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How to remove your old phone from Google Play

AndroidPIT Google play Store 8990
© nextpit

Over time, the Google Play Store builds up a list of your devices. When you look at this list, you might find that half of them are devices that you don't use (or own) anymore, or maybe a friend's device that you signed in on once. There's no real harm in this, but if you'd want the list to be up to date and accurate, we'll show you how to just keep your current devices on your Google Play Store device list.

Old Android devices can't be completely removed from the Play Store archive, but you can hide them so they no longer appear on your device list. This makes it much easier to navigate the list, especially if you've owned dozens of Android gadgets over the last few years. 

Best Flagship Phones
Over time, your Google Play devices list can become filled with old phones you no longer use. / © NextPit

How to remove devices in Google Play

1. Open the Google Play Store in your web browser and click the small gear icon in the top-right of the screen and click the sub-menu called Settings.

2. You will now see the My Devices page where your device activity in Google Play is recorded. You'll see all the devices you have ever logged into Google Play with, and a few details to the right of each device.

Google Play Store Devices
Click the gear icon, then Settings to see your Google Play device list. / © NextPit

3. You can choose whether the particular device should appear in menus or not by checking or unchecking the boxes under Visibility.

4. Click Edit to assign a catchy nickname to your gadgets. By default, the Play Store lists a lot of gadgets as Unknown device. By assigning a nickname you can see at a glance which smartphone or tablet it is. 

5. Once you've renamed devices, click the Update button to the far right to save your changes. These changes are universal, so they will now apply in all Google properties. That means all of your visible devices will be renamed in the Play Store Compatible devices list, as well as in Android Device Manager and so on.

play store my devices3
Google Play allows you to rename your devices / © NextPit

And that's it, you're done. It's that simple to clean up and reorganize your device overview so you can quickly and easily find the right smartphone or tablet in Google Play.

How many Android devices have you owned? Have you tried this trick for removing old devices from the Google Play Store devices list? Let us know in the comments.

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David McCourt

David McCourt
Editor

David enjoys staying abreast of the latest technology and newest Android apps. Outside of the office, he can be found playing snooker and writing bad 00s indie songs.

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32 comments
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  • 1
    Coreyaved11 11 months ago Link to comment

    [HELP] there is an unknown device that shows recently logged in, on Google play, but when I go to Google Account, and look under devices, it is not shown there. How is it that the device can log into Google play, but not into Google account?


  • 1
    Mad May 5, 2021 Link to comment

    Google Play Devices has do nothing with your account's security, if you want to sign-out of old devices or unknown devices, go to myaccount[dot]google[dot]com/device-activity yes you will still see old Devices on Google Play Devices list but don't worry it has do nothing with your account's security


  • 1
    theosmama Nov 20, 2019 Link to comment

    my phone got stolen and had two google accounts on it. However it is not showing up on one account or on the samsung acvount connected to that same Google account. It is not in my device list at all.
    How is this possible? Even the samsung account?


  • Hyperopiate 1
    Hyperopiate Jul 29, 2019 Link to comment

    For those looking for a way to block out those phones, the only working solution is to change your password, increase security by adding 2-step authentication, and then follow these steps to not see the device. Personally I would keep the devices showing, just in case and come back to the page after a few weeks or months to see if it's still signing in. If not signed in from the time you changed your password, then you're good to go, I would hide them, and then they disappear on their own.


  • Uber78 2
    Uber78 May 29, 2019 Link to comment

    The devices on google play store cant be removed (2019)

    Hyperopiate


  • Uber78 2
    Uber78 May 29, 2019 Link to comment

    The devices can not be removed for a buggy page. or maybe they didnt on purpose. Google take cares a sh*t about privacy


  • paulandrewanderson 3
    paulandrewanderson Nov 29, 2018 Link to comment

    We cannot remove devices from the "Google Play devices" page; apparently they vanish automatically after a few years of dormancy. E.g. my oldest phone is no longer there, but the Chromebook I sold many months ago is still there, even though I removed it from the "myaccount google device-activity" page.

    HyperopiateSorinDale Krebs


  • 3
    Fr33 43v3r Oct 27, 2018 Link to comment

    So, for anyone else who is falling for this tip here is the break down.

