Why Google is deleting Gmail accounts, and what you can do to keep yours

In a landscape filled with numerous email accounts, passwords, and applications, Google is striving to simplify things by cleaning up its offerings.

The technology giant is currently working on removing inactive Gmail accounts from what’s estimated to be around 1.8 billion accounts.

If you haven't utilized yours in some time and wish to retain it, now is the perfect moment to begin.

While not every account is in danger, those that are can benefit from a few straightforward actions to help you protect your Gmail, photos, and other content if you choose to do so.

Why Is Google Removing Gmail Accounts?

Last year, Google announced its intention to remove Gmail accounts that have been inactive for a while as part of an effort to enhance security.

In a blog post from May 2023, Ruth Kricheli, who serves as the vice president of product management at the company, stated that consumers are looking for safety and security in the online products and services they use.

She explained that this is the reason we have put resources into technology and systems that safeguard our users against security risks such as spam, phishing attacks, and account takeovers.

"Despite these security measures, accounts that remain inactive for a long time are at a higher risk of being hacked," she explained. "This is often due to neglected accounts using outdated or recycled passwords that could have been exposed, lacking two-factor authentication, and getting less attention in terms of security from the user."

She mentioned that their research revealed that inactive accounts are “at least ten times less likely to have two-step verification enabled” compared to active ones. This indicates that these accounts are “often at risk” and could be exploited for various purposes, including identity theft or as a way to spread unwanted or harmful materials like spam.

Is Google Deleting Docs And Photos Too?

Ms. Kricheli explained that to lower the chances of an unused account being hacked, Google is revising its inactivity policy for Google accounts to two years for all of its services.

In a blog post from May of the previous year, she mentioned that beginning later this year, Google might remove accounts that haven't been accessed or logged into for a minimum of two years. This would also involve deleting any associated content, such as documents in Google Workspace (like Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, and Calendar) and photos from Google Photos.

"We will introduce this gradually and thoughtfully, ensuring that everyone is informed well in advance."

The policy applies exclusively to individual Google accounts and will not impact accounts belonging to organizations such as schools or companies.

The process of deleting accounts started in December of last year and is taking place gradually. It began with accounts that were created but never utilized again.

Prior to deleting an account, Google announced that it will send several reminders in the months before the deletion takes place. These notifications will be sent to both the primary email address associated with the account and any recovery email that was provided.

How To Maintain Your Gmail Account

Google offers several options for Gmail users to help them retain their accounts if they want to avoid deletion.

The easiest way to ensure your Google account stays active is to log in at least once every two years.

When you log into your Google account or use any Google services and perform one of the following activities, your account is deemed active and will remain intact:

Taking any of these actions will help keep your account secure from being deleted.

Users who have already subscribed using their Google account will not lose their account.