Google is going to delete inactive accounts, you should know this
Google changed its inactivity policy in 2020. The company deleted data from inactive Google accounts to free up storage space. The account itself was not deleted. Google is now introducing a stricter cloud storage policy aimed at inactive accounts.
Google deletes inactive accounts
Google is tightening the reins on inactive accounts. From the end of 2023, Google accounts that have not been used (not logged in) for at least 2 years will be deleted. So not just the content or data, but the entire Google account will be deleted, including content in Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar), YouTube, and Google Photos. Google applies these stricter rules to personal accounts and not to the business and educational accounts.
Google will first send multiple alerts to your Google account email address and to the recovery email address if one has been added. If you do not respond to this, Google will actually delete your account.
How to keep your Google account active
You can indicate in the ‘Inactivity preferences’ in your Google account when Google should consider your account inactive, for example in the event of your death. In the meantime, you can keep your Google account active in the following ways:
- Read or send an email
- Using Google Drive
- Watch a YouTube video
- Download an app from the Google Play Store
- Using Google Search
- Use sign in with Google to sign in to a third-party app or service
Even if you subscribe to a Google service, such as Nest Aware or Google One, Google considers you an active Google user.
While the new policy goes into effect today, Google won’t begin cleaning old accounts until December 2023. So you have enough time to log in again and download all your data before you permanently stop using your Google account.
