Google is planning a purge of inactive user accounts across Gmail, Photos, Drive and other services, with the process beginning as soon as December. This warning came from reports published by 9to5Google, which flagged that dormant accounts may face removal from Google’s cloud ecosystem.
The rationale given centers on freeing up storage on Google’s servers and bolstering data security. Accounts that have not seen any login activity for a period of two years risk losing access to email, photos, documents, and other items stored in Google Cloud services. The policy aims to keep the company’s digital vaults clean while reducing exposures from unused data, according to the reports.
Details about the exact start date for the deletion were not provided by Google. Officials indicated that the initiative could begin as early as December 1 of the current year and extend into the following year. Prior to any deletions, Google plans to issue multiple reminders urging users to reactivate dormant accounts. Notifications will be sent not just to the primary mailbox but also to any backup address that a user has specified.
For users who want to regain access to an abandoned account, action as simple as sending an email, viewing or uploading a photo, or creating or opening a file in Drive will reactivate the account and halt the deletion process.
In other tech news, Xiaomi recently addressed discussions around the support for four of its Mi and Poco smartphones, clarifying its stance on compatibility and updates for those devices. This separate update highlights how major tech firms periodically adjust support timelines and user expectations across devices and services. (Source: 9to5Google)