Google to delete inactive accounts starting in December

Starting December 1 of this year, Google will begin its plan to delete accounts that have been inactive for more than two years. According to the company, users will receive several notifications about the possibility of having their account deleted.

Announced in May and updated last Monday (08), Google's new policy on inactive accounts is justified by the risks that old accounts can pose.

Index of contents

Why old accounts pose more risks
How the new policy will be applied

Why old accounts pose more risks

According to Google, data shows that old and inactive accounts are more likely to not use up-to-date security measures, such as two-step verification. In addition, it is more common for these accounts to have recycled password logins.

In the new policy update, released Monday, the company again explained the goal of the action plan. "We want to protect your private information and prevent any unauthorized access to your account, even if you no longer use your devices."

How the new policy will be applied

To reassure users, Google explained that it will only delete accounts that have been completely inactive for two years. In addition, each user with an inactive account will receive notifications in their Google account and in a backup email for eight months before any action is actually taken to delete the account.

The new policy also provides for some exceptions:

Accounts with YouTube channels.
Accounts with remaining gift certificate balance
Accounts that have been used to purchase a digital item, such as a book or movie, within the last two years
Accounts that have published active apps on platforms such as the Google Play Store

Want to keep your account even if you don't use it often lately and even if you already know the high risks of old accounts? Simply sign in to a Google service every two years and perform some action, such as watching a video, reading an email, etc.

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