How to set up your Google Account so that it deletes itself after your death

If you use Gmail, Google Maps, Google Search, and other Google products, it is likely that the company will store a lot of information about you on its servers. You can configure certain options, such as giving control to a spouse, or deleting everything automatically after your death or if your account is idle for a while.

Here's how to tell Google what to do automatically with all your personal information if you stop using Google products for a predetermined period of time, such as if you die.

• Visit myaccount.google.com.
• Tap "Data and Personalization".
• Scroll down and select "Create a plan for your account."
• Click on "Start".

Google will allow you to start configuring what you need to do if you stop using its services.

So do this:

• Choose how long Google has to wait after finding that you are completely inactive. The default is three months of inactivity, but you can configure it to wait up to 18 months. Google has announced that it will arrive a month before time is up with e-mails and SMS before your account becomes officially inactive.
• Enter your phone number where Google will try to reach you by SMS before deleting anything.
• Make sure your contact email is correct, as well as your recovery if you are stuck on your account.
• Click Next.

Next, you'll define who can access your information or manage your accounts, as well as what users will see after you've been through Google services or when you die.

• Enter up to 10 contacts that Google will contact after finding you were idle. You'll also be able to choose what data can be shared with them, including your contacts, Google Chrome history, Gmail, Google Photos, and more. They will be able to access all these data for three months after your account has become inactive. I recommend choosing a spouse or close friend because they will be able to see everything.
• Create an automatic reply that will automatically be sent from your Gmail account when it becomes inactive. You can indicate here that you no longer use Gmail or have died. (You can choose to send this message only to your contacts so that spam accounts do not receive your answer.)
• Next hit.
• Finally, you will choose if you want your account to be automatically deleted after its inactivity and after three months of contact to be able to access and recover everything they might want to save. The Google site indicates that this includes publicly shared information, such as YouTube videos.
• Click on "Review Plan".
• Press "Confirm Plan".

You have now officially set up your Google Account so that it will act automatically if you die and you stop using it – or if you simply give up all Google services and do not delete your account manually.

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