If you use Gmail frequently on different devices but wish to keep track of your activity, there’s a distinct feature in the Gmail app that can help you get what you’re looking for. The last account activity functionality allows users to keep track of their active time on Gmail, so they know how many other devices have their account open and in use.
In this guide, we’ll be detailing this feature step-by-step, so you won’t need to worry about your account being abused by any other device you’re unaware of going forward. We’ll also show you how to remove alien devices from your account by the end of the guide, so stick around until the end for the best results.
- Recommended read: Unleash Chrome – Install Extensions Beyond Web Store.
Tracking recent activity in Gmail – Simply explained
Fortunately, it’s pretty simple to know what your Gmail account has been up to in recent times. All you need to do is head over to your Gmail inbox, access the “Details” area, and check your last known status in another window that opens up afterward. For beginners, this can be a little hard to implement, so we’ll walk you through the process.
Follow the steps below to check your last account activity in Gmail.
1. The first step is to head over to your Gmail inbox. You may as well use this direct link to get there quickly. Sign in if you haven’t already to move forward.
2. After signing into your account and arriving at Gmail’s inbox interface, scroll down your list of emails to find the “Details” button, which should be right below “Last account activity.”
Clicking on “Details”
3. After clicking on the “Details” button, a pop-up will appear on your screen as a window. Here, you can freely check your last account activity and gauge the devices used to sign into your account. As you can comprehend, Gmail shows you “Access Type” in one column and follows things up with the “Location” as well.
The “Location” comprises the IP address used to sign into Gmail. Finally, there’s even a “Date/Time” section in the “Activity information” section that specifies the in-depth parameters of your account’s last activity.
Last account activity in Gmail
That’s about it for knowing how to check your last account activity in Gmail. Now, if something feels off, you can seamlessly proceed toward removing any device that you think does not associate with your account. Although we’re sure Google has been sending you alerts to verify your account information, you might have missed those notifications.
In such cases, you will need to use the kill switch and sign out of Gmail on your devices at once. Let’s learn how to get this done in the following section.
Removing unwanted devices from the Gmail account
If you’ve spotted a device associated with your Gmail account but don’t recognize it, it’s highly recommended to take immediate action. In this regard, you can go to the My Account page on Google, click “Security” in the side panel to the left, and scroll down to find the “Your devices” section.
Selecting the “Manage all devices” button
In this area, you’ll find all the devices you or someone else have used to sign into your Google account. Take a close, hard look at all the enlisted devices, and then click on the one you believe does not belong to you or anyone else in your circle.
After picking the option, multiple options will appear in front of you for that particular device, namely “Sign out,” “Find device,” and “Don’t recognize something.” Click the “Sign out” button to remove that particular device.
Signing Gmail out of a suspicious device
You’ll be done for the most part now. Just don’t forget to confirm the prompt that’ll appear right after you click “Sign out.” That’s about it. You can now check your last known activity on Gmail after a couple of days again, and you’ll be likely to find favorable results.
Before we top things off, there’s another feature called “Security Checkup” in Gmail that scans the devices you use to log into Gmail and authenticates whether they’re active. The feature is accessible in the “Activity information” window that details your account activity, as discussed in the previous section.
Clicking on the “Security Checkup” option
Upon clicking the button, a new tab will start loading in Chrome called “Security Checkup.” Here, feel free to review the security tips that Google has presented for you, such as inactive devices that have your account signed in but are not being used anymore. It’s a convenient section of the Google account that we recommend checking out occasionally.
The Security Checkup page in Google
That’s all about it for keeping pace with your Gmail account activity. It’s high time to conclude the article.
Conclusion
Gmail is one of the most popular email clients in the world, alongside the rest of the best alternative email accounts. It’s fast, free, and easy to use and boasts an utterly huge user base whose audience count stretches to billions of people. Features such as creating tasks and linking the service to Google Pay make Gmail particularly stand out.
That said, it’s still important to be wary of your Gmail account and track your activity from time to time. In this guide, we’ve looked at how you can verify the devices used to use your Gmail account and remove alien devices in case of any related anomalies.
Do let us know in the comments section whether this guide helped you out. As always, Chrome Ready wishes you good luck!
