The great Gmail purge: How to protect your account from being deleted

There are some things you never forget – your first crush, your first salary, and your first email account username. But unfortunately, there are some things that we most definitely forget – especially the password to the same first email account.

And if you haven’t checked in on your old Gmail accounts in a while, now is a good time to do it. In May 2023, Google announced it would start deleting inactive accounts from December.

Why is Google deleting inactive accounts?

This mass purge of Gmail accounts is a security measure to protect users from threats like spam, phishing scams, and account hijacking. According to Google, an account that hasn’t been used for an extended time has more chance of being compromised.

The lack of security checks by the user, two-factor authentication not being set up, and the tendency to use old or re-used passwords on old accounts can make them more vulnerable.

Which Gmail accounts will be deleted?

As per the updated inactivity policy, Google reserves the right to delete an account along with its activity and data if the user has been inactive for at least two years. This policy applies only to personal Google accounts and will not affect accounts for organisations like businesses or schools.

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While the policy took effect in May 2023, the earliest Google will start deleting accounts is December 2023. This deletion of inactive accounts will be implemented in phases and will start with accounts that were created but were never used again.

What happens to the accounts Google will delete?

If an account matches the inactivity criteria of Google, it will simply cease to exist. Apart from the Gmail account, the user will also lose all content related to it on Google Drive, Google Calendar, Google Photos, and others.

How do I know if my Gmail account is at risk?

You don’t have to worry if you regularly use your Gmail, Drive, Calendar, or other Google services. Only the accounts that have not been used or signed into for at least two years will be deleted.

If you have any subscription like Google One, a news publication, or an app set up via a Google account, it will be considered account activity. Additionally, Google says it does not have plans to delete accounts with YouTube videos.

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Before deleting an account, Google will send multiple notifications to both the account email address and the recovery email, if any.

How can I protect my account from being deleted?

To keep your Gmail account active and avoid being deleted, you must ensure it is active. Fortunately, there are various ways you can mark your account as active again:

– Reading or sending an email
– Accessing Google Drive
– Watching a video on YouTube
– Signing in with the account on an Android phone or tablet and downloading an app
– Using Google Search

On the bright side, this great Google purge might also mean that usernames of these old accounts might be up for grabs again. I, for one, hope to be mallikakelkar@gmail.com instead of mallikakelkar2703@gmail.com!