Millions of Gmail users issued final ‘purge’ warning as some accounts will be deleted next month – save yours today

GOOGLE users have been warned their account faces deletion next month as part of a huge clear out.

The tech giant first announced its purge plan in May.

There’s not much time leftSOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett

It’s designed to cull inactive accounts that haven’t been signed into for years.

So if you regularly use yours, you’re fine.

But accounts that haven’t been used or signed in to for at least two years face being deleted.

This means losing Gmail and any other Google services associated with it.

So data stored on Docs, Drive, Meet, Calendar and Photos will be gone forever.

The deadline has been set for December 1, which is just over three weeks away.

Google says it’s taking a phased approach, so all old accounts won’t disappear at once.

The firm says that by deleting old accounts, it can save them from being hacked by cybercrooks who break in to carry out identity theft and spam.

It’s sending users multiple notification warnings before going ahead with deleting them so people have a chance to save them if they wish.

How to save my Google account from being deleted

Google says 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,” the company explains.

Some ways to keep your account active include:

Reading or sending an email

Using Google Drive

Watching a YouTube video

Downloading a Google Play Store app

Using Google Search

Using Sign In With Google for a third-party app or service

If you have an active subscription like Google One, your account will also stay safe from deletion.

And any Google account with YouTube videos uploaded will be protected from removal.

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