You can use many Google services signed out, and privacy settings decide whether some data is saved to your account
Creating a Google Account is optional for many services: Google says you can use many of them signed out, for example searching on Google or watching YouTube videos. Signing up lets you create and manage content such as email and photos or get more relevant search results. Across services you can adjust privacy settings, such as history and personalization controls, to choose whether some types of data are saved to your Google account and how Google uses it. Google also mentions private browsing, such as Chrome Incognito mode, as keeping your browsing private from other people who use your device.
Supporting quotations
you can sign up for a Google Account if you want to create and manage content like emails and photos, or see more relevant search results
you can use many Google services when you’re signed out or without creating an account at all, like searching on Google or watching YouTube videos
which helps keep your browsing private from other people who use your device
you can adjust your privacy settings (like history and personalization controls) to make choices about whether we save some types of data to your Google account and how we use it
Qualifications & exceptions
The Incognito statement is limited to other people who use your device; later the policy says third-party sites and apps that use Google services still share information with Google even in Incognito mode.
Using services signed out does not mean no data is collected: the policy says data not tied to an account is stored with identifiers tied to the browser, app or device.
Not stated here
Which specific services work signed out is not listed beyond the Search and YouTube examples.
Account & Service Control · Procedure
Google adds examples, videos and definitions, and gives a contact link for policy questions
Google says it added examples, explanatory videos and definitions of key terms to make the policy clearer, and that questions about the policy can be sent through a contact link on the page.
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we’ve added examples, explanatory videos, and definitions for key terms
if you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you can
Account & Service Control · Company practice
When you are signed in, Google stores collected information with your account and treats it as personal information
When you are signed in, Google also collects information that it stores with your Google Account, and it says it treats that information as personal information.
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When you’re signed in, we also collect information that we store with your Google Account, which we treat as personal information.
Account & Service Control · Company practice
Creating an account means giving your name and a password; phone number and payment details are optional
When you create a Google Account you provide personal information including your name and a password. You can also choose to add a phone number or payment information. Even without being signed in you might choose to give Google information, such as an email address to contact Google or to get updates. Elsewhere Google says a phone number you add can be used for different purposes across Google services depending on your settings, such as account recovery, helping people find and connect with you, and making ads more relevant.
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When you create a Google Account, you provide us with personal information that includes your name and a password.
You can also choose to add a phone number or payment information to your account.
like an email address to communicate with Google or receive updates about our services
If you add your phone number to your account, it can be used for different purposes across Google services, depending on your settings.
help people find and connect with you, and make the ads you see more relevant to you
Qualifications & exceptions
Phone number and payment information are described as optional additions.
Phone-number uses depend on your settings, per the linked explanation.
Account & Service Control · User right or choice
Google points to the Privacy Checkup and per-product settings as the main privacy controls
This section describes key controls for managing your privacy across Google services. Google also points to the Privacy Checkup, where you can review and adjust important privacy settings, and says it offers specific privacy settings inside individual products that are explained in its Product Privacy Guide.
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This section describes key controls for managing your privacy across our services.
which provides an opportunity to review and adjust important privacy settings
we also offer specific privacy settings in our products
Not stated here
The Product Privacy Guide and the settings inside individual products are linked but not supplied, so those product-specific settings are not described here.
Account & Service Control · User right or choice
When signed in, you can review and update your information in each service and in your Google Account
When you are signed in, you can always review and update information by visiting the services you use; for example Photos and Drive help you manage the content you have saved there. Google also says it built a place in your Google Account to review and control information saved there, which includes the privacy controls described next.
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When you’re signed in, you can always review and update information by visiting the services you use.
We also built a place for you to review and control information saved in your Google Account.
Qualifications & exceptions
The right to review and update applies when you are signed in.
Account & Service Control · User right or choice
My Activity, Google Dashboard and personal info pages let you review, control and delete saved data
My Activity lets you review and control data saved to your Google Account when you are signed in and using Google services, such as searches or visits to Google Play. You can browse by date and topic and delete part or all of your activity. Google Dashboard lets you manage information associated with specific products. A personal info page lets you manage contact information such as your name, email and phone number.
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My Activity allows you to review and control data that’s saved to your Google Account when you’re signed in and using Google services
You can browse by date and by topic, and delete part or all of your activity.
Google Dashboard allows you to manage information associated with specific products.
Manage your contact information, such as your name, email, and phone number.
Qualifications & exceptions
My Activity covers data saved to your account while signed in.
Account & Service Control · User right or choice
Signed out, you can manage search customization, YouTube history and ad settings tied to your browser or device
When you are signed out, you can manage information associated with your browser or device. The listed options are signed-out search customization, where you choose whether your search activity is used to offer more relevant results and recommendations; YouTube settings, where you can pause and delete your YouTube Search History and Watch History; and ad settings for ads on Google and on partner sites and apps. Google also says you may get customized search results while signed out, and that if you do not want that you can search and browse privately or turn off signed-out search customization.
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When you’re signed out, you can manage information associated with your browser or device, including:
Choose whether your search activity is used to offer you more relevant results and recommendations.
