Hey everyone,
I’m looking to clean up my Gmail account. It’s got tons of old emails from way back in 2004. I’ve already saved everything in an MBOX file to view offline.
Now I want to get rid of all those old messages but keep using my Gmail address for new stuff. What’s the best way to do this? I’m wondering:
- If I just delete them normally, will Google still have copies?
- Should I ask Google to delete everything? (I live in the EU)
- Will asking Google to delete data mess up my whole account?
I really want to keep my email address but not have Google holding onto my whole life history. Any advice on how to do this safely?
Thanks for your help!
hey sophiac, been there! deleting em normally should be fine, google might keep some data but who knows. eu laws are pretty strict so requesting deletion could work. just be careful not to nuke ur whole account lol. try deleting in chunks to be safe? good luck cleaning up!
I’ve actually gone through a similar process with my Gmail account recently. From my experience, deleting messages normally through the interface doesn’t completely remove them from Google’s servers immediately. They tend to linger in the background for a while.
What worked well for me was using Google’s Data Export tool to download everything first, then gradually deleting emails in batches over a few weeks. This approach seemed to keep my account stable while still clearing out the clutter.
As for EU data protection, you could try submitting a formal request to Google for complete data deletion. Just be very specific about what you want removed to avoid any issues with your active account. It might take some back-and-forth communication, but it’s doable if you’re patient.
Remember to double-check your contacts and important settings before making any major changes. Good luck with your cleanup!
I’ve gone through a similar process and can share my experience. Deleting emails normally doesn’t guarantee complete removal from Google’s servers immediately. They may retain data for some time.
What worked for me was using Google’s Takeout service to export everything first. Then, I used filters to delete emails in batches over several weeks. This method helped maintain account stability while clearing out old messages.
Regarding EU data protection, you could submit a formal request to Google for specific data deletion. Be precise about what you want removed to avoid complications with your active account. It might require some back-and-forth, but it’s feasible with patience.
Before making significant changes, ensure you’ve backed up important contacts and settings. The process takes time, but it’s worth it for peace of mind and a cleaner inbox.