This week, Google will start removing dormant accounts

Google will deactivate inactive accounts after two years on Friday.

The corporation announced the new policy in May to reduce security risks: Older accounts are more likely to use recycled passwords and less likely to use two-step verification, making them more prone to phishing, hacking, and spam, according to internal research.

Users have received repeated alerts to their accounts and backup emails from Google since August.

Google announced in May that accounts created but never used will be removed first.

“We want to protect your private information and prevent any unauthorized access to your account even if you’re no longer using our services,” Google stated in August.

Google accounts contain Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Photos, thus idle users' Google suites could lose their stuff.

The deletion motion has some exceptions: Accounts with YouTube channels, gift card balances, digital purchases like books or movies, and active apps on Google Play, the company warned in August.

You can save your account by signing into your Google account or any Google service at least once every two years and reading an email, watching a video, or searching.