If you have an old Google account that you’d like to keep, you have till the end of the week to take action.
Starting in December, Google is going to shut down accounts that have not been used for two years. The move comes months after the company announced it would be taking down inactive accounts to tackle potential cybersecurity risks. The action affects old and unused email accounts and could impact content on linked Google products, including Google Drive.
Here’s everything you need to know about the purge.
Why Is Google Shutting Down Inactive Accounts?
Google announced the policy in May, warning that inactive accounts pose a cybersecurity risk.
Despite the company’s sophisticated security measures, “if an account hasn’t been used for an extended period of time, it is more likely to be compromised,” Google Vice President of product management Ruth Kricheli said in a statement at the time.
Google could begin nixing inactive accounts as soon as Friday. Google said it would send multiple emails to the affected accounts ahead of the action, giving owners time to log back into their accounts if they want.
Accounts managed by organizations, like schools or companies, will not be affected, Google said. Accounts with YouTube videos are also exempt.
Can I Save My Account?
The best way to keep your old Gmail account is to log in to it at least once every two years, Google said. That keeps the account up to date with the latest security measures and information.
Google account holders who don’t want to maintain an old email but do want to keep their user data can log in and download their user data, including anything stored on a linked Google Drive.
Google’s Takeout feature also allows users download data across multiple services all at once and have it stored on a new Google Drive or offline.
