Google Is Deleting Gmail Accounts—3 Steps You Need To Take To Keep Yours

In today’s digital world, your email account is more than just a communication tool—it’s a gateway to your online identity, your cloud storage, and often your means of accessing numerous other platforms. If you’re using Gmail, you’re likely one of the 1.8 billion users who rely on Google’s email service for personal and professional correspondence, file storage, and much more.

However, if you’ve been paying attention to the latest announcements from Google, you may have heard some unsettling news: the company has begun deleting inactive Gmail accounts as part of its new policies aimed at reducing security risks. This shift marks a significant change, and it could affect millions of users who haven’t accessed their Gmail accounts in a while.

To avoid losing access to your account—and potentially important information—there are three essential steps you should take to safeguard your Gmail. Here’s everything you need to know.

Why Is Google Deleting Gmail Accounts?

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Google has long been known for its generous storage and accessibility options, but in 2023, the company introduced a new policy that allows it to delete Gmail accounts that have been inactive for two years or more. This is part of a larger push towards improving the security and efficiency of its services. Google claims that dormant accounts are more likely to be compromised by hackers, as users often neglect the security settings of accounts they don’t frequently use. These abandoned accounts could be left with weak passwords, outdated recovery information, or other vulnerabilities.

In addition to security concerns, deleting inactive accounts frees up server space, which could be another reason for the new policy, and reduces the potential for malicious activity associated with forgotten email addresses. It also aligns with Google’s efforts to declutter its digital landscape, focusing on maintaining active, engaged users. While this policy is sensible from a security perspective, it could also mean losing access to data, memories, and critical communications stored in your Gmail inbox if you’re not vigilant.

If you’re someone who doesn’t check an old Gmail account frequently or only uses it occasionally, your account could be at risk. But there’s no need to panic—by following these three steps, you can ensure your account remains safe and active.

Step 1: Log in to Your Gmail Account Regularly

The simplest and most effective way to keep your Gmail account active is to log in at least once every two years. This may seem obvious, but with so many people juggling multiple email addresses for different purposes—personal, work, newsletters, subscriptions—it’s easy to forget about one or more of them.

If you have an old Gmail account you want to keep, make it a habit to log in periodically. You don’t have to spend hours managing the inbox; simply signing in and interacting with your account will reset the inactivity clock. Remember that this applies not just to Gmail but to any other Google service tied to your account, such as Google Drive, Google Photos, or YouTube.

If you don’t have an email client that automatically logs into all your gmail accounts it’s also worth setting a reminder to log in every six months to ensure you’re not caught off guard by an unexpected deletion. Regularly accessing your account allows you to keep track of important messages, manage your security settings, and update recovery options if needed.

Step 2: Perform Basic Activity

In addition to logging in, engaging with your Gmail account through basic activity will help ensure its long-term survival. Google considers an account “active” if it shows signs of use, even beyond just signing in. Simple tasks such as sending or receiving an email, downloading a file from your Google Drive, or watching a video on YouTube using your associated Google account will count as activity.

Here are some quick activities you can do:

• Send or receive an email: Compose a brief email, even if it’s just a test message to another one of your accounts. Replying to emails or interacting with newsletters also keeps your account active.
• Use Google Drive: Open a file, upload a new document, or make edits to a shared document.
• Access Google Photos: View your stored images, or upload new ones.
• Watch YouTube videos: If your Gmail is linked to your YouTube account, watching a video while logged in can also demonstrate activity.

These small actions not only keep your account from becoming inactive but also ensure that you’re regularly checking your email for any important updates, notifications, or security alerts.

Step 3: Review and Update Security Settings

One of the main reasons Google is deleting inactive accounts is the security risk they pose. Inactive accounts tend to have outdated security settings, weak passwords, or incomplete recovery information, making them more vulnerable to hackers. To keep your Gmail account safe, it’s important to regularly review and update your security settings.

Here’s what you should check:

• Update your password: Make sure you’re using a strong, unique password. Consider setting up two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security.
• Check recovery information: Ensure your recovery email and phone number are up to date. This will make it easier to regain access to your account if you forget your password or if Google detects suspicious activity.
• Review connected apps: Look at the third-party apps and devices that have access to your Google account. Revoke access for any apps you no longer use or trust.

By keeping your security information current, you’ll not only protect your account from being deleted but also reduce the chances of it being hacked.

Additional Tips

While these three steps are essential, there are a few other things you can do to ensure your account stays safe and active:

• Set up email forwarding: If you have multiple Gmail accounts, you can set up forwarding from your less-used accounts to your primary one. This way, you won’t miss important emails, and you’ll be reminded to check the account periodically.
• Clean out your inbox: Take some time to delete unnecessary emails and organise your inbox. This will help you avoid being overwhelmed and will make it easier to manage your account.
• Use the Google One subscription: If you rely heavily on Gmail and other Google services, consider subscribing to Google One. This offers additional storage and premium customer support, ensuring your account remains well-maintained.

Conclusion

Google’s new policy on inactive accounts is a reminder of the importance of managing our digital lives. By simply logging in, performing basic activities, and updating your security settings, you can ensure that your Gmail account stays active and protected. Taking these steps now could save you from the stress of losing access to valuable data and ensure that your online presence remains secure and intact.