If you are unaware, as per the policy, Google reserves the right to delete the account if the account has seen no action from the user’s end in two years. Also, Google will delete the data stored in the account as a part of this policy.
If you have a Google account that you’ve not used for a long time, then here’s what you can do to prevent Google from deleting it.
How Google deems an account inactive
In simple words, Google considers an account active if there’s some activity in the account. Google defines activity in these parameters:
- Reading or sending an email
- Using Google Drive
- Watching a YouTube video
- Sharing a photo
- Downloading an app
- Using Google Search
- Using Sign in with Google to sign in to a third-party app or service
The important bit is that Google Account activity is defined by the action in the account and not the device. Users can choose to take an action related to the Google Account using any device where they’ve signed in. It could be a smartphone, laptop, web, etc.
If Google registers no such actions, it deems it inactive.
How to keep it active
Not in so many words — you need to use the Google account — to keep it from becoming inactive in Google’s book. For this, you can do any of the above-mentioned activities.
- Link your Google account on your laptop, even if it is a secondary account and send or read a received email once at least two years.
- Use the account to watch videos on YouTube.
- Share a photo using the account
- Download an app from Play Store.
- You can even link that account to store files in Google Drive.
- Use Google Search after logging into the account
These are some common actions you can take to keep your Google account active. But, there are more ways you can use to let Google know that your account is active.
The exception case
There are certain scenarios where Google considers an account active even if it hasn’t been used in two years.
- The account has been used to make a purchase of a Google product, app, service or subscription (ongoing)
- Account has a gift card with monetary balance
- Account is linked to a published application or game with active subscriptions, financial transactions linked with them.
- Account manages an active minor account with Family Link
- Account has been used to purchase books, movies, etc
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