Google will start deleting old Gmail accounts next week: how to keep yours safe

Published On: November 27, 2023

Highlights

Google to remove inactive accounts in small batches from December 2023 onwards.
This deletion process will include all data linked to the Gmail account.
Google does not intend to delete inactive accounts that have YouTube videos.

Tech giant Google has recently revised its policy on inactive accounts, announcing its intention to delete older Gmail accounts. According to the tech giant, unused accounts are more vulnerable to being compromised, and the company aims to prioritise user privacy and security by taking this action. Here are the details.

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Inactive Gmail accounts are set to be permanently deleted

In May, Google said it plans to start removing inactive accounts in small batches from December 2023 onwards.
This deletion process will include all data linked to the account, such as emails, Drive files, Photos, Contacts, and other documents.
Internal data reveals that inactive accounts are significantly less likely to have two-factor authentication enabled compared to active accounts, making them more susceptible to cyberattacks.
External services connected to a misplaced Gmail account also face the risk of compromise, leading Google to decide to delete accounts unused for the past 2 years.

Gmail accounts with zero activity over the last 24 months will be categorised as inactive, and not all of them will be removed immediately.
Once an account is deleted, every associated piece of information, including Google Drive storage, emails, documents, meetings, and other files, will be irreversibly removed.
However, Google clarified that it does not intend to delete inactive accounts that have YouTube videos.
This means if you have an old and unused account linked to YouTube with a public video, Google will not delete the account, even if it remains inactive.