Your inactive Gmail account may be permanently deleted as early as Friday, December 1

Do you have an inactive Gmail account? It’s time to take action now. If not, your inactive Gmail account could face permanent deletion as early as Friday, December 1. The move is part of Google’s new security policy, targeting accounts that have been inactive for at least two years, according to recent reports from various media sources,

Under the updated policy, Google will regularly delete accounts that have remained inactive for two years or more. Once deleted, all contents within the account, including personal emails, treasured documents, and candid photos and videos, become unrecoverable. This marks a potential farewell to data tucked away in old Gmail accounts, Google Drives, and other corners of Google’s servers.

Back in May, Google initially announced its intention to delete Google accounts unused for the past two years, including associated emails and data. The implementation of this change is set for December, giving users only a limited window to back up any crucial information they may have overlooked, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Google plans to execute the deletion process in phases, starting with accounts that were created but never used. The company assures users that it will issue multiple notifications to the inactive account and its recovery email before initiating the deletion.

How to Revive Your Google Account Before It’s Too Late

To avoid losing your Google account and its associated data, simply sign in to the account to reactivate it. Performing actions like reading an email or utilizing Google Drive will keep the account active for an additional two years, as per Google’s guidelines.

Google stressed that this policy aims to enhance user security, as inactive accounts are more susceptible to compromise. Forgotten accounts often use outdated passwords and may lack additional security measures like two-step verification, making them more vulnerable to potential hackers, the company said.