Delete or recover Gmail messages - Computer (2024)

FAQs

How to recover permanently deleted emails from Gmail on computer? ›

Important: You can't recover messages that are permanently deleted or messages that have been in the trash for more than 30 days. If you deleted your messages in the last 30 days, you can move them out of your trash.

For up to 30 days after deleting, users can recover their own messages from the Trash by following the steps in Recover deleted Gmail messages. After 30 days, messages are permanently deleted from the Trash, and can't be restored from the Trash by users or administrators.

How far back does Gmail keep emails? Gmail can keep emails indefinitely. However, your individual email messages may be deleted after 2 years of inactivity. If your account (across all Google products) exceeds 15GB, you'll be unable to receive new emails.

To get started, head to g.co/recover and enter your Gmail address. If possible, try the following to make recovery easier: Use a computer, phone, or tablet you've previously used to sign into your account. Use the same browser that you usually do, like Chrome or Safari.

You can export and download your data from Gmail. You can download data that hasn't been deleted. You can create an archive to keep for your records or use the data in another service.

If your Gmail emails have been permanently deleted for more than 25 days, like 1 year, 2 years, or more, you cannot restore them in this way. So, if you wonder how to recover deleted emails from Gmail after 2 years, it's not possible in this way unless you backed them up before, like using Google Takeout emails.

Does deleting emails actually delete them? ›

Does Deleting an Email Delete it from the Recipient? No! Unfortunately, deleting an email from your account does not delete it from the recipient's account. It only deletes your copy of the email and does not affect the recipient's email copy that resides in their “inbox” folder.

Community content may not be verified or up-to-date. Learn more. Fortunately, Gmail does not delete any messages from your account (other than Trash and Spam after about 30-days). This includes if the account gets full (you just can't receive any NEW e-mail).

Google reserves the right to delete an inactive Google Account and its activity and data if you are inactive across Google for at least two years.

Once your account is permanently deleted, there is no way to recover it.

If you don't want your Gmail address and emails anymore, you can remove them from your Google Account. Deleting them won't delete your entire Google Account.

If you deleted your Google Account recently, it may still be recoverable. If you can successfully complete account recovery, you'll be able to sign in as usual and access your account data. To get started, head to g.co/recover and enter your Gmail address. Important: Not all deleted accounts can be recovered.