    If you want the devices from showing up on the Google Play devices....this is the WRONG BLOG to follow, this ONLY hides it but does not delete it.

    The other tip on removing it by going to myaccountDOTgoogleDOTcom is to actually delete it from THAT page only. It has no effect on the google play page.

    When I find a way of actually removing from the GP page then I will come back here and give you the steps.

    clamumstevenSorinDale Krebs


  • John Brown 3
    John Brown Oct 7, 2018 Link to comment

    Update. The device turns out to be a Cricket phone I bought for my child to use while grounded from his iPhone (for using earbuds and playing games in class at school). However, the procedure recommended by James Barr removed the phone from my devise list and when it was removed a Google popup told me what could be done to protect my data on any lost phone. Thanks a million and Stay Awsome.

    Sorin


  • John Brown 3
    John Brown Oct 7, 2018 Link to comment

    A new device that I do not own has recently shown up on my "Choose a Device" list when I tried to download new Google Play Apps. I have never owned such a device. Plus One Japan Limited FTU18A00 registered August 2018. If I accept the permissions and download the apps, won't my data, photos, etc. go to this Ghost Device? Is this a way to steal my data? It is not enough to hide this device. I need to get it out of the list of devices that can access my data. How do I do that? What else should I do to protect any data already compromised? Will James Barr's comment below work to solve this problem?Jim Barr 4 months ago Link to comment
    While this article does NOT tell you how to remove a device, here's what you do:
    1. Open your Google Account settings by clicking on your account photo on almost any Google application screen, and click the "My Account" button.
    2. Click the "Device activity & security events" link.
    3. Click the "Review Devices" link.
    4. Click on any listed device, then click the "Remove" button.
    5. Confirm the removal.
    Done.

    Robb OmSorin


    • 1
      clamum Sep 19, 2019 Link to comment

      While that will remove the device from your account, it has no impact on the list of devices on the Google Play store. The Google Play store and Google account settings show two completely different lists of devices.


  • Steven Wang 2
    Steven Wang Jun 21, 2018 Link to comment

    Fast Forward 2018:

    just go to :
    1. play.google.com/settings/
    2. uncheck "show in menus"

    Tommy Robbomario miranda


    • Tommy Robbo 1
      Tommy Robbo Aug 18, 2018 Link to comment

      Fast Forward 2018:

      1. Still no way to actually 'remove' the devices.


  • 3
    Jim Barr May 23, 2018 Link to comment

    While this article does NOT tell you how to remove a device, here's what you do:
    1. Open your Google Account settings by clicking on your account photo on almost any Google application screen, and click the "My Account" button.
    2. Click the "Device activity & security events" link.
    3. Click the "Review Devices" link.
    4. Click on any listed device, then click the "Remove" button.
    5. Confirm the removal.
    Done.

    Joey Hmario mirandaSallo


  • Iki Bondoc 2
    Iki Bondoc Mar 19, 2018 Link to comment

    TO REMOVE, NOT TO UPDATE. CLICKBAIT

    Dale KrebsBraden Dodge


  • Paul Madley 1
    Paul Madley Apr 27, 2017 Link to comment

    Anybody know how to remove devices not used in 28 days? I lost a phone around Xmas, now Wickr insists it's installed on there - but no way to remove it :(

    Any and all suggestions welcome!


  • 5
    fred Howling Apr 12, 2017 Link to comment

    Very interesting


  • 2
    spamit Jan 24, 2017 Link to comment

    America has surrendered its right to privacy to the $0.99 app. Dig behind the scenes and look at the default access rights these applications have. Why should any app have the right to autostart without permission or make a user jump through an impossible maze of places and settings to remove it only to find the app reinstalled 2 days later? It's the vast majority of developers that are sniffing your shorts and not just Google. Some developers are leading the way with apps that allow users to place controls and limitations. But how many grandmas and grandpas are walking around with lives that are effectively an open book and don't know. Be it Google or abc software; developers now dictate to the consumer (their client) what can and cannot be done to their clients hardware. This serves no other purpose that preserving their data mining ability. Having visions of the puppy rolling over and showing the jewels just for a belly scratch.

