Google is warning Google Drive users not to delete their files … Here are the details

Last Wednesday, Google announced an update to storage policies through the Google Account. This update includes Gmail, Google Drive, and the Google Photos service, but most sites and news only focus on the changes that will occur in the Google Photos service while ignoring a few other important changes.

Google has announced the end of the free unlimited backup feature of the Google Photos service, as it will count any new image or video that you upload with high quality in the service into the free storage space available in your Google Account of 15 Go or whatever. I purchased additional storage space as a member of (Google One), effective June 1.

In addition, emails and attachments in Gmail, including: (Spam) and (Trash) folders, and all files saved in Google Drive – including: documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, forms , Jamboard and PDF files – will be counted in this storage space at your disposal. .

Importantly, Google announced a new policy for accounts that are inactive or those that have exceeded their storage capacity through Gmail, Google Drive, and the imaging service, stating the following:

• If your account has been inactive in one or more of these services for two years (24 months), Google will remove the content from the service after that period.
• If you go over your storage limit for two or more years and don’t remove anything or buy additional storage space, Google will remove all content saved in its products that you have used.

Will Google contact you before removing content from the service?

Yes; When you stop using a Google service for two years, Google will send you an email notification and notifications within the service itself, as it will contact you for at least three months before permanently deleting the content. This gives you the option of avoiding deletion by reactivating your account on the service or downloading content from the service before deleting it.

important note: You have to activate your account in each Google service separately, for example: if you have been inactive for two years in the service (Google Photos), but are still active in Gmail and Google Drive, Google will delete the content saved in the service (Google Photos) only, but the content of other services will remain the same if your account is active for them.

How to keep your account active for each service you use:

Google says, “The easiest way to keep your account active is to regularly sign in to your account in Gmail, Google Drive, or Google Photos through the web or mobile app.”

It should be noted that you can have multiple accounts configured on your device, so they must all be activated, as activity is considered per account and not per device. So be sure to use the services for any accounts you want to keep active periodically.