Inactive Accounts Policy of Google: What You Need to Know and How to Protect Your Account

Inactive Accounts Policy of Google, the computer behemoth famed for its wide range of services, is revising its stance on dormant accounts. Google intends to erase accounts that have been dormant for two years or more as part of this policy. The company’s dedication to improving user security and protecting its huge user base from potential threats is driving this step. Inactive accounts are vulnerable to hijacking and may be used for criminal purposes, making them a major issue for Google. This article looks into the specifics of Google’s revised policy, its justification, and what users may do to protect their accounts.

Understanding the Deletion of Inactive Accounts Policy of Google

Google’s new policy intends to erase dormant accounts in order to reduce security threats. Inactive accounts are more vulnerable to penetration and misuse because they are less likely to have important security measures in place, such as two-step verification. As a result, they are vulnerable to a variety of dangers, including identity theft and the spread of unwanted content such as spam.

Also Read: Google Accounts Will be Delete To Product Users is Google’s Protection Focus

Account Deletion Effective Date

While the new policy is in effect, Google will begin the deletion process on December 1, 2023. This gives users time to restart their accounts or take other steps to avoid deletion.

Contents Deleted Alongside the Account

When Google deletes an inactive account, it deletes all connected content as well. Emails, documents in Google Drive, meetings in Google Meet, appointments in Google Calendar, and photographs in Google Photographs are all included.

Accounts Affected by the Policy And At-Risk Accounts

The new ban on dormant accounts only applies to personal Google accounts. Organizational accounts, such as schools and businesses, will not be affected by the deletion procedure.

Google will tell customers in stages that their accounts are at risk of being deleted. Multiple email messages will be sent to the users’ Google Account and, if supplied, their authorized recovery email. The notification process has already begun, with many people receiving emails informing them that their accounts may be deleted.

Activity to Keep an Account Active

Users must participate in some type of activity within their Google accounts to avoid account cancellation. Account activity includes signing in on a regular basis and performing simple operations such as reading or sending emails, accessing Google Drive, watching YouTube videos, and downloading apps from the Google Play Store.

Google’s Previous Policy on Inactive Accounts

Google implemented a strategy in 2020 that destroyed the content held in dormant accounts but did not delete the accounts themselves. The current policy change departs from the previous policy by taking a more strict approach to dormant accounts. For checking the Status of Account Activity, log in and look for evidence of inactivity.

Google’s Inactive Account Manager

Google’s Inactive Account Manager is a tool for managing user accounts that are no longer active. This tool, which functions similarly to a will in the digital world, allows users to specify what should happen to their accounts after a period of inactivity. When an account is inactive for more than two years, the inactive Account Manager intervenes and sends a series of messages to the account owner and authorised contacts. Failure to react to these notifications may result in the deactivation of your account.

Preventing Account Deletion

Setting up Google’s Inactive Account Manager is a good approach to plan ahead of time and avoid account termination. Users can utilise the tool to decide what happens to their accounts if they are inactive for an extended period of time. Furthermore, constant account activity guarantees that accounts remain active and are not deleted.

Conclusion

The decision by Google to erase dormant accounts is a proactive step towards improving user security. By ensuring that inactive accounts are not left vulnerable, the policy update intends to reduce the danger of account hijacking and criminal activity. Users can prevent their accounts from being deleted by regularly using Google services and enabling the Inactive Account Manager. Users can regain control of their digital presence and safeguard the safety of their sensitive data on Google’s platform by adopting these precautions.