By the end of this week, on Dec. 1, Google will start deleting inactive Google accounts, the search giant said, along with their contents — photos, Gmail messages, Calendar appointments, Drive documents, Contacts records and YouTube videos.
That inactive Google account could be a Gmail box you used to subscribe to a newsletter or join an online forum or a sign up with shopping site — somewhere you’d like to not use your primary email to remain anonymous or avoid spammy messages.
If you’ve got old Google accounts you’d like to keep, here’s how to stop Google from deleting them starting in December. For more, check out how to log in to Google with a passkey and discover 10 Gmail tips and tools to use daily.
Why is Google deleting inactive accounts?
If an account hasn’t been used for a while, Google said, it’s more likely to be compromised: “This is because forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised, haven’t had two factor authentication set up, and receive fewer security checks by the user,” Google said.
To reduce this risk, Google said, starting in December, if an account hasn’t been used or signed into for at least two years, it may delete the account and its contents. That means if you’ve not logged into an account since 2021, Google may get rid of it.
If you’re worried about someone grabbing your old, deleted account, Google said if it deletes an inactive account, the Gmail address for the deleted account cannot be used again when creating a new Google account.
