If you possess a Google profile that has remained inactive for an extended period, it would be wise to take action to prevent its deletion. The announcement of a novel security protocol by Google implies the removal of inactive accounts and all related content later this year.
Prior to rolling out the updated security policy, Google had disclosed the initiative to delete inactive accounts.
Google stated in a blog post in May, “Commencing later this year, in case a Google Account has not been utilized or logged into for a minimum of 2 years, there’s a likelihood of the account and its data – encompassing content within Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar) and Google Photos – being deleted.”
Google is of the opinion that inactive accounts are more vulnerable to security breaches due to having outdated or reused passwords that may have been compromised. Moreover, such accounts are often devoid of two-factor authentication and receive minimal security scrutiny from the user.
Which Google accounts risk potential deletion?
As mentioned earlier, Google accounts which have not been used or logged into for at least two years may be subject to deletion.
Under this updated policy, all deleted Google accounts will lose saved data, including contents in Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar, Google Photos, and third-party applications linked to the Google account.
Will educational or corporate accounts be affected?
No, the existing policy explicitly specifies that solely personal accounts will be deleted. School and business accounts are exempt from this deletion policy.
How can I prevent a Google account from being removed?
To prevent the deletion of your dormant Google account, simply engage in any activity on the account. This might involve:
- Watching a YouTube video
- Utilizing Google Search while logged in
- Sending or reading an email using the account
- Downloading an app from the Google Play Store
- Using your Google Drive account
- Logging into a third-party app or service by using “Sign in with Google”
What will be the removal process for Google accounts?
Commencing from December 2023, the removal of Google accounts will be carried out in stages, initiating with accounts that were created but never utilized.
Prior to deleting any account, Google will dispatch multiple notifications to the account holder “over the months preceding the deletion.”
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