (it's free!), register your account, connect to your online store and tell PicBackMan where your videos are - PicBackMan does the rest, automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and uploads those too. You don't have to ever touch it.

Conclusion

Changing your Google Drive account is a straightforward process once you know the steps. Whether you're on a desktop computer or mobile device, you can easily switch between accounts to access different files and folders.

Remember that the exact steps might vary slightly depending on your browser or device model, but the general process remains the same. By following this guide, you should be able to manage multiple Google Drive accounts efficiently.

If you frequently switch between accounts, consider setting up browser profiles or bookmarks to make the process even smoother. And always keep security in mind by signing out of accounts when using shared devices and enabling two-factor authentication for all your Google accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I be logged into multiple Google Drive accounts at the same time?

Yes, you can be logged into multiple Google Drive accounts simultaneously on desktop browsers. Google allows you to sign in to up to 10 accounts at once. On mobile devices, you can also add and switch between multiple accounts within the Google Drive app.

2. Why can't I see my other Google account when trying to switch?

If you can't see your other account in the account switcher, you may need to add it first. Click on "Add another account" in the dropdown menu after clicking your profile picture, then sign in with the account credentials. If you've already added the account but still don't see it, try signing out completely and signing back in to refresh your account list.

3. Will changing my Google Drive account affect my other Google services?

When you switch Google accounts in Drive, it typically changes your account across other Google services in the same browser session, such as Gmail, YouTube, and Google Docs. If you want to use different accounts for different services, you'll need to use browser profiles, incognito windows, or separate browsers.

4. How do I remove a Google account from my device?

On desktop, you can remove an account by clicking your profile picture, selecting "Manage your Google Account," then going to "Data & Privacy," scrolling to "Data from apps and services you use," and clicking "Delete your Google Account." On Android, go to Settings > Accounts > Google, select the account, and tap "Remove account." On iOS, you'll need to remove accounts from within each Google app's settings.

5. Can I transfer files directly between two Google Drive accounts?

Google Drive doesn't have a direct "move to different account" feature, but you can transfer files by sharing them from one account to another with edit permissions. After sharing, access the files from the second account, make a copy (right-click > Make a copy), and then you can remove the sharing from the original files. For large transfers, you might want to download the files and then re-upload them to the new account.