Your Gmail account could be blocked unless you follow new Google rules

If you have a Gmail account you’d be wise to take notice of the latest changes announced by Google. The US technology giant has just refreshed its terms and conditions and it could mean some users find their accounts, and everything stored within them, are deleted for good.

The update affects a raft of services including Gmail, Google Photos and YouTube with Google confirming that it’s making the changes in a bid to reduce spam, vicious phishing attacks and the danger of inactive accounts.

So how will you be affected and what steps do you need to take to stop your account being removed? The simple answer is, just use your Gmail and Photos account on a regular basis and you’ll be fine.

That’s because the update is only affecting those who haven’t touched or logged into their accounts for two years.

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“People want the products and services they use online to be safe and secure,” said Google’s Ruth Kricheli in a post on the firm’s blog.

“If an account hasn’t been used for an extended period of time, it is more likely to be compromised. This is because forgotten or unattended accounts often rely on old or re-used passwords that may have been compromised, haven’t had two factor authentication set up, and receive fewer security checks by the user.”

To reduce the risks for everyone online Google says it will now monitor usage and consider the removal of accounts if they lay dormant for too long.

“Starting later this year, if a Google Account has not been used or signed into for at least 2 years, we may delete the account and its contents – including content within Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar), YouTube and Google Photos,” Kricheli confirmed.

Google says the policy only applies to personal Google Accounts and users will be alerted before deletion takes place so you should get plenty of notice before things are gone for good.

If you have a second account you want to keep active then make sure you log in on a regular basis. As the old saying goes, “Use it or lose it!”

How to keep your account active

The simplest way to keep a Google Account active is to sign-in at least once every 2 years. If you have signed into your Google Account or any of our services recently, your account is considered active and will not be deleted. Activity might include these types of actions you take when you sign in or while you’re signed in to your Google Account:

• Reading or sending an email

• Using Google Drive

• Watching a YouTube video

• Downloading an app on the Google Play Store

• Using Google Search

• Using Sign in with Google to sign in to a third-party app or service