Gmail inboxes show up empty


An email account that is available from anywhere on any device and that has effectively unlimited storage sounds like a good idea, but what happens when the provider of that service accidentally wipes out your emails? All of them?

That is apparently what happened to about .08% of all Gmail users over the weekend. Now that’s a tiny fraction of all Gmail users, but if you’re one of them you likely don’t care how many others were impacted.

So what to do? Should you stick with the free service or move to another provider?

While moving is always an option, you’re probably pretty fond of Gmail and would prefer to stay. That being the case, the Lee Mathews over at downloadsquad.com have created a handy guide to backing up your Gmail inbox, something that should probably be done monthly to avoid headaches.

Readers, have you been affected by the glitch? Are you a happy Gmailer or do use another email platform and if so, why? Do you ever back up your email?

[Engadget via Downloadsquad]

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4 comments

  1. Systematic_Crash

    I was one of said 150,000 accounts affected. It started at approx. 2:00 pm EST. It began with ALL of my stored emails (3-4 years’ worth) in my gmail account inexplicably being erased. At first, I figured my account had been hacked. So I lost all my emails — not a game-ender. I honestly rarely referenced any emails older than a month anyways. I did what any responsible email user would do in my predicament would do — change my password.

    Fast forward 8 hours. I went to check my gmail hoping somehow my emails had magically been returned to me. To my dismay, I discovered that my google account had been “deactivated”. DANGER, WILL ROBINSON — DANGEEEERRR!!! So I filled out the “I believe my account has been disabled by error” form and spent a sleepless night wondering if I’d ever get my google account back.

    I also own an Android-powered smartphone. This means that 1/2 the functions of my cell are effectively crippled. I am Jack’s complete feeling of helplessness and loss.

    Please. Help. Must. Have. Google. Account. Restored.

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  3. Johan

    It happened to me as well.
    I think it probably affected more accounts than what they are saying.
    Now if only my Shaw email account was accessible from my iPhone….

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  4. Coby

    Okay so this explains why I have not received any email last weekend… Well problems like that really happens (i mean system is not so perfect). I just hope the problem will not happen again.

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