Have you received an email from Google warning that your account will be deleted if you haven’t logged in in the last two years? Don’t panic—it’s not a phishing scam, but we can totally understand why you think it is.
However, you do need to respond and take action, otherwise, your old Google account will be deleted.
Google Is Going to Delete Inactive Accounts in December 2023
Google has been sending out email notifications to Google account holders that, starting in December 2023, it will begin deleting inactive accounts that have not been used for at least two years. When Google deletes your account,you’ll lose all the emails, photos, and other data tied to it. Thankfully, there are some ways toprotect your data in case Google deletes your account, but you need to take them sooner rather than later!
The motivation behind this move is security. Accounts that sit untouched for years tend to rely on vulnerable, outdated passwords. Without regular logins and security updates, they become prime targets for hacking and fraud.
By proactively deleting stale accounts, Google aims to reduce the risk of identity theft and data breaches. It’s never a good idea to leave sensitive information and access to services floating around indefinitely on the internet. This purge forces people to check and shore up their security measures periodically.
Inactive accounts also end up costing Google money to store and maintain. While not the driving factor, deleting accounts that no one uses anymore does free up resources for them.
However,Google’s Inactive Account Policyoutlines a few key exceptions where it will spare inactive accounts from deletion:
The range of exceptions should protect a decent number of inactive accounts, but it’s still best to take action as soon as possible.
How to Avoid Having Your Google Account Deleted
If you want to keep hold of your old Google account, log into your Google account before December 2023 to reset and keep the inactivity timer active.
Don’t Let Google Delete Your Account: Log In Now!
Don’t lose access to your Google account unnecessarily. Simply logging in before December will keep it active. And don’t forget to check any Google accounts you may have set up for your family members, like children. Their accounts need activity, too.
