Google will delete millions of inactive Gmail accounts next month as part of a major security update.
In May 2023, Google announced it would start deleting inactive Gmail accounts in December 2023.
An inactive account is one that has not been used or signed into for at least two years, and the tech giant’s decision to delete inactive accounts is motivated by security concerns.
Abandoned accounts are often vulnerable to attack, as they are less likely to have two-factor authentication enabled.
Google confirmed that the update will apply to unclaimed accounts of deceased users as well.
If you have an inactive Google Account, you can take steps to keep it active by logging in at least once every two years.
You can also enable two-factor authentication, which will make your account more secure.
If your account is considered inactive, Google will send several reminder emails to both you and your recovery emails before we take any action or delete any account content.
These reminder emails will go out at least 8 months before any action is taken on your account.
