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    2 min read 5 stepsApril 16, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Set Up Google's Inactive Account Manager

    Tell Google what to do with your Gmail, Drive, and Photos if your account becomes inactive — you can choose to share or delete your data.

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Go to your Google account settings
    2. 2.Set your inactivity timeout period
    3. 3.Add a trusted contact
    4. 4.Choose what data to share with them
    5. 5.Optionally set automatic deletion
    1

    Go to your Google account settings

    ~15s
    Sign in to your Google account and go to myaccount.google.com. Under the "Data & Privacy" section, scroll down and click "Make a plan for your account" or search for "Inactive Account Manager."
    2

    Set your inactivity timeout period

    ~15s
    Choose how long Google should wait before considering your account inactive: 3, 6, 12, or 18 months of no sign-ins. Google will send you an alert before this period ends so you can sign in if you are still active.
    3

    Add a trusted contact

    ~15s
    Click "Add person" to name someone who will be notified when your account becomes inactive. Enter their phone number and email address. You can add up to 10 people.
    4

    Choose what data to share with them

    ~15s
    For each trusted contact, select which parts of your Google account they can download: Gmail, Drive, Photos, Calendar, and so on. They will receive a download link with that data.
    5

    Optionally set automatic deletion

    ~15s
    After your trusted contacts have been notified, you can also instruct Google to delete your entire account. If you prefer your account to simply be preserved without anyone accessing it, you can skip this step.

    You Did It!

    You've completed: How to Set Up Google's Inactive Account Manager

    Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

    Google's Inactive Account Manager is a free tool that lets you decide in advance what happens to your Google account data — your Gmail, Google Photos, Google Drive files, and more — if you stop using your account for a set period of time. You can choose to have Google notify a trusted contact who can then download your data, or you can instruct Google to delete the account automatically after a period of inactivity.

    Setting this up takes about 10 minutes and is one of the most thoughtful things you can do for your family ahead of time. Without these instructions, your Google account may remain active indefinitely after you pass away, or your family may have a very difficult time gaining access to it.

    You can find Inactive Account Manager in your Google account settings at myaccount.google.com/inactive-account-manager.

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    How to Set Up Google's Inactive Account Manager — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure