In a recent announcement, Google stated that idle Gmail accounts may be deleted, marking a significant change to its account cancellation policy. At risk before were merely the files in these dormant accounts, but now the entire Google account might be permanently deleted. Users have plenty of time to log in or learn more about this process even though the new policy is scheduled to go into effect in December of this year.

The Former Policy

Google announced a policy in 2020 outlining the erasure of data from accounts that had been inactive for two years. The free unlimited storage for Google Photos ended at the same time as this update. At the time, Google concentrated on removing data from inactive users to free up storage space.

The Updated Policy

Google’s Ruth Kricheli, a product manager, claims in a blog post that the corporation has now chosen to adopt a more determined stance. The new policy allows for the total deletion of accounts that have been created but never used. This indicates that the entire Google account, not just the data, may be permanently deleted.

The revised policy is expected to take effect in December of this year, giving consumers some time to find their login information or get more information about the procedure. Google intends to send repeated notifications to the linked email address for the account and any attached recovery emails when the new policy is put into effect. In the months preceding the deletion, these alerts will act as a reminder and a warning.

What to do?

It is advised to regularly log in to Google in order to maintain the security and integrity of your account and prevent it from being marked as inactive. You can reduce your chance of deletion by often logging into your Gmail account and any other Google services connected to your account. Along with protecting your data, this action will continue to allow you to use YouTube, Google Photos, Google Drive, and other Google services.

The amended Google policy emphasizes the significance of maintaining an active Gmail account and regularly signing in. Despite the fact that the new deletion policy may be viewed as a means to reduce account clutter and maximize storage, it is crucial to stay aware and take the required precautions to keep access to your Google account and related services. Users can protect the security and longevity of their important data and prevent the possible deletion of their entire Google account by remaining engaged and responsive.