What is Account Inactivity?
Account inactivity means you haven't logged in or performed any operation in your pCloud account. This includes:
- Not logging into my.pCloud.com
- Not accessing files through pCloud Drive
- Not using the mobile apps
- Not uploading or downloading files
- Not sharing files or folders
- Not accessing shared content
Important: There is NO inactivity clause for paid users. Even if you are inactive, your account and the content there will stay permanently.
Free (Basic) Account Inactivity Rules
If you have a free pCloud account (Basic plan), specific inactivity rules apply:
12-Month Inactivity Period:
If there is no activity in your free pCloud account over a period of 12 months:
- You will receive several email notifications from pCloud warning about inactivity
- If you remain inactive for 12 months, your pCloud account will be closed
- Your files will be scheduled for deletion
- To keep your account active, simply log in to your pCloud account
Important: After 12 months of inactivity, free pCloud accounts are permanently deleted, along with the files inside.
Email Verification Requirement:
In addition to the inactivity rule, free accounts must verify their email address:
- If you haven't verified your email address for your Basic pCloud account, you will receive email notifications
- If you don't verify your Basic account, it will be closed and your files will be scheduled for deletion
- Verification must be completed within 30 days of account creation
Inactivity Warnings and Notifications
For Basic (free) accounts approaching the inactivity threshold:
Email Notification Timeline:
- First warning: Sent before the 12-month mark
- Subsequent reminders: Multiple notifications as the deadline approaches
- Final warning: Last chance to log in before account closure
- Deletion notice: Confirmation that the account has been scheduled for deletion
Important: Check your email regularly, including spam folders, for pCloud notifications. The email address team@pcloud.com is used for system emails.
What Happens When Subscription Ends
If you stop paying for your Premium subscription or your files exceed your available storage, different rules apply than inactivity:
Grace Period and Downgrade:
- You get a 5-day grace period when your subscription ends
- After the grace period, your account turns into Basic (free)
- Your space is downgraded to the currently available free storage
Files Exceeding Quota:
- Any files beyond the free quota will remain in your account for 30 days
- After 30 days, files exceeding your storage space will be moved to the Trash on a random basis
- Deleted files will be kept in the Trash for another 15 days
- During this time, you can upgrade your plan and retrieve the files
Important: This is different from account inactivity. Even if you're actively using your account, files may be deleted if you exceed your storage quota after a subscription ends.
Preventing Account Closure
To keep your Basic account active and prevent closure:
Simple Steps:
- Log in to your pCloud account at least once every 12 months
- Verify your email address within 30 days of creating your account
- Keep your email address current so you receive notifications
- Respond to inactivity warnings by logging in
Long-Term Solutions:
- Upgrade to a Premium, Premium Plus, or Lifetime plan to eliminate inactivity concerns
- Set calendar reminders to log in at least twice a year
- Enable automatic uploads from your mobile device to maintain activity
- Use pCloud as your active file storage rather than just backup
Recovering an Inactive Account
If you've received inactivity warnings:
- Log in to my.pCloud.com immediately with your credentials
- Check your files to ensure everything is intact
- Verify your email address if you haven't already
- Consider upgrading to a paid plan for peace of mind
Warning: Once an account is permanently deleted after 12 months of inactivity, it cannot be recovered. pCloud cannot restore deleted accounts or their files.
Account Inactivity vs. File Deletion
It's important to understand the difference:
Account Inactivity (Basic accounts only):
- Based on not logging in or using the account
- 12-month period before account closure
- Multiple warnings sent via email
- Entire account and all files are deleted
Storage Quota Exceeded (All account types):
- Based on storage space usage after subscription ends
- 30-day period before files are moved to Trash
- 15 additional days in Trash before permanent deletion
- Only files exceeding quota are affected
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will I lose my files if I don't log in for a few months?
A: If you have a paid pCloud plan, no. These accounts have no inactivity clause. For Basic (free) accounts, you have 12 months before any action is taken.
Q: What happens to shared folders if my account becomes inactive?
A: If your Basic account is closed due to inactivity, any folders you've shared with others will also become inaccessible. Other users will lose access to those shared folders.
Q: Can I reactivate a deleted inactive account?
A: No. Once an account is permanently deleted after 12 months of inactivity, it cannot be recovered. You would need to create a new account.
Q: Do I need to upload or download files to count as activity?
A: No. Simply logging into your pCloud account (web, desktop, or mobile) counts as activity and resets the inactivity timer.
Q: Will my Lifetime account ever expire?
A: Lifetime accounts are defined as 99 years or the lifetime of the account holder, whichever is shorter. There is no inactivity clause for Lifetime accounts.