Google has recently made a significant announcement regarding its inactive account policy, and the worldwide implementation of this update is drawing nearer. From December 1 onwards, the renowned tech company intends to remove Google accounts that have remained unused or inaccessible for a minimum of 2 years. This includes associated content such as Gmail, photos, Drive documents, contacts, and more. This strategic decision is a part of Google’s wider effort to enhance security, as it acknowledges that older or inactive accounts pose a higher risk of being compromised.
It is worth noting that the new policy does not cover accounts associated with institutions such as schools or businesses. Google reiterates its dedication to keeping users informed by pledging to send multiple notifications prior to initiating the account deletion process. The services that will be impacted by this policy include Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet, Calendar, and Photos. It is important to mention that Google has explicitly stated that accounts containing YouTube or Blogger content will not be subject to the deletion protocol.
Google is committed to keeping its users informed and proactive about any potential account deletion events. To achieve this, notifications will be sent to both the deactivated account and any linked recovery email addresses well in advance. This approach aims to provide users with ample time to take necessary actions to prevent their accounts from being deleted. To avoid account deletion, users are encouraged to engage in various activities such as reading or sending emails, using Google Drive, watching YouTube videos, downloading apps from the Google Play Store, using Google Search, and using “Sign in with Google” for third-party apps or services. Additionally, Google Photos users are required to log in to their accounts every 2 years to ensure continued activity.