It’s not just Gmail, Apple will delete your inactive iCloud account faster than Google

[enaph]

Content source

https://www.macworld.com/article/1920668/google-icloud-account-gmail-delete-inactivity.html

People are upset with Google this week over a change in its policy. While the company previously let people open and keep accounts forever, starting in December, an account that “has not been used or signed into for at least 2 years” may be deleted.

Google says it will send multiple notifications over the months leading up to account deletion to both the account email address and the recovery email to make sure the person has a chance to log in and save their account. Once deleted, accounts will not be recycled and the email address will remain out of circulation.


It might seem like a drastic change, but it’s not unreasonable. Nor is it out of step with what Apple does. In fact, Apple will delete an inactive account a lot quicker than Google will and seemingly with less warning. Here’s what Apple says in its iCloud terms:

In addition, Apple may terminate your Account upon 30 days’ prior notice via email to the address associated with your Account if (a) your Account has been inactive for one (1) year; or (b) there is a general discontinuance of the Service or any part thereof.

Apple explains that terminated accounts “may lose all access to the Service and any portions thereof, including, but not limited to, your Account, Apple ID, email account, and Content. In addition, after a period of time, Apple will delete information and data stored in or as a part of your account(s). Any individual components of the Service that you may have used subject to separate software license agreements will also be terminated in accordance with those license agreements.”

There are several reports on Apple’s forums of Apple following through on this threat, so if you have an older Apple ID, it’s best to log in every few months to make sure Apple won’t delete it.

It's not just Gmail, Apple will delete your inactive iCloud account faster than Google

PSA: Apple may terminate your account after a year of inactivity.

www.macworld.com

 

[Ink]

About Inactive Account Manager - Google Account Help

Inactive Account Manager is a way for users to share parts of their account data or notify someone if they’ve been inactive for a certain period of time. To set it up, go to your Inactive Account Ma

support.google.com

About your Google Photos activity & storage - Google Photos Help

Photos or videos you back up in Storage saver, Original quality, or Express quality will count towards your 15 GB of Google Account cloud storage or any additional storage you may have purchased as a

support.google.com

If you're inactive in Google Photos for 2 or more years, or if you're out of storage, your Photos content may be deleted.

 

[MuzzMelbourne]

When I first started using Apple stuff I would forget login details and ended up creating several Apple ID's which, over the years, caused multiple problems for me so I'm rather happy they delete older stuff. I haven't had a problem for years.

 

[simmerskool]

When I first started using Apple stuff I would forget login details and ended up creating several Apple ID's which, over the years, caused multiple problems for me so I'm rather happy they delete older stuff. I haven't had a problem for years.

me too had some sort of AppleID cross-contamination with my son's, finally got it sorted out...

 

[HarborFront]

I have a very old apple account when I was using the 4e then but not using now. Hope Apple can delete it

 

[Zero Knowledge]

OK sure delete the inactive accounts that's fine but are they going to let people re-register those deleted accounts usernames?

If they are then it's bad news and will cause serious problems but if the inactive accounts stay deleted, then that's good.

 

[Ink]

… ended up creating several Apple ID’s which, over the years, caused multiple problems for me.

I have a very old apple account when I was using the 4e then but not using now.

If you know the login details, you can do it yourself. Go to Data & Privacy and Delete your account.