{"id":33130,"date":"2013-04-12T23:01:10","date_gmt":"2013-04-12T17:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=33130"},"modified":"2026-10-13T13:41:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T08:11:47","slug":"setup-your-google-inactive-account-manager-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/04\/setup-your-google-inactive-account-manager-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Inactive Account Manager: How to Set It Up (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What happens to your Google account if you die or stop using it? Google Inactive Account Manager lets you decide. You choose who gets your data, such as Gmail, Photos, Drive and YouTube, and whether your account is deleted after a period of inactivity. When Google launched it in April 2013, I urged everyone to set it up that day. It matters even more in 2026, because Google now deletes personal accounts that have been inactive for two years if no plan is in place.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-63864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-inactive-account-manager-1024x538.webp\" alt=\"Google Inactive Account Manager setup\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-inactive-account-manager-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-inactive-account-manager-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-inactive-account-manager-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-inactive-account-manager-768x403.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-inactive-account-manager.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> To set up Google Inactive Account Manager, go to myaccount.google.com\/inactive, choose how long Google should wait before treating your account as inactive, add up to 10 trusted contacts and the data each one can download, optionally set a Gmail auto-reply, and choose whether to delete your account afterwards. Google warns you by phone and email before anything happens.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ae1f483222b1\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ae1f483222b1\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/04\/setup-your-google-inactive-account-manager-today\/#How_to_set_up_Google_Inactive_Account_Manager\" >How to set up Google Inactive Account Manager<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/04\/setup-your-google-inactive-account-manager-today\/#What_happens_when_your_account_becomes_inactive\" >What happens when your account becomes inactive<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/04\/setup-your-google-inactive-account-manager-today\/#Googles_two-year_inactive_account_policy\" >Google&#8217;s two-year inactive account policy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/04\/setup-your-google-inactive-account-manager-today\/#Why_you_should_set_it_up_today\" >Why you should set it up today<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/04\/setup-your-google-inactive-account-manager-today\/#Plan_your_other_accounts_too\" >Plan your other accounts too<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/04\/setup-your-google-inactive-account-manager-today\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/04\/setup-your-google-inactive-account-manager-today\/#How_long_before_Google_considers_my_account_inactive\" >How long before Google considers my account inactive?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/04\/setup-your-google-inactive-account-manager-today\/#Can_my_family_access_my_Google_account_after_I_die\" >Can my family access my Google account after I die?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/04\/setup-your-google-inactive-account-manager-today\/#Can_I_change_my_plan_later\" >Can I change my plan later?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/04\/setup-your-google-inactive-account-manager-today\/#Does_Inactive_Account_Manager_work_for_Google_Workspace_accounts\" >Does Inactive Account Manager work for Google Workspace accounts?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_set_up_Google_Inactive_Account_Manager\"><\/span>How to set up Google Inactive Account Manager<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <a href=\"https:\/\/myaccount.google.com\/inactive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Inactive Account Manager<\/a> in your Google Account and click <strong>Start<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Choose the waiting period:<\/strong> pick how many months of inactivity count as inactive.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Confirm your contact details:<\/strong> add a phone number and recovery email so Google can warn you before the period ends.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Add trusted contacts:<\/strong> choose up to 10 people to notify. For each, pick which data they can download, such as Gmail, Photos or Drive.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Set an auto-reply (optional):<\/strong> Gmail can send a message to people who email you after your account becomes inactive.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Decide on deletion:<\/strong> choose whether Google should delete your account after notifying your contacts.<\/li>\n<li>Review and save your plan.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-timeout.png\" alt=\"google inactive account timeout setting\" width=\"500\" height=\"237\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_when_your_account_becomes_inactive\"><\/span>What happens when your account becomes inactive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Google counts activity such as signing in, using Gmail or searching while signed in.<\/li>\n<li>Before the waiting period ends, Google sends warnings to your phone and recovery email.<\/li>\n<li>If you still do not respond, your trusted contacts get the email you wrote and, if you chose, a link to download your data.<\/li>\n<li>If you chose deletion, your Google Account and its data are deleted, and your Gmail address cannot be reused.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>See <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/accounts\/answer\/3036546\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google&#8217;s Inactive Account Manager help<\/a> for full details.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Googles_two-year_inactive_account_policy\"><\/span>Google&#8217;s two-year inactive account policy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Since 2023, Google may delete personal Google Accounts that have been inactive across Google for at least two years, along with their Gmail, Drive, Photos and other content. Signing in occasionally keeps an account active. Setting up Inactive Account Manager lets you decide what happens instead of leaving it to the default policy.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_you_should_set_it_up_today\"><\/span>Why you should set it up today<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Every day we store photos, emails, files and videos that our families may want one day, or private information we would rather have deleted. In 2013 the tool covered services like Blogger, Contacts, Drive, Gmail, Google+, Picasa Web Albums, Google Voice and YouTube. Google+ and Picasa are gone, but your Google Photos, Gmail and Drive likely hold more than ever. Setting up a plan takes about five minutes.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Plan_your_other_accounts_too\"><\/span>Plan your other accounts too<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Apple:<\/strong> add a Legacy Contact in your Apple Account settings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Facebook and Instagram:<\/strong> choose a legacy contact or memorialisation settings. You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2013\/01\/how-to-download-all-your-facebook-data\/\">download all your Facebook data<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Password manager:<\/strong> many offer emergency access for a trusted person.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_before_Google_considers_my_account_inactive\"><\/span>How long before Google considers my account inactive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You choose the waiting period in Inactive Account Manager. Without a plan, Google&#8217;s policy applies to accounts inactive for two years.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_my_family_access_my_Google_account_after_I_die\"><\/span>Can my family access my Google account after I die?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Only the data you shared through Inactive Account Manager is sent automatically. Otherwise, family can submit a request to Google, which reviews each case.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_change_my_plan_later\"><\/span>Can I change my plan later?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Open Inactive Account Manager at any time to edit or turn off your plan.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_Inactive_Account_Manager_work_for_Google_Workspace_accounts\"><\/span>Does Inactive Account Manager work for Google Workspace accounts?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It is mainly for personal accounts. Work and school accounts follow their organisation&#8217;s rules.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What happens to your Google account if you die or stop using it? Google Inactive Account Manager lets you decide&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":63864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-google","category-security"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33130"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65475,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33130\/revisions\/65475"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}