How to Delete a Google Account in Flutter with Firebase

In this article, we’ll walk through the process of allowing users to delete their Google account within a Flutter app that uses Firebase authentication. This feature is crucial for complying with data protection regulations and respecting user privacy.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have:

1. A Flutter project set up
2. Firebase integrated into your project
3. Google Sign-In implemented

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Add necessary dependencies

First, ensure you have the following dependencies in your pubspec.yaml file:

dependencies:
  flutter:
    sdk: flutter
  firebase_core: ^latest_version
  firebase_auth: ^latest_version
  google_sign_in: ^latest_version

Replace ^latest_version with the actual latest versions of these packages.

2. Import required packages

In your Dart file, import the necessary packages:

import 'package:firebase_auth/firebase_auth.dart';
import 'package:google_sign_in/google_sign_in.dart';

3. Implement the account deletion function

Create a function to handle the account deletion process:

Future<void> deleteGoogleAccount() async {
  try {
    // Get the current user
    final user = FirebaseAuth.instance.currentUser;
    if (user == null) {
      print('No user is currently signed in');
      return;
    }

    // Re-authenticate the user
    final googleSignIn = GoogleSignIn();
    final googleUser = await googleSignIn.signIn();
    if (googleUser == null) {
      print('Google Sign-In failed');
      return;
    }

    final googleAuth = await googleUser.authentication;
    final credential = GoogleAuthProvider.credential(
      accessToken: googleAuth.accessToken,
      idToken: googleAuth.idToken,
    );

    await user.reauthenticateWithCredential(credential);

    // Delete the user account
    await user.delete();

    // Sign out from Google
    await googleSignIn.signOut();

    print('User account deleted successfully');
  } catch (e) {
    print('Error deleting user account: $e');
  }
}

4. Call the deletion function

You can call this function when the user requests to delete their account, for example, by tapping a button:

ElevatedButton(
  onPressed: deleteGoogleAccount,
  child: Text('Delete Account'),
)

5. Handle the aftermath

After deleting the account, you should:

• Clear any local storage or cache related to the user
• Navigate the user to a logged-out state or the app’s landing page
• Inform the user that their account has been successfully deleted

Important Considerations

1. User Confirmation: Always ask for user confirmation before initiating the account deletion process.
2. Data Deletion: Ensure that you delete all user data from your databases and storage, not just the authentication account.
3. Error Handling: Implement proper error handling to manage cases where the deletion process might fail.
4. Re-authentication: As shown in the code, re-authenticate the user before deletion. This is a security measure required by Firebase.
5. Legal Compliance: Make sure your account deletion process complies with relevant data protection laws and regulations.

Conclusion

Implementing an account deletion feature is an important aspect of user account management. By following this guide, you can provide your users with the ability to delete their Google accounts within your Flutter app, ensuring better control over their data and complying with privacy regulations.

Remember to test this feature thoroughly and consider all edge cases to provide a smooth user experience.