Under the plan, first announced in May, Google says accounts that haven’t been used for at least two years will be deleted by the end of this week.
Have a Google Account you haven’t used in a while? If you don’t want it to disappear, you need to sign in before the end of the week.
Under Google’s updated inactive account policy, which the tech giant announced in May, accounts that haven’t been used for at least two years can be deleted. Accounts deemed inactive will be gradually removed starting Friday.
If you have an account at risk of deletion, Google will send multiple notifications to the email associated with the account and its recovery address (if any).
However, if you don’t yet understand this new policy and want to make sure your content in Google Drive, Docs, Gmail, and more is preserved, here’s what you need to know.
Why does Google delete inactive accounts?
Google said in a May announcement that account renewal was deactivated due to a security issue.
The company said accounts that haven’t been used for a long time are more likely to be compromised, and “forgotten or abandoned accounts” typically have old passwords and lack two-factor authentication. He pointed out that there are many cases where people are forced to leave their homes, and it is difficult to undergo security checks. As a result, these accounts can be hijacked and used for spam and other malicious content, as well as identity theft.
How can I prevent my account from being deleted?
The easiest way to keep your Google Account active (and therefore not deleted) is to sign in at least once every two years.
Other actions that meet account activity requirements include sending or scrolling emails while signed in to your Google Account, using Google Search, and watching YouTube videos (YouTube is owned by Google) .
Existing subscriptions set up through your Google Account (including profiles for third-party apps and publications) can also be considered for activity.
Storing content in Google Photos requires a specific login. As Google previously announced, photo content may be removed as well after two years of inactivity. This means that you have to open the application from time to time to avoid images going into the trash.
Are there any exceptions to this policy?
This inactive account update only affects personal Google Accounts that haven’t been used for more than two years. Google said accounts created for organizations such as schools and businesses are not affected.
According to Google’s online policies, other exceptions include Google Accounts that manage active minor accounts, accounts with gift card balances, and accounts used to purchase Google products, apps, or ongoing subscriptions. It is included.
Additionally, a Google spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday that the company has no plans to delete accounts containing YouTube videos at this time.
Can I save my Google Account data?
In addition to keeping your Google Account active, there are several tools that can help you manage and back up your data.
For example, Google Takeout allows users to download and export account data outside of Google at any time.
Inactive Account Manager also lets you choose what happens to your account and data when it becomes inactive. This includes options to send the selected files to a trusted contact or delete your account permanently.
Google’s online policies also say that on a case-by-case basis, the company can work with next of kin to close a deceased loved one’s account or provide some account content without sharing login credentials. Says.
Google asks users to update their account by providing a recovery email. This is also useful for sending inactive account notifications and other communications.
