Google deletion campaign started: What else you can do now to secure your data

On Friday, Google began deleting inactive accounts. Find out how you can back up your photos, emails and documents now.

Google accounts are created quickly and easily, but the search engine giant doesn’t store your data forever. It has been known for a long time that Google from December 1, 2023 start deleting accounts that are no longer used. It’s not primarily about saving storage space; in Google’s eyes, unused accounts are a security risk.

You have one specifically for that Inactive Account Policy formulated. A Google account is considered inactive if it has been inactive for a period of Not used for two years became. Google then reserves the right to delete an inactive Google Account along with associated activities and data.

Important: This policy applies only for your private Google accounts. Business, educational, or other organization accounts are not affected.

Google Account Deletion: You are warned

Not only emails are affected by the deletion, but also documents, photos, chats and videos.

Image: Image: Catherine Waibel/dpa-tmn

Google is aware that not all data in inactive accounts is worthless. That’s why users are warned in advance before the account is deleted. Google sends email notifications to the Google account address. Notifications will also be sent to the email address you provided for account recovery

Importantly, not only emails are deleted, but also data from other Google products, for example documents or photos from Google’s cloud storage, as well as chats or published YouTube videos.

There are a few exceptions, however. A Google account is considered active even after two years of inactivity if at least one of the following applies:

• The Google Account was used to purchase a product, app, service or subscription from Google, either current or ongoing.
• the Google account contains a gift card with monetary value.
• The Google Account is designated as the owner of a published app or game that has ongoing, active subscriptions, or active financial transactions associated with it. This can be a Google Account that is designated as the owner of an app in the Google Play Store.
• Your Google Account will manage a minor’s active account with Family Link.
• the Google account was used to purchase a digital item, e.g. B. a book or a film.

Prevent account deletion: save photos, documents and emails

Google accounts used on an Android phone are active.

Image: CHIP/Bernd Huttarsch

If you don’t want your Google account to be deleted, you actually have to take action. You keep your Google Account active by signing in and doing one of the following:

• Read or send an email
• Use Google Drive
• Watch a YouTube video
• Share a photo
• Download an app
• Use Google Search
• Use Sign in with Google to sign in to a third-party app or service

Activities in a Google Account are independent of the device on which they occur. You can perform actions on any surface where you’re signed in to your Google Account.

If you no longer need your Google account, you can export the data stored there via Google Takeout.