Google recently announced new storage policies for Google accounts using Gmail, Google Drive (including Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms and Jamboard files) and/or Google Photos that can make you lose your documents, pictures, files etc if you are in-active for two years. 

Summary of the new policies (effective 1 June 2021):
  • If you're inactive for two years (24 months) in Gmail, Drive or Photos, Google may delete the content in the product(s) in which you're inactive. Google One members who are within their storage quota and in good standing will not be impacted by this new inactive policy.
  • If you exceed your storage limit for two years, Google may delete your content across Gmail, Drive and Photos.
What this means for you:
  • You won't be impacted by these changes unless you've been inactive or over your storage limit for two years. As this policy goes into effect 1 June 2021, the earliest it would be enforced is 1 June 2023.
  • After 1 June 2021, if you are either inactive or over your storage limit, Google will send you email reminders and notifications in advance and prior to deleting any content.
  • Even if you are either inactive or over your storage limit for one or more of these services and content is deleted, you will still be able to sign in.
Note: The inactivity and over-quota storage policies will apply only to consumer users of Google services. Google Workspace, G Suite for Education and G Suite for Nonprofits policies are not changing at this time, and admins should look to the Admin Help Centre for storage policies related to their subscriptions.

These new policies will be effective from 1 June 2021. For some people, this announcement is not a problem. However, for so many people who saved documents, important emails, files, etc. to their accounts with the hope of coming back to it at any time they are in need of it, it is important for them to get this information. So, please share with your friends.