How to recover your deleted Google account?

In May 2023, Google announced a policy change, giving users six months to take steps to keep their accounts active. That's why, starting December 1, 2023, Google began deleting inactive accounts. And this is a luxury we can't afford in the digital age.

Our Google accounts have become essential for accessing a wide variety of services on both mobile and other devices. From email and cloud storage to maps and video platforms, Google offers us a complete ecosystem for managing our daily lives. However, it's important to be aware of the company's policies, as Google may delete accounts that remain inactive for a certain period.

Recovering a deleted Google account can be a complicated process, and its success depends on several factors, such as how long it's been since the account was deleted and whether the account was part of a paid service or a standard Google account. Below, I've provided a detailed step-by-step guide based on official and reliable Google sources for attempting to recover a deleted account.

Step 1: Check if your account can still be recovered

If your Google account was recently deleted, you may still have time to recover it. Google offers a limited timeframe for recovering deleted accounts, which is typically 20 days from the date the account was deleted.

• Action : Sign in to your Google account via this link .
• Expected outcome : If the account is still within the recovery window, you can easily restore it. If you can't log in and see a message indicating the account can't be recovered, the window may have passed.

Step 2: Try to recover your account using the recovery form

Google offers a specific form for account recovery. You must follow the steps below:

1. Go to the account recovery page : Go to Google Account Recovery .
2. Enter your email address : In the corresponding field, enter the email address of the deleted account.
3. Follow the wizard : The recovery wizard will ask you a series of questions about your account. These may include:
   • Security questions (if you previously set them up).
   • Last password you remember.
   • Information related to your account activity.
4. Identity verification : Google will send a verification code to an email or phone number associated with your account, if you provided that information in your recovery settings.

If successful, you can restore your account by following the instructions.

Step 3: Check your inbox (if possible)

If the account is still in the deletion process, Google may have sent you a notification email about the account deletion. If you have access to another email account or a phone associated with it, look for that email. That message may offer you the option to reverse the deletion.

• Action : Check your recovery email, as well as any notifications that may have arrived on your mobile device.
• Expected outcome : If you received an email from Google allowing you to cancel the deletion, follow the instructions provided in the message.

Step 4: Consider using Google support (if it's a business account)

If you have a Google Workspace (formerly known as G Suite) or business account, you can try to recover your account through your domain administrator or contact Google Support directly.

1. If you're a Google Workspace administrator , go to your admin panel and check if you can restore the deleted account from there. Google Workspace allows administrators to recover deleted accounts within 30 days.
2. If you are not the administrator, contact them to perform the restore.

Step 5: If the account cannot be recovered, create a new one

If the steps above don't work and it's been more than 20 days since deletion, you may not be able to recover your Google account.

In this case, you can choose to create a new Google account:

1. Go to Create a Google Account .
2. Complete the required fields and follow the instructions to create an account.
3. On your new account, be sure to set up account recovery methods (such as an alternate phone number and email address) to avoid future issues.

Additional tips

• Prevent accidental deletion : Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect your account from unauthorized access. This can prevent your account from being deleted without your consent.

• Keep your recovery information up to date : Make sure your recovery phone number and email are always up to date in your Google account settings.

Summary

Recovering a deleted Google account depends on several factors, including the type of account and how long it's been since it was deleted. If the deletion was recent, you can try to recover it using Google's recovery form. If that's not successful, you'll need to consider other options, such as creating a new account or contacting Google support if it's a business account.

It's important to always consult official sources like Google Support, as procedures may change over time.