Google is set to delete inactive Gmail accounts from today, December 2, 2023. Accounts that have not been accessed in the past two years will be deleted, along with all associated data, including email, Drive files, Docs, and Photos.
The company announced the policy change in May 2023, saying that it was necessary to “protect users’ privacy and security.” Google says that inactive accounts are more likely to be hacked or used for malicious purposes.
Users will be given a warning before their account is deleted. They will receive an email notification with instructions on how to reactivate their account. If the account is not reactivated within 60 days, it will be deleted permanently.
Google says that it will not delete accounts that are used by schools, businesses, or organizations. These accounts will be exempt from the policy change.
The policy change is expected to affect a small number of users. Google says that only about 0.05% of Gmail accounts are inactive for two years or more.
Here are some tips for users who want to avoid having their Gmail account deleted:
- Log in to your account at least once every two years.
- Use your Gmail account for something regularly, such as sending or receiving email, storing files, or using Google Docs or Photos.
- If you are not using your account, but you want to keep it, you can archive it. This will prevent it from being deleted, but you will not be able to access it until you unarchive it.
Google’s policy change is similar to those of other tech companies, such as Facebook and Twitter. These companies also delete inactive accounts after a certain period of time.