Google has initiated its updated inactive account policy, a significant change that affects users worldwide. The policy involves the deletion of personal Google Accounts that have not been used or signed into for at least two years. This action is framed by Google as a security measure, intended to reduce the risk associated with dormant accounts which may be more vulnerable to compromise.
The process of deleting accounts began on December 1, 2023. When an account is deleted, all associated content is also permanently removed. This includes data from Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar, and Google Photos. Prior to deleting an account, Google sends multiple notifications over several months to both the primary account email address and its designated recovery email, if one exists.
Understanding the Inactive Account Criteria
An account is considered inactive if there has been no user sign-in or activity for a two-year period. Google defines activity through a range of actions performed while a user is signed in. This is not limited to just accessing Gmail. Keeping an account in an active status requires simple, periodic engagement with Google’s services.
Exemptions to this policy exist. The policy does not affect accounts that are used to manage active minor accounts, accounts with an active subscription to a service like Google One or a news publication, or accounts that have a remaining gift card balance. Accounts belonging to organizations, such as schools or businesses, are also not subject to this policy.
How to Keep Your Google Account Active
Preventing an account from being classified as inactive is straightforward. Google considers an account active if a user performs any of the following actions at least once every two years while signed in:
Reading or sending an email, using Google Drive, watching a YouTube video, sharing a photo, downloading an app from the Google Play Store, using Google Search, or using Sign in with Google to access a third-party application or service. Any of these simple actions signals to Google that the account is still in use, thereby resetting the activity clock and protecting it from deletion.
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