How to use Chrome devices

Sign in

Sign in to your Chrome device

Use a Google Account to sign in to your Chrome device. A Google Account lets you access all of Google’s web services with the same username and password. Friends who want to borrow your Chrome device can also sign in with their own Google Accounts in order to see their own browsing information, such as bookmarks and apps.

To sign in, click the Google Account you want to use from the main sign-in screen and enter your password. Once you’re done browsing, click the status area at the bottom of the screen, where your account picture appears, and select Sign out. You can also press Ctrl+Shift+Q.

Adding accounts to the device

To sign in with an account that's new to the device, follow these steps:

  1. If accounts are listed on the main sign-in screen, click Add user on the lower-left corner to bring up the “Sign in” dialog. The sign-in screen can support up to 18 unique users.
  2. In the dialog, enter your Google Account’s email address and password.
  3. Choose the picture you'd like to use for your account on the main sign-in screen. Don't worry, you can always update your picture after you've signed in.

Once you sign in:

  • Your account is added to the main sign-in screen, if accounts on the device are listed.
  • You're automatically signed in to other Google services you use.
  • If you’ve previously saved apps, bookmarks, extensions, and other browsing preferences to your account, they will automatically show up. That way, you get the same web experience no matter what computer you're using.
Note: If you're borrowing a friend's Chrome device, you may have to ask your friend to add your account. You'll get the message "Sorry, you don’t have permission to sign in" if your friend has restricted access on the Chrome device to specific accounts.
Switching between accounts

When you sign in to your Google Account on your Chrome device, you’re automatically signed in to Google services, such as Gmail and Google Drive, with that account. To switch between different Google Accounts during your browsing session, just sign out of the Google service you are using (e.g. Gmail) and sign in with a different account. This won't sign you out of the Chrome device.

Tip: You can also enable multiple sign-in in your account settings in order to stay signed in to two or more accounts at the same time. Learn about multiple sign-in in the Google Accounts Help Center.

Signing in with 2-step verification

If you've turned on 2-step verification for your Google Account, here are some tips for signing in:

  • From the main sign-in screen: Enter your normal Google Account password. Do not use an application-specific password.
  • Signing in on the web: When accessing Google services on the web, first sign in with your normal Google Account username and password. On the next page, you’ll be asked to enter a verification code that you’ll get from your phone.

Learn more about 2-step verification and verification codes at the Google Accounts Help Center.

Don’t have an account?
  • You can browse the web without using a Google Account if guest browsing is turned on. To start a guest browsing session, click Browse as Guest from the launcher. If you don't see these options, that means guest browsing is not enabled on the device.
  • Otherwise, visit https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount to create a Google Account in minutes.

Next steps

Using your Chrome device at work or school? You might only be able to sign in with your work account and not with other accounts as described here (such as your personal Gmail account). Learn about using a managed Chrome device