If you’ve stashed away Google’s announcement about shutting down inactive accounts, it’s time to bring it back to the forefront of your attention.
Google’s initiative, set to begin on December 1, involves the closure of accounts that have remained inactive since 2021 or earlier. The move aims to enhance security by preventing the potential hijacking and abuse of forgotten or unattended accounts.
Take Action Before December 1
The scope of this shutdown extends beyond Gmail, encompassing various services such as photos, calendars, contacts, YouTube videos, and Google Drive associated with inactive Google accounts.
Google emphasizes that school or business accounts are exempt from this new policy. However, personal accounts that fall within the inactive criteria are subject to closure.
To avoid the shutdown, the simplest action is to sign into your Google account immediately. This act resets the clock and ensures your account remains active.
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Google’s Account Cleanup
Google will send reminder emails to your primary and recovery emails, offering several months of grace. It’s crucial to note that if these emails go unnoticed because you don’t use them, you may miss the warnings.
Google provides a list of activities that count as account usage, including reading or sending emails, utilizing Google Drive, downloading from the Play Store, or using the account to sign in to a third-party service. Taking any of these actions will help keep your account active.
If you find yourself struggling to recall your password, Google offers the Account Recovery tool at accounts.google.com. Once access is regained, it’s advisable to fortify your account by changing to a robust password and enabling multiple security features, especially two-factor authentication.
Before embarking on these steps, consider whether there’s a genuine need to maintain your account. If it has remained unused since 2021, perhaps it’s time to evaluate whether holding onto it is necessary.
Take proactive measures now to ensure the continued accessibility of your Google account and prevent any potential disruptions.
