Google will Delete Dormant Accounts Starting December 31; Know How to Save Your Email Id

Google in its major move to enhance security and prevent potential misuse of Google accounts, Google has unveiled a plan to commence deletion of dormant or inactive accounts beginning on December 31. The announcement was made by Ruth Kricheli Google’s Vice President for Product Management, in May of this year underscoring the company's commitment to safeguarding users' data and enhancing the overall cybersecurity of the network.

The reason behind these deletions is believed to be the misuse of data as prolonged account inactivity can signal potential security breaches. The accounts that have been inactive for a long period lack the added layer of protection provided by two-factor authentication and as a result, such accounts could pose significant threats to users’ data and privacy.

In terms to ensure that users are not caught off guard by the impending deletions, Google has put forth a multi-step approach. The company will send multiple notifications to users before permanently deleting accounts including associated data with services like Gmail, Drive, Docs, Photos, Meet, and Calendar. These notifications will be dispatched to both the primary account and the recovery email address linked to the inactive accounts.

Google has also taken measures to ease concerns related to inadvertent data loss as once an account is deleted the associated Gmail address will be rendered ineligible for new registration. However, this entire scenario can be prevented by simple steps where the user needs to login into their Google accounts at least once every two years to keep their accounts active and prevented them from being flagged as inactive.

Apart from this Google has also introduced some other alternative methods to maintain account activity without the need for frequent logins. Here, users can choose to engage accounts through actions such as 

• Sending or reading Emails 
• Utilizing Google Drive
• Performing searches 
• Watching Youtube videos
• Signing in with various 

For those users who no longer find utility in their Google accounts, Google offers the ‘Google Takeout’ service. The service enables users to download all the data associated with their accounts and provides a viable exit option. Additionally, to empower users with greater control over their accounts Google offers the ‘ Inactive Account Manager’ tool. This tool will act as a reminder for users if their accounts have remained inactive for a specific duration. In this way, users will have an opportunity to take necessary actions to prevent deletion.

However, it should be noted that accounts exhibiting activity on YouTube such as comments, channels, videos, or holding monetary balances will be exempted from deletion. This provision has been made to ensure that active users in the YouTube community do not face unintended consequences