Google has announced that it will delete inactive personal Google Accounts and their associated contents after two years of inactivity.

Starting in December 2023, Google will begin the account deletion process in a phased approach, beginning with accounts that were created but never used.

The company observes that forgotten or unattended accounts, which have not been accessed for an extended period of time, are more vulnerable to being compromised. This is because such accounts typically lack two-factor authentication or have fewer security checks in place.

Users will receive multiple notifications to both the account email and recovery email (if provided) before their accounts are deleted.

The account deletion policy applies solely to personal Google Accounts and its contents—including content within Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar) and Google Photos.

The new policy will not affect accounts created for schools or businesses. Accounts with existing subscriptions such as news publications or apps will not be impacted as well.

Most importantly, accounts with YouTube videos are also at risk of deletion. However, Google states that “we do not have plans to delete accounts with YouTube videos at this time.”

Google clarified that this policy aligns with industry standards around retention and account deletion and limits the amount of time that Google retains users’ unused personal information.

Keeping your account active

Google recommends that users sign in at least once every two years to prevent their accounts from being deleted. The company defines the following as account activity:

• Reading or sending an email
• Using Google Drive
• Watching a YouTube video
• Downloading an app from the Google Play Store
• Using Google Search
• Using “Sign in with Google” to log-in to a third-party app or service

Google’s announcement is part of its ongoing efforts to prioritize account security and privacy. It reinforces the company’s commitment to keeping users’ private information safe.

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