Google said in May that accounts that have not been used for at least 2 years may be canceled under the company’s updated inactive-account policy.
Starting on Friday, Google accounts that are determined to be inactive will be deleted gradually.
Google should send you many notifications if your account is in danger of being deleted, to the email address connected to the account and its recovery address (should one expire).
However, here’s what you need to know if you’re only now learning about this new policy and want to ensure that your material on Google Drive, Docs, Gmail, and other platforms is preserved.
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Why is Google Deleting Inactive Accounts?
Google announced in May that security issues were the reason behind the inactive account update.
According to the firm, accounts that haven’t been used in a while are more likely to be compromised. It said that “forgotten or unmanaged accounts” frequently have outdated passwords, don’t always have two-factor authentication, and get fewer security checks.
This means these accounts are at risk of identity theft and spam or other dangerous content being shared.
How Can I Stop My Account From Being Deleted?
The simplest way to keep your Google account active (and thus prevent it from being deleted) is to sign in at least once every two years.
Sending or browsing via emails, using Google search, and viewing YouTube videos—all while logged into your Google account—all contribute toward meeting the requirements for account activity.
Activity may also be explained by current subscriptions that you have set up using your Google account, such as user accounts for other publications and applications.
On Google Photos, content preservation calls for a specific sign-in. As Google previously revealed, photos stored in the app may be permanently deleted after two years of inactivity.
For this reason, you should periodically access Photos to prevent pictures from being discarded.
Does This Policy Have Any Exemptions?
This inactive account upgrade will only affect personal Google accounts that haven’t been used for two years or more.
According to Google, accounts created for businesses or organizations, such as schools, won’t be impacted.
Other exclusions, as stated in Google’s online policy, include Google accounts used to administer minor accounts that are still active, accounts with a balance on gift cards, and accounts that have been used to pay for ongoing subscriptions, Google goods, or applications.
Also, no efforts are currently underway to remove accounts that contain YouTube videos, a Google representative confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday.
Is It Possible to Save Data from My Google Account?
There are a few programs to assist in managing and backing up your data in addition to maintaining the activity of your Google account.
Google Takeout, for example, allows users to download and export account data outside of Google at any time.
Plus, its Inactive Account Manager gives you control over what happens to your data and account in the event that it becomes inactive. You may choose to deactivate your account completely or distribute certain files to trusted contacts.
According to Google’s online policy, the business may, on an individual basis, collaborate with the departed loved one’s family to delete the account and/or provide certain account content, all without disclosing login information.
Google requests users submit and update a recovery email address for their account, which is also used to send inactive account alerts and other information.
Anas Hasan
November 29, 2023
3 years ago
