Starting on December 1, Google will begin deleting accounts that have been inactive for at least two years. This move is part of Google’s efforts to enhance security and protect users from threats such as spam, phishing scams, and account hijacking.
Dormant accounts pose a higher security risk compared to active profiles, prompting Google to take action and remove them from the system. The company will start by deleting accounts that were created but never accessed again, and will notify users in advance before carrying out the deletion.
It’s important to note that everything stored in inactive accounts, including photos, emails, and documents, will be permanently deleted. Users can prevent this by logging into their old profile or by transferring their files to a different location for safekeeping.
To save your Google files from being deleted, follow these quick steps:
1. Go to Google Takeout
2. Choose the files you want to save
3. Export the files
4. Download everything onto your computer
For a more straightforward process, users can request Google to send a download link via email, allowing them to download and unzip the files onto their computer. Additionally, users can also transfer their content to another storage space such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.
Once users have saved their files, they can leave the account alone and Google will delete it at a later time. Alternatively, users can use the Inactive Account Manager to speed up the deletion process. For those looking for alternatives, TechRadar offers a list of the best photo storage sites for 2023.
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