Google New Update that it will begin deleting inactive accounts after 2 years of inactivity. The new policy will go into effect on December 1, 2023. An inactive account is one that has not been used or signed into for at least 2 years. This includes any activity, such as sending or receiving emails, creating or editing documents, or uploading photos.
A Google Account gives you Google-wide access to most Google products, such as Google Ads, Gmail, and YouTube, using the same username and password. An inactive Google Account is an account that has not been used within a 2-year period. Google reserves the right to delete an inactive Google Account and its activity and data if you are inactive across Google for at least two years. Google also reserves the right to delete data in a product if you are inactive in that product for at least two years. This is determined based on each product’s inactivity policies.
If your account is deleted, all of your data will be permanently erased, including your emails, documents, photos, and contacts. You will also lose access to any apps or services that are linked to your Google account. There are a few exceptions to the new policy. For example, Google will not delete accounts that are used to make purchases or that are linked to published apps or games with active subscriptions.
Google says that the new policy is necessary to protect users from spam and security risks. Inactive accounts are often vulnerable to hacking, and they can be used to send spam or commit other malicious acts.
If you have an inactive Google account that you want to keep, you can sign in at least once every 2 years to keep it active. You can also use the Inactive Account Manager to set up reminders to sign in.
How Google New Update defines activity
A Google Account that is in use is considered active. Activity might include these actions you take when you sign in or while you’re signed in to your Google Account:
- Reading or sending an email
- Using Google Drive
- Watching a YouTube video
- Sharing a photo
- Downloading an app
- Using Google Search
- Using Sign in with Google to sign in to a third-party app or service
Google Account activity is demonstrated by account and not by device. You can take actions on any surface where you’re signed in to your Google Account, for example, on your phone.
If you have more than one Google Account set up on your device, you’ll want to make sure each account is used within a 2-year period.
What happens when your Google Account is inactive
When your Google Account has not been used within a 2-year period, your Google Account, that is then deemed inactive, and all of its content and data may be deleted. Before this happens, Google will give you an opportunity to take an action in your account by:
- Sending email notifications to your Google Account
- Sending notifications to your recovery email, if any exists
Google products reserve the right to delete your data when your account has not been used within that product for a 2-year period. December 1, 2023 is the earliest a Google Account will be deleted due to this policy.
Here are some tips to avoid having your Google account deleted:
- Sign in to your account at least once every 2 years.
- Use the Inactive Account Manager to set up reminders to sign in.
- Keep your account information up-to-date, such as your password and recovery email address.
- Be careful about clicking on links in emails or on websites, as these links could be malicious.
- Use a strong password and enable two-factor authentication for your Google account.
