Google to start deleting ‘inactive’ accounts in December — Here’s what you need to know
Have a Google account you haven’t used in a while? If you want to keep it from disappearing, you should sign in before the end of the week.
In May’s announcement, Google credited its inactive account update to security issues. Accounts that haven’t been used for a long time are more likely to be compromised. As a result, these accounts could be hijacked and used for spam or other malicious content, as well as identity theft.
The easiest way to keep your Google account active is to sign in at least once every two years. Other actions that fulfill account activity requirements include sending or scrolling through emails, using Google search, and watching YouTube videos while signed into your Google account. Preserving content on Google Photos requires a specific sign-in.
Only personal Google accounts that haven’t been used for two years or more will be impacted under this inactive account update. Accounts made for organizations, like schools or companies, will not be affected.
Beyond keeping your Google account active, there are a few tools to help manage and backup your data. Google Takeout allows users to download and export account data outside of Google at any time. And its Inactive Account Manager lets you choose what would happen to your account and data if it becomes inactive.
Google asks users to provide and update a recovery email for their account, which is also helpful for sending inactive account notices and other communications.
It’s important to stay on top of your Google accounts and ensure they remain active to avoid any data loss or security risks. So, if you have an inactive account, make sure to sign in and take the necessary steps to keep it from being deleted.
