Google is set to delete inactive accounts that have been unused for two years, starting this week. In a blog post dated May 16, 2023, the tech giant announced its plan to streamline processes and ensure user data security. Affected users have been notified that their accounts will be eligible for deletion from December 1st. 

To prevent the deletion of your old Google account under the inactive account policy, it is recommended to sign in soon. Google will take a phased approach, starting with accounts that were created but never used again. Make sure your old accounts are in order to avoid losing important data. Simply signing in or engaging in various activities such as reading or sending emails, using Google Drive or YouTube, downloading apps, using Google Search, or logging in to third-party services via Sign in with Google can keep your account active for another two years. It is also important to have an accessible recovery email address associated with your account. Multiple notifications will be sent to both impacted accounts and recovery email addresses before deletion. While logging in prevents overall deletion, signing in to Google Photos specifically is required to preserve the stored content.

This policy change aims to enhance security as old and unused accounts are more susceptible to compromise. Ensure account security by using unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly reviewing security settings.
 

Source: The Verge