The Issue
Many Google users have recently noticed that their saved passwords have disappeared from their Google accounts. This can be frustrating and concerning, as it means you’ve lost access to passwords you had stored for convenience. There are a few potential reasons your Google passwords may have been deleted.
Google Policy Changes
One possibility is that Google made a policy change regarding saved passwords. Google occasionally updates their security policies, which can result in previously saved passwords no longer being stored.
For example, in 2021 Google stopped allowing passwords to be saved in plain text in the browser. They now require all saved passwords to be encrypted. This meant that any plain text passwords users had stored were deleted when the policy took effect.
It’s possible a similar policy change by Google resulted in your stored passwords being removed. Google may have determined certain types of saved passwords present a security risk, and deleted passwords meeting that criteria across user accounts.
Account Security Issues
Another potential reason your Google passwords disappeared is unexpected activity in your account triggered a security response.
If Google detects suspicious activity that makes them question the security of your account, they may take actions like resetting your password or deleting saved credentials as a precaution.
For example, if your account was accessed from a suspicious IP address, or there were multiple failed login attempts, Google could interpret that as a possible security breach. Deleting your saved passwords would be a way to prevent unauthorized access to your other online accounts.
Bug or Technical Glitch
There is also a chance your Google passwords being deleted could simply be the result of a bug or technical issue.
Bugs in Google’s systems do occur, and sometimes they inadvertently result in data like saved passwords being lost or removed incorrectly. Certain system updates or maintenance on their servers could also cause temporary glitches that affect saved credentials.
If the issue is due to a bug, it’s likely the problem is not isolated to just your account. Other users may be experiencing similar password deletion issues.
How to Recover Deleted Passwords
Regardless of what caused your saved passwords to disappear, the next step is attempting to recover or reset them so you can access your accounts. Here are some tips:
Use Password Manager Backup
If you were using a third-party password manager integrated with your Google account, check if that password manager has its own cloud backup. For example, LastPass and 1Password can store password backups that may allow you to restore your full list of passwords.
Reset Passwords Manually
Unfortunately, if you were solely relying on Google to store your passwords, they are likely gone for good when deleted. Your best option is to manually reset the passwords for each affected account.
Start by making a list of websites and accounts you frequently logged into through Google. Then visit each one and use the “Forgot Password” flow to reset your password and log back in. Be sure to create a new strong password for each account.
Turn On 2-Factor Authentication
As you reset passwords, take the opportunity to add an extra layer of security through multi-factor authentication.
Set up SMS or app-based 2FA like Google Authenticator on every account that supports it. This means you’ll need to enter a verification code from your phone when logging in, preventing unauthorized access.
Use a Password Manager
Once you’ve secured your accounts, start using a dedicated password manager such as LastPass, 1Password, or Dashlane to generate and store strong, unique passwords for each account.
This will prevent you from ever losing access to passwords again. Be sure to backup your password manager regularly as well.
Why Google Deletes Saved Passwords
Now that you’ve recovered account access, you may still be wondering exactly why Google deleted your passwords in the first place. Here are the most common reasons Google removes saved credentials:
Expired or Outdated Passwords
For security purposes, Google will periodically delete any saved passwords that are determined to be old, outdated, or otherwise expired. This encourages users to regularly update passwords.
They want to minimize how long you are using the same credentials, as old passwords are more likely to be compromised. Deleting expired passwords forces users to enter new ones.
Inactive Accounts
Google will delete saved passwords associated with accounts that have been inactive for an extended time. For example, if you haven’t logged into a certain account via Google for over 6 months, they will remove the saved password.
This reduces the number of unused credentials stored in their systems, minimizing security risks. It also frees up storage space on their servers.
Suspicious Security Activity
As mentioned previously, Google will delete ALL saved passwords if they detect any suspicious activity that indicates a possible security breach.
Having your Google account accessed from an unknown location or device is an example. Large numbers of failed login attempts will also raise red flags resulting in deletion of credentials.
Policy Changes
Google does periodically change their security policies regarding storage of passwords and other sensitive data. Whenever new policies take effect, any saved passwords that violate the new rules will be removed from user accounts.
For example, Google decided in 2021 to only allow encrypted password storage, resulting in old unencrypted passwords being deleted.
Bugs and Technical Issues
In some cases, passwords may be deleted due to simple technical problems or software bugs. Some users have reported losing passwords after updates or server migrations.
While rare, glitches can cause data loss. And given the complexity of Google’s systems, stored credentials can be impacted by these bugs.
How to Prevent Future Password Deletion
Now that you know why Google may have deleted your passwords, here are some tips to avoid losing credentials again in the future:
Use a Password Manager
As mentioned, the most secure option is using a dedicated password manager like LastPass or Dashlane rather than relying on a browser to store passwords. These services have robust backup features to prevent password loss.
Enable 2-Factor Authentication
Adding an extra verification step like 2FA will enhance the security of your accounts. Even if passwords are lost, it will prevent unauthorized access by cybercriminals.
Frequently Update Passwords
Make a habit of updating your passwords for your important accounts every 60-90 days. This will prevent passwords from becoming too old and expired, prompting deletion by Google.
Monitor Account Activity
Keep an eye out for any suspicious security alerts related to your Google account. Unusual activity like logins from new locations can be a sign that deletion of passwords may occur as a security measure.
Conclusion
Having your saved passwords suddenly deleted by Google can be disruptive, but in most cases the issue can be resolved by resetting passwords and enhancing account security.
To avoid being locked out of your accounts again in the future, start using a dedicated password manager with backup features, enable 2-factor authentication everywhere possible, and make updating your passwords a regular habit.
With good password hygiene practices, you can avoid ever losing access to your accounts, even if Google were to delete your credentials again down the road.