Google has announced that starting December 1, 2023, it will begin deleting Gmail accounts that have been inactive for at least two years. This purge will impact millions of accounts and result in permanent deletion of emails, photos, calendar events and Google Drive files associated with those accounts.
Why Is Google Deleting Inactive Accounts?
According to Ruth Kricheli, Vice President of Product Management at Google, the company is taking this step to improve account security. Inactive and abandoned accounts tend to use outdated passwords that may have already been compromised. They also often lack two-factor authentication and other security mechanisms that Google has implemented over the years.
Kricheli noted that Google’s internal analysis found inactive accounts to be at least 10 times less likely to have two-factor authentication enabled compared to active accounts.
By deleting inactive Gmail accounts that may be vulnerable to hacking, Google aims to reduce the security risks associated with maintaining such accounts on its servers indefinitely.
Which Accounts Will Be Impacted?
The deletion process will only affect consumer Gmail accounts that have been inactive for two or more years. Activity is defined as signing in, reading or sending an email, using Google Drive or using any other Google service while signed into that account.
Gmail Accounts tied to schools, businesses or other organizations will not be deleted. The two-year inactivity timeframe applies only to personal accounts.
Google will also spare any account that has ever uploaded content to YouTube, even if it has been inactive for over two years. This is to ensure that the associated user-created content remains available on the platform.
Google’s Pre-Deletion Notifications
Google recognizes that many users may have lost access to their inactive accounts over time. To safeguard user data, the company plans to notify account holders before deleting any content.
Notifications will be sent to the inactive Gmail address itself. For accounts with recovery email addresses configured, notifications will also be sent there.
The notifications are intended to alert users about the pending deletion and guide them through steps to recover access if desired.
How to Keep Your Gmail Account Active
To avoid having your Gmail account deleted under this policy, simply log in to it once every two years. You can also perform any of the following actions while signed in:
- Read or send an email
- Create a Google Drive document
- Upload a photo to Google Photos
- Watch a YouTube video
- Download an app from Google Play Store
- Use Google Search
If you have multiple inactive Gmail addresses, be sure to sign into each one at least once every two years. Setting calendar reminders may help avoid unintentional data loss.
Recovering Access to Your Account
If you receive a deletion notice for an account you wish to keep, start by trying to log in as usual. If you have forgotten the password, use Google’s account recovery options.
You may be asked to provide additional information to prove you are the account owner. This could include confirming a secondary email address or phone number, answering security questions or entering a special code sent to your phone.
If recovery is unsuccessful, you can fill out Google’s inactive account manager form before December 1. This will tell Google not to delete your account even if you cannot regain access to it just yet.
What If My Account Is Deleted?
For those who miss Google’s warnings and have their inactive accounts deleted, recovery will become very difficult. The account itself and all associated data will be permanently erased from Google’s servers.
You can create a new Gmail address but will not be able to get back any emails, photos or files stored in the closed account. This underscores the importance of maintaining access to any accounts you wish to keep past December 1.
Controversy Around the Policy
Google’s plan to delete inactive accounts has sparked some controversy online. Critics argue that users may end up losing valuable data due to forgetfulness or circumstances outside their control.
Legal experts have also questioned whether Google has the right to delete user data under its terms of service. However, inactive account deletion is a relatively common policy among technology companies.
While the practice may be unsettling for some users, Google believes prioritizing the security of active accounts outweighs the risks. The December 1 implementation date gives users ample warning to take action if they want to avoid data loss.
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