If you have Google accounts that you don’t frequently use, it’s important to give them some attention or else they may be deleted. Google recently announced in a blog post that it will potentially delete accounts that haven’t been used or logged into within the past two years. This policy will go into effect later in 2023 and will apply to various Google services, including Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar, YouTube, and Google Photos.
Google’s rationale behind this move is that inactive accounts are more susceptible to being compromised. They may have outdated passwords that have been compromised in the meantime. Additionally, these older accounts are significantly less likely to have two-factor authentication enabled, which decreases their security.
According to the blog post, these inactive accounts are often vulnerable and can be exploited for various purposes, ranging from identity theft to distributing unwanted or malicious content, such as spam.
For more Tech Tips, you can explore how to log in to Google using a passkey and discover 10 useful Gmail tips and tools for daily use.
How to preserve your Google accounts
Preserving your Google accounts is a straightforward process. To ensure they remain active, it’s necessary to sign in at least once every two years. If you’re unsure whether you’ve fulfilled this requirement, now is a good time to check.
Various activities count as account engagement, including reading or sending emails, using Google Drive, watching YouTube videos, downloading apps from the Google Play Store, conducting searches on Google, and using Google to sign in to third-party apps or services. Subscriptions associated with your Google account, such as Google One, news publications, or apps, also qualify as activity.
When will Google accounts be deleted?
Google will begin deleting accounts in December 2023, starting with accounts that were created but never used. The company will send multiple notifications before taking such action, delivering them to the primary email address linked to the account as well as any backup email addresses provided.
However, it’s advisable not to delay this process, as it is easy to forget. It’s better to act promptly to avoid the risk of losing any important data.
Which Google accounts should you worry about?
The policy change primarily affects personal Google Accounts and does not apply to organizational accounts for schools or businesses. Google Workspace, which includes Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, and Calendar, as well as YouTube and Google Photos, falls under this policy.
Google’s decision to delete inactive accounts follows a similar announcement by Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who stated that Twitter would soon purge inactive accounts, potentially freeing up over 1.5 billion handles.
