Revoke Old App Permissions on Your Google Account Now

Signing in with Google is fast and convenient, which is why so many social apps, games, and tools offer it. But every “Sign in with Google” approval leaves a lasting connection between that service and your Google account. Months or years later, services you barely remember may still hold access you granted in a hurry.

Depending on the permissions you approved, a connected app might read your name and email, see your profile information, or in stronger cases access files and other account data. Reviewing and revoking old permissions is basic digital hygiene, and Google makes the process straightforward.

This guide shows you where the connected apps list lives, how to revoke access on phone and computer, and how to decide which connections deserve to stay.

Quick Answer

To revoke old app permissions connected to your Google account, go to myaccount.google.com, open Security, and find Third-party Access or Your Connections to Third-party Apps and Services. Select the social app you no longer use and choose Remove Access or Delete Connection. The app immediately loses its link to your Google account.

What Third-party Access Actually Means

When you choose Sign in with Google, you are not handing over your password. Instead, Google gives the service a secure token and a defined set of permissions. This system is safer than sharing passwords, but the token stays active until it expires or you revoke it.

Permissions fall into levels. Basic sign-in access usually covers your name, email address, and profile picture. Deeper access can include reading your Google Drive files, seeing your contacts, or viewing other account data, depending on what the service requested and what you accepted on the consent screen.

The risk is not mainly the apps you use every day. It is the forgotten ones: a social app you tested once, a quiz site, an old phone game, or a tool from a company that no longer exists. If such a service is breached or sold, its stored tokens and your shared data become someone else’s problem — and yours.

How to Revoke Access on a Computer

1. Open your browser and go to your Google Account at myaccount.google.com.
2. Sign in with the account you want to clean up.
3. Click Security in the left menu.
4. Scroll to Your connections to third-party apps and services and click See all connections.
5. Browse the full list of connected services.
6. Click the social app you want to remove.
7. Click Delete connection or Remove access, then confirm.
8. Repeat for every app you no longer use or recognise.

On each app’s detail page, Google shows when you first granted access and what the app can reach. That detail view is valuable. An app connected five years ago that you cannot remember is an easy removal. An app with access to files or contacts deserves extra scrutiny even if the name looks familiar.

How to Revoke Access on Your Phone

You can do the same clean-up from your phone, whether you use Android or an iPhone.

1. On Android, open Settings, tap Google, then Manage your Google Account. On iPhone, open the Gmail or Google app and tap your profile picture, then Manage your Google Account.
2. Go to the Security tab.
3. Scroll to the third-party connections section and tap See all connections.
4. Select an app from the list.
5. Tap Delete connection or Remove access and confirm your choice.
6. Work through the rest of the list in the same way.

If you manage more than one Google account, repeat the process for each one. Many people have an old personal account and a newer one, and forgotten connections often hide in the account they check least.

Google’s own documentation, the Google Account Help page on third-party access to your account, explains the connection types and what removing access does in more depth.

Which Connections Should You Remove?

A short, trusted list is the goal. Use these simple tests on every entry.

• Remove anything you do not recognise. An unknown connection should never stay. Remove it first and ask questions later.
• Remove services you stopped using. If you deleted the app from your phone or have not signed in for a year, the connection has no purpose.
• Question broad permissions. A casual social app rarely needs access to your Drive or contacts. Strong permissions plus low trust means removal.
• Keep active, trusted services. Apps you use daily from known companies can stay, but re-check their permission level in the detail view.
• Watch for duplicates. The same service may appear twice from different sign-ins. Keep one current connection at most.

Before removing a connection for a service you still value, check how you sign in to it. If Google is your only login method there, first add a password or another sign-in option inside that service. Otherwise, revoking access could lock you out of saved content, subscriptions, or purchases linked to that account.

After Revoking: What Changes and What Does Not

Revoking takes effect right away. The service can no longer use its token to reach your Google account, and signing in with Google on that service will stop working until you approve a fresh connection.

However, revocation does not reach backwards. Data the service already received, such as your name and email, may remain in its systems under its privacy policy. If you want that data deleted, visit the service’s privacy settings or contact the company and request full account and data deletion.

Also note that revoking access does not cancel a paid subscription with that service. Billing continues until you cancel it in the service itself. Treat access removal and subscription cancellation as two separate jobs.

This clean-up covers your Google side. Social apps often connect in more than one place, so it is worth pairing this task with a review of the other direction too — our guide on how to check which third-party apps still have access to your Facebook account shows the matching steps for Facebook-based sign-ins.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Checking only one Google account: Old connections often sit in a secondary account you rarely open. Review every account you own.
• Revoking your only login method: If a service has no password option set up, create one before you remove the Google connection.
• Assuming removal deletes your data: It stops future access only. Ask the service directly for data deletion when it matters.
• Ignoring permission levels: Two apps with the same friendly name can hold very different access. Always open the detail view before deciding.
• Re-approving without reading: The consent screen lists exactly what a service wants. Slow down and check it before you tap Allow next time.
• Never reviewing again: New sign-ins accumulate quietly. A five-minute review a few times a year keeps the list under control.

Conclusion

Old app permissions are invisible until you go looking for them, and that is exactly why they are worth your attention. Open your Google Account security settings, review every third-party connection, and remove anything unused, unknown, or over-powered. Protect services you still need by setting up alternative logins first, and make the review a regular habit. A short list of trusted connections is a safer account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I see all apps connected to my Google account?

Go to myaccount.google.com, open Security, and look for Your Connections to Third-party Apps and Services. Click See All Connections to view the complete list with permission details for each app.

Will revoking access delete my account in that app?

No. Revoking only removes the Google connection. Your account and data inside the app usually remain. To remove them fully, delete your account inside the app or contact the company.

Can a revoked app still use my data?

It cannot pull new data from Google after revocation. It may keep information it already received, based on its privacy policy. You can request deletion of that stored data from the company.

What if I remove access by accident?

Nothing is lost permanently. Simply sign in to the service with Google again and approve the connection. The app will reappear on your list with fresh permissions, which you should read carefully before allowing.

How often should I review third-party access?

Every three to six months is a good rhythm for most people. Also do an extra check after installing several new apps, hearing about a breach, or noticing unusual account activity.