Starting December 1, Google plans to initiate the deletion of older accounts. Here's a guide on how to safeguard your account from this deletion process. (James Martin/CNET)
Starting from December 1st, Google initiated the process of removing inactive Google accounts, including associated data such as photos, Gmail correspondence, Calendar schedules, Drive files, Contacts information, and YouTube content.
An inactive Google account might be one used for various purposes like signing up for newsletters, joining online forums, or registering on shopping sites for reasons of anonymity or to prevent spam in the primary account. Google clarified that the deletion process will commence on December 1st, but not all inactive accounts will be deleted simultaneously.
For users seeking to retain old Google accounts, preventing Google from deleting them is achievable. To learn how to prevent this deletion, instructions on using a passkey to log in to Google and tips on utilizing ten Gmail tools daily can be accessed.
The rationale behind Google's action is to mitigate the security risk associated with inactive accounts, which are more susceptible to hacking due to outdated or reused passwords, absence of two-factor authentication, and fewer security checks by users. To address this, Google intends to delete accounts and their content if they have not been accessed or utilized for a minimum of two years. Essentially, if an account has remained inactive since 2021, Google might remove it from its system.
Concerning the apprehension of someone else claiming a deleted account, Google assured users that if an inactive account is deleted, the associated Gmail address cannot be re-used to create a new account.
Preserving older Google accounts is relatively straightforward; users must log in at least once every two years to keep them active. Various activities qualify as account activity, such as sending or reading an email, using Google Drive, watching YouTube videos, downloading apps from the Google Play Store, conducting searches on Google, or using the account to log into third-party apps or services. Additionally, subscriptions linked to Google accounts, like Google One, a news service, or apps, count as activity too. It's important to note that only personal Google accounts face the risk of deletion, not business or school-related accounts.
Regarding the timeline for deletion, December 1st marks the earliest possible date for account removal. However, Google plans to send reminder emails to primary and recovery email addresses at least eight months before potential deletion, alerting users about the impending action.
For users who remember having an old Google account but have forgotten its details, there are recovery options available. A forgotten password can potentially be recovered using Google's password recovery tool, requiring users to verify their identity through a set of questions. Similarly, a forgotten email address may be recovered using Google's account recovery tool, necessitating a phone number or recovery email address associated with the account. In case of difficulties, Google provides guidance on what steps to take next.
