Alexander Lewis
Nov 13, 2023
Google has announced that it will delete the accounts of users who have been inactive for more than two years, starting from December 2023. This policy change affects Google services such as Gmail, Drive, Photos, and more. Users who want to keep their accounts active will need to sign in and use these services at least once every two years.
The new policy is intended to free up storage space and improve the user experience, according to Google. The company said that it will notify users multiple times before deleting any content. Users can also choose to purchase additional storage through Google One if they exceed their free quota.
Exempted services from new Google policy
Google also clarified that this policy does not apply to Google Workspace, G Suite for Education, and G Suite for Nonprofits customers. Users who have been inactive for more than two years will still be able to access their accounts, but they will not be able to create or edit any files or photos.
Google’s new policy is similar to the one implemented by Microsoft for its OneDrive service, which also deletes inactive accounts after two years. However, Microsoft requires users to have at least 5 GB of storage or a subscription to keep their accounts active. Google, on the other hand, does not have a minimum storage requirement for its users.
Save your data on Google by December 31, 2023
Google’s new policy will take effect on December 1, 2023, and users who are affected by it will have until December 31, 2023, to save their data or reactivate their accounts. Users can also download their data using Google Takeout or delete their accounts if they wish to do so. Google said that it hopes that this policy will encourage users to make the most of their Google accounts and services.
