Google Plans to Delete Accounts That Haven't Been Used in Over Two Years

Google today announced that it is updating its inactive account policy, with Google Accounts that have not been used in at least two years to be deleted. Google says that accounts that have not been used for long periods of time are more likely to be compromised because of the use of older, less secure passwords and a lack of two-factor authentication.

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Going forward, if a Google Account has not been used or signed into for at least two years, Google may delete the account and its contents. This includes content from Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Meet, Calendar, YouTube, and Google Photos.

The policy is applicable to personal Google Accounts rather than those created for businesses and schools. Users with an inactive account will see those accounts being deleted starting in December 2023, but Google plans to provide plenty of notice before it starts to cull accounts.

Accounts that were created and never used again will be the first to be nixed, with Google sending multiple notifications to both the account email address and the recovery email, if one has been provided.

To keep a Google Account active, Google recommends signing in at least once every two years, and anyone who has signed into an account or a Google service recently has an account that is considered active and will not be deleted.

Activity includes reading or sending an email, using Google Drive, watching a YouTube video, downloading a Google Play app, using Google Search, having an active subscription through a Google Account, or using Sign in with Google.

Back in 2020, Google said that it would wipe content from unused accounts but would keep the accounts intact. That is now changing with the plan to delete inactive accounts.

Tag: Google

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Top Rated Comments

Candy Apple+ Nutz Avatar
23 months ago
[HEADING=2]Google Plans to Delete Accounts Older Than Two Years That They Can No Longer Get Data From[/HEADING]

Fixed it
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dontwalkhand Avatar
23 months ago
I think this is fair. If you haven't touched a Gmail account in 2 years, why should they have to hold onto your data? Back it up to your own drives and keep it in multiple locations if you want it for archival purposes.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anthogag Avatar
23 months ago
Google can suck my Apple
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aston441 Avatar
23 months ago


[HEADING=2]Google Plans to Delete Accounts Older Than Two Years That They Can No Longer Get Data From[/HEADING]

Fixed it
It’s all so tiresome.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
applemadrid Avatar
23 months ago
Oh yes, finally! My embarrassing YouTube channel whose Gmail account I can’t remember will be deleted. I’ve been waiting this for SO LONG!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SSDGUY Avatar
23 months ago
Ditched them after they wanted back pay for my Gmail account and then suspended my account, on-and-off for two months. I even tried to pay them but they wouldn't approve my payment process until I had already transfered my email address to an iCloud account. Don't miss Google in the least.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)