Google is set to begin deleting inactive Gmail accounts and associated photos starting December 1, as reported by PCMag and others.
This move was announced earlier in the year, and the deadline is now fast approaching.
An account is considered inactive by Google if it hasn't been used within a two-year period. Activities that keep an account active include actions such as signing in, reading or sending an email, using Google Drive, watching YouTube videos, sharing photos, downloading apps, and searching while signed in.
If an account hasn't been logged into or used for any Google service in two years, it will be deemed inactive. This policy is applicable only to personal accounts and does not affect accounts associated with employers, schools, or other organizations. Once an account is marked inactive, Google may delete all content and data associated with it from December 1 onwards.
This includes information stored in Google Photos, Google Calendar, Google Docs, and emails.
Google will send notifications to the inactive account and a recovery email, if available, before proceeding with deletion. The company's Inactive Google Account Policy states,
"Google products reserve the right to delete your data when your account has not been used within that product for a 2-year period. December 1, 2023, is the earliest a Google Account will be deleted due to this policy." However, there are exceptions, such as if the account was used to make a purchase in the Google Play store or if it has an active balance from a gift card.
Therefore, if you have a Gmail account that you haven't used in a while and wish to retain the data associated with it, it's crucial to log in before December 1.
