Google will start deleting ‘inactive’ accounts in December. What you need to know
NEW YORK — Do you have a Google account that you haven’t used in a while? If you want to prevent it from disappearing, you must log 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 in at least two years can be deleted. Accounts deemed inactive can be deleted starting Friday.
If you have an account that is considered “inactive” and at risk of deletion, you will receive notifications from Google sent to the email address associated with that account and the recovery address (if you close the account). But if you’re still catching up on this new policy and want to make sure your content is saved to Google Drive, Docs, Gmail, and more, here’s what you need to know.
In the May announcement, Google attributed the inactive account update to security issues.
Accounts that have not been used for a long time are at greater risk of being compromised, the company said. The company notes that “forgotten or unmanaged accounts” typically have old passwords, often lack two-factor authentication, and undergo fewer security checks. As a result, these accounts can be hijacked and used for spam or other malicious content, as well as identity theft.
The easiest way to keep your Google Account active (and thus prevent it from being deleted) is to log in at least once every two years.
Other actions that meet account activity requirements include sending or browsing emails, using Google Search, and watching YouTube videos (YouTube is owned by Google) while signed in to your Google Account . Existing subscriptions set up through your Google Account, including profiles for third-party apps and publications, may also take activity into account.
Saving content to Google Photos requires a specific login. As previously announced by Google, Photos content can be similarly deleted after two years of inactivity. This means that you will need to open the application every now and then to prevent images from ending up in the trash.
Only personal Google Accounts that have not been used for two years or more are affected by this inactive account update. Accounts created for organizations, such as schools or businesses, are not affected, Google says.
According to Google’s online policies, other exceptions include Google Accounts that manage active small accounts, accounts with a gift card balance, and accounts used to purchase Google products, apps, or ongoing subscriptions.
As of the May announcement, Google also said there were no plans to delete accounts with YouTube videos. The Associated Press contacted Google on Monday to confirm this is still the case.
In addition to keeping your Google Account active, there are some tools to help you manage and back up your data.
For example, Google Takeout allows users to download and export account information outside of Google at any time. And the Inactive Account Manager lets you choose what happens to your account and data when it becomes inactive, including options to send selected files to trusted contacts or delete the account entirely. Google’s online policy also says the company may work with immediate family to close a deceased loved one’s account and/or offer certain account content — without sharing login information — on a case-by-case basis.
Google asks users to provide and update a recovery email address for their account. This is also useful for sending notifications about inactive accounts and other communications.