Image depicting a deleted Google account
Google is continuing to implement its inactive account policy, an important measure to enhance security and data management. Accordingly, Google accounts, including Gmail and all related data (such as photos, documents, shopping history, etc.) can be permanently deleted if users do not log in or use it within 2 years.
This policy has been announced by Google and will be implemented from the end of 2023. However, many users, especially those who own multiple sub-accounts, old accounts that are rarely used, or simply do not grasp the information, are still at risk of losing access to important data and digital memories that have been stored for a long time.
It is essential to check and take timely action to protect your digital assets.
Why is Google implementing this policy and what will happen?
Google defines an inactive Google account as one where the user has not performed any sign-in or usage actions on Google services (including Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube, Google Photos, Google Play Store, Google Search...) for a period of at least 24 months .
The top reason Google gives for this policy is increased security . Inactive Google accounts are often attractive targets for cyber attackers. Because they are not regularly monitored by users, these accounts tend to use old passwords, are not updated with new security measures like 2-step verification, and are therefore easily compromised for spamming, phishing, or other malicious activities.
Removing these accounts helps Google reduce security risks to the entire ecosystem and protect other users.
In addition to security, managing Google’s massive storage resources efficiently is also an important driver. Maintaining a large number of inactive Google accounts takes up significant storage space and system resources. Removing them helps Google optimize its infrastructure and provide a better experience for active users.
If a Google account is determined to be inactive and deleted , the user will permanently lose access to all associated data, including: All emails stored in Gmail; Files, documents, spreadsheets, and presentations on Google Drive; All photos and videos uploaded to Google Photos; Calendar data, contacts, notes, and other information on other Google services.
Importantly, a deleted Gmail address cannot be re-registered for a new account. This can be a nuisance if you have used this address for other communication purposes or to register for other services.
How to keep your Google account active and avoid deletion?
To ensure your Google account is not considered inactive and avoid the risk of deletion, you only need to do one of the following actions at least once every 2 years:
- Successfully sign in to your Google account via a web browser or any Google app on your phone or tablet.
- Read or send email using the Gmail service.
- Use Google Drive to access, upload, download, or edit files.
- Watch videos on YouTube platform while logged in to your account.
- Download apps or games from the Google Play Store while signed in.
- Perform a search on Google Search while signed in to your account.
- Use the " Sign in with Google " feature to sign in to third-party apps or services.
Google will also send multiple warning messages to your account's primary email address and recovery email (if you've set one up) in the months leading up to account deletion . Therefore, it's important to ensure that your recovery email and recovery phone number information in your Google account settings is up to date and accurate, so you can receive these important notifications and have enough time to take action.
Keeping your Google account active is a simple but big win for protecting your personal data and avoiding unnecessary hassles. Take a moment to review the Google accounts you own and take an action using any Google service to ensure they are still active.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/google-tiep-tuc-ap-dung-chinh-sach-tai-khoan-khong-hoat-dong-luu-y-de-khong-mat-du-lieu-ca-nhan-20250602102527718.htm
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