Google Admin | Suspend Users vs Delete User

As a Google Administrator, you can temporarily block a user's access to Google

Workspace services by suspending the user's account. This disables the account without deleting the user or any data in their account. Any content that they own and have shared with others remains accessible to collaborators. A suspended user can't sign in to the account, and new emails and calendar invitations are blocked. As the account is not deleted a license fee still applies.

How To Suspend a User

Sign in to the Google Admin Console.

1. Click Directory>Users
   1. Find the person you want to suspend and hover the mouse over their name
   2. More options will appear at the right side of the user, click the More options drop down
   3. Select Suspend user
2. Next do the same, click on the drop down menu and select Change organizational unit
   1. Move the account to the Suspended organizational unit.

It's important to understand the difference between account deletion and suspension. When you delete a user account, all of their data is deleted and they'll no longer be able to sign in to Google Workspace. This includes their Vault data as well.

Once you delete the account data is retained for a period of 20 days so this does give you the opportunity to transfer certain data (eg: Docs, Calendar) to a new owner at the point of account deletion.

How to delete a user

Sign in to the Google Admin Console.

1. Click Directory>Users
   1. Find the person you want to suspend and hover the mouse over their name
   2. More options will appear at the right side of the user, click the More options drop down
   3. Select Delete user

The Google account will now be permanently deleted.