Ask HN: Is there no way to remove yourself from a delegated Gmail account?

#1

Post by kkoppenhaver » Sat, Jan 28, 2023, 8:17 AM UTC

For context, my wife was given delegated email access to a Gmail account >10 years ago and no longer has contact with the account admin. She'd like to remove herself from this delegated access but multiple chats with Google support reps have indicated that the only way to do this is by contacting the account admin and asking to be removed.

I've been looking into this and seen multiple forum threads of people delegated access by ex's, relatives who have passed away and the like who are unable to remove themselves from this access even if it's extremely painful.

It blows my mind that this isn't a feature that exists or that Google can't help you remove your _own_ delegated access.

Anyone encountered this before and found a solution?

Re: Ask HN: Is there no way to remove yourself from a delegated Gmail account?

#2

Post by neximo64 » Sat, Jan 28, 2023, 8:51 AM UTC

If i'm honest it makes sense the admin should do it. For the person invited to uninvite themselves after is a bit weird.

Re: Ask HN: Is there no way to remove yourself from a delegated Gmail account?

#3

Post by capableweb » Sat, Jan 28, 2023, 8:58 AM UTC

neximo64 wrote: post #2

If i'm honest it makes sense the admin should do it. For the person invited to uninvite themselves after is a bit weird.

Why is that weird? If I have an account, that has been given access to some resource, it makes sense that I can remove access to that resource myself, just like the admin could. It is my account after all.

Imagine if someone could invite you to a calendar event, but you can't clear it from your own calendar if you say no. How does that make sense?

Re: Ask HN: Is there no way to remove yourself from a delegated Gmail account?

#4

Post by heavenlyblue » Sat, Jan 28, 2023, 9:13 AM UTC

capableweb wrote: post #3

neximo64 wrote: post #2

If i'm honest it makes sense the admin should do it. For the person invited to uninvite themselves after is a bit weird.

Why is that weird? If I have an account, that has been given access to some resource, it makes sense that I can remove access to that resource myself, just like the admin could. It is my account after all. Imagine if someone could invite you to a calendar event, but you can't clear it from your own calendar if you say no. How does that make sense?

There was recently a spam group that would use Google Calendar Events to spam you in your calendar. They stopped for a while ago, seems like Google needs more spammers like these in order to get this problem solved.

Re: Ask HN: Is there no way to remove yourself from a delegated Gmail account?

#5

Post by silisili » Sat, Jan 28, 2023, 9:33 AM UTC

neximo64 wrote: post #2

If i'm honest it makes sense the admin should do it. For the person invited to uninvite themselves after is a bit weird.

I'd think the admin should know if their delegate doesn't want to be so, before the time comes they're needed. The current system seems set up as 'oh, you can't login, let's ask your ex you just had a bitter divorce with for help', which isn't great for either party.

Re: Ask HN: Is there no way to remove yourself from a delegated Gmail account?

#6

Post by sebazzz » Sat, Jan 28, 2023, 9:44 AM UTC

Since you're delegated, I suppose you could plant a email in the inbox. I'm not sure if the legality of this though.

Re: Ask HN: Is there no way to remove yourself from a delegated Gmail account?

#7

Post by Brajeshwar » Sat, Jan 28, 2023, 9:54 AM UTC

My assumption is that Gmail delegation is possible only with Suite/Workspace. Since she has access to that domain, ask one of the admins to do that. Otherwise, I have no idea how the public Gmail.com account can be delegated (this is a nice feature).

Otherwise, it might be a forward.

In that case, the only option is to add a filter -- if email is marked TO:themail@domain.com, then mark as read, delete, not marked as important.

Re: Ask HN: Is there no way to remove yourself from a delegated Gmail account?

#8

Post by n3storm » Sat, Jan 28, 2023, 10:01 AM UTC

capableweb wrote: post #3

neximo64 wrote: post #2

If i'm honest it makes sense the admin should do it. For the person invited to uninvite themselves after is a bit weird.

Why is that weird? If I have an account, that has been given access to some resource, it makes sense that I can remove access to that resource myself, just like the admin could. It is my account after all. Imagine if someone could invite you to a calendar event, but you can't clear it from your own calendar if you say no. How does that make sense?

"Opt out" of any online service or communications should be a human right

Re: Ask HN: Is there no way to remove yourself from a delegated Gmail account?

#9

Post by barney54 » Sat, Jan 28, 2023, 10:07 AM UTC

What is delegated email access?

Re: Ask HN: Is there no way to remove yourself from a delegated Gmail account?

#10

Post by samwillis » Sat, Jan 28, 2023, 10:33 AM UTC

barney54 wrote: post #9

What is delegated email access?

It's allows the "delegated" gmail user to access the inbox, and send email on behalf of, another gmail user. It predates GSuite.

It's a useful feature for spouses or if you have a PA. Or in my case where my wife regularly points out she is effectively my and our children's PA...