In today's digital-first world, your Google account often holds more than just emails. It can contain family photos, business records, financial documents, and personal memories stored across Gmail, Drive, and Google Photos. But what happens if you are inactive for a long period or something unexpected occurs? Without a plan, loved ones may struggle to access important information. Google's Inactive Account Manager offers a solution. It allows you to set up a digital legacy plan, deciding who should be notified and what data they can access if your account goes inactive. This ensures your family or trusted contacts can retrieve essential files without compromising your privacy.
Steps to set up a digital legacy plan for your Google account
Visit Google Account settings
Log in to your Google account and open the settings menu to access privacy and data options.
Open Inactive Account Manager
Navigate to Data and Privacy and look for Inactive Account Manager or digital legacy settings.
Choose inactivity period
Set how long Google should wait before treating your account as inactive, from 3 months to 18 months.
Add trusted contacts
Select family members or trusted individuals who should be notified if your account becomes inactive.
Select data to share
Decide which Google services (like Gmail, Drive, or Photos) your contacts can access.
Review and confirm settings
Check your preferences carefully and update or remove access when no longer needed.
Note: This step is especially important if your account contains family memories, business records, or financial documents. Delegating access ensures continuity while protecting sensitive information.
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