Starting in December 2023, Google is rolling out a sweeping purge of inactive accounts, targeting accounts that have gone unused for at least two years. While it may sound alarming, Google’s goal is to clear out accounts that pose security risks and free up storage space across its services. Here’s what you need to know if you want to keep your Google account active and safe.
Google’s Big Clean-Up of Inactive Accounts
For many of us, Google accounts have become central to our online lives. With Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive, and Photos all connected to a single login, these accounts hold a wealth of personal data. If you’re actively using your Google account, there’s no need to worry—this clean-up only affects accounts that haven’t been used in two years or more.
Back in May, Google announced its intention to delete inactive accounts, a step up from their previous policy of merely removing content from such accounts. This change serves two main purposes: it cuts down on the data stored across Google’s servers and improves security. Inactive accounts are especially vulnerable to breaches since they’re less likely to be monitored by their owners.
The upcoming purge will begin with accounts that were created but never used. However, there is one exception: if an account has been used to host YouTube videos, it won’t be deleted, regardless of inactivity.
How to Keep Your Account from Being Deleted
Preventing your account from being deleted is easy—just use it. Google’s criteria for activity are flexible and simple to fulfill. To keep your account active, you can:
- Watch a video on YouTube
- Use Google Search
- Access files on Google Drive
- Open an email in Gmail
- Use your Google account to log into a third-party service
A quick login and interaction with any Google service will reset the inactivity timer, safeguarding your account.
The Deletion Policy Only Affects Personal Accounts
This account clean-up only applies to personal Google accounts, so business accounts won’t be impacted. Still, it might be a good idea to check in on any lesser-used Google accounts to make sure nothing important is at risk.
With the planned deletion starting next month, Google’s approach may prompt a few of us to finally sift through old accounts. But with just a few clicks, you can keep yours secure and active, ensuring it’s there whenever you need it.