Heads up! Google has recently announced a new policy that involves the permanent deletion of inactive Gmail accounts starting on December 1.
This policy applies exclusively to personal accounts and does not extend to accounts associated with employers, schools, or other organizations. According to Google, an account will be considered inactive if the user has not engaged in any activity, such as logging in or performing actions like reading or sending an email, using Google Drive, watching YouTube videos, sharing photos, downloading an app, or searching while signed in, for two years.
The tech giant has stated that Google products reserve the right to delete your data when your account has not been used within that product for two years. The earliest date for the deletion of accounts under this policy is December 1, 2023. However, certain exceptions apply, such as accounts that have been used for purchases in the Google Play store or those with an active gift card balance.
Google has assured users that it will provide advance notice of impending deletions by sending emails to the affected accounts and any available recovery email addresses. This means that if you have a dormant account, you will receive a notification from Google before any action is taken.
It’s important to note that if your account is deleted, all your data will be lost permanently. Therefore, it’s essential to take action if you want to keep your account and all the data associated with it. So, if you have a dormant account, make sure to log in and perform some activity, such as sending an email or saving a photo, before December 1, 2023.
Google’s new policy is a reminder to all of us to stay active on our Gmail accounts. It’s also an excellent opportunity to do some digital spring cleaning and get rid of any unnecessary data. Remember, prevention is better than cure!
