Hi Reader,
Google is deleting inactive Gmail accounts – what does this mean for our “secret” YouTube accounts?
Those of you who have taken the YouTube Security For Creators course know you need to have a special Gmail account to protect your YouTube channel.
And you know that the email account has a very specific function and how it should be used and how it should not be used.
Does that mean your account is going to be deleted?
What’s going on with Google?
Google has announced that “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) and Google Photos.”
This may be true for Gmail accounts with no activity, however, this should NOT impact any account associated with YouTube channel. The announcement post states: “Additionally, we do not have plans to delete accounts with YouTube videos at this time.”
Do this if you are worried:
In order to ensure that Google doesn’t delete your account, you need to show some activity on that account.
The simplest and safest way is to open a new Incognito browser window sign in with your “hidden” Gmail account, and do one of the following actions:
- Send Email – remember not to expose this email to anyone else therefore send an email to one of your active email addresses. Do not reply to that email.
- Use Google – do a search on Google but do not click on anything. Watch a YouTube video but do not comment.
These will count as activities and should save that account from being deleted.
For more info, see the official Google post: https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/updating-our-inactive-account-policies/
Keep safe out there,
Liron Segev
