How Google helps you share data safely using Google Account linking

To enable improved and personalized experiences, you can securely link your Google Account to your account on a third-party app or service.

How Google keeps your data safe

When you link your Google Account with your account on a third-party app or service:

• Your Google Account data is usually not shared with the third-party app or service. Before your Google Account shares any data, it needs authorization.
• Your account password on the third-party app or service isn't shared with Google.
• When you authorize Google Account Linking from a third-party app or service, Google only accesses the data needed to link your accounts.
• At any time, you can remove the link between your accounts.

Data shared when you link your Google Account

What data does the third party share?

Before the third party shares your data, you can decide whether to give Google access to your third-party account. Based on the third-party app or service, you may be able to review:

• What parts of the third-party account Google will be able to access.
• What level of account access Google will have.
• What actions Google will take on your behalf.

When you link your Google Account to an account you created with a third-party app or service, this may allow Google to:

• Check the type of account you have. This lets Google find what content or features you have access to based on the type of subscription or account you have.
• Find or edit your content. This lets Google do things like find and stream content, edit your playlists, or start a video on one device and pick up where you left off on another device.
• Review your purchase history. This lets Google put the correct items in your shopping cart.

How might Google use access to your third-party account?

Google may personalize your experience with information from your third-party account, such as the ability to find which shows you've watched on a third-party app on Google TV. Other examples include:

• Ask your Google Assistant to play music you’ve purchased or add a song to a playlist for a linked music streaming app.
• Use Google Search to find a show from a linked video streaming app and play it from where you left off.
• Ask your Google Assistant to turn smart light bulbs on or off.

How long is your data shared?

Google and the third party may share data as long as you have an active link between your Google Account and your third-party account.

Tip: If you delete a Google Linked Account, it won’t affect data that was shared previously.

Data shared by Google

When you give Google access to an account with a third-party app or service, data is shared from that account to Google.

In some cases, the third-party app or service may receive data from Google. For example, the third-party app or service might ask you to:

• Use your existing Google Account to sign in to the app or service.
• Provide the third-party app or service with additional access to your Google Account.