Starting in December, Google will Initiate
NEW YORK — If you possess a Google account that has been inactive, ensure its preservation by signing in before the week concludes.
Google’s updated inactive-account policy, announced in May, states that accounts unused for two years or more may face deletion. A phased approach to deletion will commence this Friday for inactive accounts.
Google will send multiple notifications to the email address associated with your account and its recovery address (if available) to protect your account from deletion.
Suppose you are unaware of this policy and wish to safeguard your content in Drive, Docs, Gmail, and other services. In that case, it is important to familiarize yourself with the following information.
WHY IS GOOGLE DELETING INACTIVE ACCOUNTS?
Google’s recent announcement in May stated that security concerns drove their inactive account update. The company mentioned that accounts that remain unused for an extended period are at higher risk of being compromised.
These “forgotten or unattended accounts” frequently have outdated passwords, lack two-factor authentication, and receive less frequent security checks. Consequently, these accounts can be susceptible to hijacking, leading to spam, malicious content, and potential identity theft.
HOW CAN I PREVENT MY ACCOUNT FROM BEING DELETED?
To ensure that your Google account remains active and avoid it being deleted, it is recommended to sign in at least once every two years. Other activities that fulfill account activity requirements include:
- I am sending or scrolling through emails.
- I am using Google search.
- I was watching YouTube videos (since owns YouTube).
- You are engaging with existing subscriptions and profiles associated with your account for third-party apps and publications.
To keep your content safe on Photos, it is important to sign in with your account. As previously communicated by Google, the content may be deleted if there has been no activity on your Photos account for two years. Regularly opening the application is recommended to prevent your images from being accidentally discarded.
ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY?
According to G, this inactive-account update will only affect personal accounts unused for two years or more. Invoices created for organizations like schools or companies will remain unaffected.
Other exceptions to online policy include accounts managing active minor accounts, accounts with a gift card balance, and funds used to purchase ongoing products, apps, or subscriptions.
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A Google spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday that there are no intentions to delete accounts with YouTube videos.
CAN I SAVE DATA FROM MY GOOGLE ACCOUNT?
To ensure the management and backup of your data, provides various tools beyond the necessity of keeping your account active.
For instance, Takeout enables users to download and export their account data from G, offering the flexibility to access it externally at any given time. Additionally, Inactive Account Manager allows you to make decisions regarding the fate of your account and data in case of inactivity.
You can send specific files to trusted contacts or completely delete the history. online policy also mentions that, on a case-by-case basis, the company can collaborate with immediate family members to close the performance of a deceased loved one and potentially provide certain account content without sharing login credentials.
requires users to provide and keep an updated recovery email for their accounts. This helps in sending notifications for inactive accounts and other important communications.