YouTube settings: Pause and delete your
preferences about the ads shown to you on Google and on sites and apps that partner with Google to show ads
If you don’t want this level of search customization, you can
Qualifications & exceptions
These controls are tied to the browser or device, not to an account.
Account & Service Control · User right or choice
You can export a copy of the content in your Google Account
Google says you can export a copy of content in your Google Account if you want to back it up or use it with a service outside of Google, using the export tool it links.
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You can export a copy of content in your Google Account if you want to back it up or use it with a service outside of Google.
Qualifications & exceptions
The statement covers "content in your Google Account", not necessarily every kind of data Google holds about you.
Not stated here
Which products' data the export tool includes is not described here.
Account & Service Control · User right or choice
Inactive Account Manager lets you give someone access to parts of your account if you cannot use it
Google says Inactive Account Manager allows you to give someone else access to parts of your Google Account in case you are unexpectedly unable to use your account.
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allows you to give someone else access to parts of your Google Account in case you’re unexpectedly unable to use your account
Qualifications & exceptions
Access is to "parts of" the account, as you choose.
Not stated here
How the feature is triggered or what the trusted person can access is on a linked page that is not supplied.
Account & Service Control · Permission or license
If you use a school or work account, domain administrators and resellers can access and restrict your Google Account
If you are a student or work for an organization that uses Google services, your domain administrator and the resellers who manage your account will have access to your Google Account. They may be able to access and retain information stored in your account such as your email; view statistics such as how many apps you install; change your account password; suspend or terminate your account access; receive your account information to satisfy applicable law, regulation, legal process or an enforceable governmental request; and restrict your ability to delete or edit your information or your privacy settings.
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If you’re a student or work for an organization that uses Google services, your
and resellers who manage your account will have access to your Google Account. They may be able to:
Access and retain information stored in your account, like your email
View statistics regarding your account, like how many apps you install
Change your account password
Suspend or terminate your account access
Receive your account information in order to satisfy applicable law, regulation, legal process, or enforceable governmental request
Restrict your ability to delete or edit your information or your privacy settings
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies if you are a student or work for an organization that uses Google services and manages your account.
"May be able to" means the specific powers depend on what the administrator enables.
You can export a copy of your information or delete it from your Google Account at any time
Google repeats in a second location that you can export a copy of your information or delete it from your Google Account at any time. You can export a copy of content in your Google Account to back it up or use it with a service outside Google, and you can delete content from specific services, delete specific items through My Activity, delete specific Google products with associated information, or delete the entire account. The glossary also says you can edit or delete your account at any time through your Google Account settings.
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You can export a copy of your information or delete it from your Google Account at any time
You can export a copy of content in your Google Account if you want to back it up or use it with a service outside of Google.
To delete your information, you can:
Delete your content from specific Google services
Search for and then delete specific items from your account using
including your information associated with those products
Delete your entire Google Account
You can edit or delete your account at any time through your Google Account settings.
Qualifications & exceptions
"At any time" is about the ability to start export or deletion; deleted copies may take time to leave active and backup systems and some data is kept for business or legal purposes, as the retention section explains.
Account & Service Control · Context
The policy points to account settings, the Privacy Checkup, safety resources and technology explainers
Google lists resources for learning about its practices and settings: your Google Account for managing account settings, the Privacy Checkup for key privacy settings, Google's safety center for built-in security, privacy controls and family tools, a Teen Privacy Guide, a Privacy & Terms page with more context on this policy and the Terms of Service, and a Technologies page about how Google uses cookies, technologies used for advertising, and how it uses information from sites or apps that use its services.
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The following links highlight useful resources for you to learn more about our practices and privacy settings.
is home to many of the settings you can use to manage your account
guides you through key privacy settings for your Google Account
helps you learn more about our built-in security, privacy controls, and tools to help set digital ground rules for your family online
Privacy & Terms provides more context regarding this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service
Technologies includes more information about:
How Google uses cookies
Technologies used for Advertising
How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services
Not stated here
These resources are linked but not supplied, so their content is not described.
Account & Service Control · Context
Key term: a Google Account typically uses your name, email and password to authenticate you; you can edit or delete it
The glossary says you may access some services by signing up for a Google Account and giving some personal information, typically your name, email address and a password. Google says this account information is used to authenticate you when you access Google services and protect your account from unauthorized access by others. It says you can edit or delete your account at any time through your Google Account settings.
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You may access some of our services by signing up for a
providing us with some personal information (typically your name, email address, and a password)
This account information is used to authenticate you when you access Google services and protect your account from unauthorized access by others.
You can edit or delete your account at any time through your Google Account settings.
Account & Service Control · Company practice
A phone number you add can be used for account recovery, helping people find you and making ads more relevant
If you add your phone number to your account, Google says it can be used for different purposes across Google services, depending on your settings. Examples: helping you access your account if you forget your password, helping people find and connect with you, and making the ads you see more relevant to you.
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If you add your phone number to your account, it can be used for different purposes across Google services, depending on your settings.
your phone number can be used to help you access your account if you forget your password, help people find and connect with you, and make the ads you see more relevant to you