    Dale Krebs


  • Vision Thing 4
    Vision Thing Oct 13, 2016 Link to comment

    A very helpful person at Google Play store support told me to go to myaccount(dot)google(dot)com. log in. Select "device activity & notifications" on the left then select "Review Devices" in the Recently Used devices block on the Right hand side.
    Click on the concerned device to be Deleted from your account and select Remove. After Confirmation..... gone :D

    Worked like a charm!

    Da5kickaSorinAjit VishwanathNik DeltaDeactivated AccountDario KunertDick Bailey


    • 2
      Aceman Feb 26, 2017 Link to comment

      Thank you, this worked from a Google account perspective but:
      1) the devices still appear in the Google-Play account which tells me they are still active. WHY are they still there after removal via my Google account? I would hide they if I knew more details about them meanwhile I am uncomfortable.
      2) It's been so long since purchasing anything via google-play. Does it send a email notifications of purchases made? I can't remember.
      3) I don't know where these devices came. There should be a more specific audit history to view other than the date it was connected/updated. i.e. tracking history, ip, Device ID, actual device type, and more.
      4) is it an App or a device? How do I find out which one and if an App which one?
      5) There should be a notification available and sent via the backup email & SMS set within the google-account and google-play account WHENEVER a new device/app connects. How google missed this one is troublesome.

      I guess I should send this to Google support? How do I do that again? Another To-Do to the list...
      Please advise, cordial feedback appreciated,
      Carl

      Sorin


    • 2
      Angus Black Feb 7, 2018 Link to comment

      This is just a placebo to make users think they have some control over their Google account.
      Removing a device from your Google account does NOT remove it from the Google Play or prevent future access. It doesn't even require that device to log in again.
      I removed an Android TV box, that I no longer own, from my account but the device is still updating through Google Play.

      Dale Krebs


    • Nik Delta 1
      Nik Delta Feb 24, 2018 Link to comment

      Very useful thank you


      • Uber78 2
        Uber78 May 29, 2019 Link to comment

        Not useful. is not working


    • Ajit Vishwanath 1
      Ajit Vishwanath May 17, 2018 Link to comment

      awesome! thanks for this


    • Uber78 2
      Uber78 May 29, 2019 Link to comment

      Is not working does not remove the divice. READ


  • 2
    Jacques van der schyff Jul 30, 2016 Link to comment

    technology is supposed to make life easier not more complicated, google is doing a very good job annoying me lately =/

    Dale KrebsThomas Pratt


  • 2
    Robbie Goodwin Jul 2, 2016 Link to comment

    That kind of thinking quickly gets us both to the point where sensitive data can't be deleted, and also to where MegaBucks.Corp insists that whether or not it's sensitive, the data belongs to MegaBucks.Corp and the user has no rights… which in theory can be argued all the way to the highest court and where will you raise the money to fight MegaBucks.Corp law team, please?

    The last six people are wholly right… it's not just undesirable; it's almost incomprehensible why devices can't be deleted - unless of course it's about data ownership!

    Dale Krebs


  • Adriana M. 2
    Adriana M. May 28, 2016 Link to comment

    One device which is no longer in my possession cannot be removed from list. It doesn't belong to me anymore!

    Dale KrebsChris Hardewig


  • Les Cuebas 3
    Les Cuebas Mar 24, 2016 Link to comment

    How to remove device from google play, and then you show us how NOT to. Gee thanks for your hard work.

    Dale KrebsThomas PrattDeactivated Account


  • Ron Lankshear 1
    Ron Lankshear Mar 24, 2016 Link to comment

    Well yes that removes device from some list BUT it still is shown against any app you installed on it which is ridiculous...
    A Device manager should enable me to remove a device completely and all apps at least Free ones


  • John B. 9
    John B. Dec 31, 2015 Link to comment

    It would be so much better to remove the phone instead of just hiding it from coming up. Google really needs to do something about it.

    Thomas Pratt


  • 6
    fl2oftmd Dec 28, 2015 Link to comment

    Been there done that. Would rather being able to remove not hide.. But that's Google for ya. There way or no way.

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