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Googling Google

Christopher Dawson

Sign into multiple Google accounts at once

By | August 3, 2010, 9:58pm PDT

Google is rolling out a new feature that lets you sign into multiple Google accounts at once. This is a pretty great feature, and one that will save many people a lot of time.

As far as multiple login goes right now, you can currently be signed into only two separate accounts at once β€” one Google Account, and one Google Apps account. This lets you be logged into your personal stuff, and your work stuff at the same time.

Until now though, there was no way for you to be signed into multiple Google Accounts β€” say, three Gmail accounts. People maintain multiple accounts for various reasons, now switching between them is a whole lot easier.

In supported applications, like Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Sites, Google Reader, Google Voice, App Engine and Google Code, there will be a dropdown that lets you choose which account you want to look at. I suspect it will be something like Google Analytics, where you can choose which account you want to view.

To set up this functionality, you have to visit your Google Account page, and enable multiple logins β€” you may not see it yet, but according to Google Operating System, it’s on the way.

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Topics

Garett Rogers has always had a deep interest in computers and the Internet, which led him to a degree in Computer Information Systems. He is currently employed as a programmer for iQmetrix.

Disclosure

Garett Rogers

Garett Rogers is employed as a programmer for iQmetrix, which specializes in retail management software for the wireless industry. He has no other formal associations with any software or hardware companies.

Biography

Garett Rogers

Garett Rogers has always had a deep interest in computers and the Internet, which led him to a degree in Computer Information Systems. He is currently employed as a programmer for iQmetrix, which specializes in retail management software designed specifically for the cellular and electronics industry.

Garett's journey into Google started with his employer asking him to "get a better rank on Google." Diving into search engine optimization sparked his curiosity for how things work and led him to create a blog dedicated to what interests him most--Google.

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RE: Sign into multiple Google accounts at once
3shao 20th Sep
@View from Here Thank you so much for sharing 3 UGG boots short UGG boots sundance UGG boots tall
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Nice, looking forward to trying this one out.
@View from Here Thank you so much for sharing 3 UGG boots short UGG boots sundance UGG boots tall
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thanks
gdstark13 4th Aug 2010
Good info...thanks!
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RE: Sign into multiple Google accounts at once
Tim Acheson Updated - 4th Aug 2010
Another pointless move by Google. Is this really newsworthy? (Sorry, I forgot, any story about Google or Apple is implicitly cool and newsworthy.)

Google's developers may not appreciate this but, apart from them and a small handful of other geeks and extreme web enthusiasts, normal people don't have multiple Google accounts.

I'm a hard-core web developer and tech junkie, and I only have two Google accounts (and couldn't care less about using them simultaneously).
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@Tim Acheson Well not everyone is like you! I would and will use this feature. I think it is great they had a story to let people know about it(not pointless) Why you gotta be such a jerk?
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@Tim Acheson
I have three separate gmail addresses (business, personal, backup), and this is a godsend.

So, in other words, STFU
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GodSend so STFU Monsieur Acheson
KineticArtist Updated - 4th Aug 2010
@Tim Acheson I have a gmail account for each of my servers (3) to send the server mail; ya know firewall and LFD stuff... cron job results... and each of these gmail accounts get alot mail each day. Then I have my gmail account which I use to sign up for stuff like when I want to shop online and let googles spam filters take the hit I also use thunderbird mail for my client or customer email and those addresses I don't give out to just anyone.

Being able to sign into multiple gmail accounts at once will be like others have said a Godsend so I like Droid101 say STFU Monsieur Acheson and really? why do you have to be such a wank did google or apple piss you off?
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RE: Sign into multiple Google accounts at once
Reged04 Updated - 4th Aug 2010
@Tim Acheson
Sorry Tim but I guess you're too deep into your techie stuff to smell the coffee out in the real world - a not untypical state of affairs in the techie world I find. I'm no geek by a million miles but I have five accounts for various different purposes and I know plenty of similar folk. This is a real boon as I am constantly having to log in and out to switch. Great stuff google. Only pity is it seems to be limited to three accounts just now.
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I wonder if there is any limit to the number of accounts you can have. I'm thinking of SPAMmers.
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@trim6161@... Seems to be limited to 3 sad
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Of course you've always been able to do this by using more than one browser (Firefox and Chrome both open to Google accounts, for example).
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seems to be yet another way for google to tie the data together happy
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@KOCONNELL@...

I that the ultimate point for google I guest. Plus it will make my online life easier.
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should be ok providing that you HAVE to use different passwords for each account otherwise if one became compromised so would all your stuff
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RE: Sign into multiple Google accounts at once
spectre0 Updated - 4th Aug 2010
@ronangel
"should be ok providing that you HAVE to use different passwords for each account otherwise if one became compromised so would all your stuff"

Since as far as I can tell, the alternate accounts don't seem to "stick" between logins, that shouldn't be a problem.

That is, as far as I can tell, you still have to login to both/all accounts you wish to remain logged into each and every time you log into the "default" account. So not only would someone compromising the default account NOT have "automatic" access to the alternate account(s), they wouldn't even be able to determine what alternate accounts the account owner had, at least not through the use of this feature.

In fact, although it would at least theoretically have potential security implications, it might be somewhat more convenient if one's alternate account(s) DID "stick" between logins, although it isn't really that difficult to login to both/all accounts for each intended use.

Added: I think Tim Acheson needs to get a life.
@ronangel
Well, I replied to this I thought. But I don't see the reply. I apologize if this is a double post.

I am hoping that you will still be required to log into each account separably, but that you must have updated your settings prior to this to allow it. In other word, separate physical log ins. Separate secessions.

Both for the reason you mentioned and also simplicty purposes. My accounts are organized differently. I don't want to log into one account and have all my other accounts open in the same secession. I want them broken apart like they are when I use Thunderbird to get mail from each of them. All separate secessions. All separate folder break downs. Completely separate.
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I wonder, as it isn't mentioned, will it also be possible to sign into multiple (Google) Picasa accounts at once? That would be especially useful in combination with Panoramio, since it has now been linked to Picasa accounts to ease uploads happy
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wonder about google accounts. . .
Who Am I Really 5th Aug 2010
wonder exactly how this will affect signing into youtube etc.
when they are linked to the GMail account
ie. if I sign into GMail and then go to youtube I'm not signed in automatically, but if I go to youtube first and sign in I am automatically signed into the GMail account it's associated with also.
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Already possible..
computer_freak_8 6th Aug 2010
True, this will make it easier, but it is already possible. All you have to do is use different profiles (provided you're using Chrome or Firefox).
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RE: Sign into multiple Google accounts at once
Video V-Tour Marketing 12th Dec 2010
Wish I would have found this article when it first appeared. I've been wondering when this hot switch routine would be come available.
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I strongly recommend that you don't use this facility. I have been using it for weeks and it causes endless problems. It gets confused as to which account you are in, loses draft emails and is generally a mess. Avoid it until Google gets a reliable version

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