Google+ and Gmail Inbox are disappearing FOREVER on April 2

GOOGLE is shutting down Google+ and the Gmail Inbox apps on April 2.

It means that you risk losing posts, photos and videos – unless you back them up first.

Google+ shut down – what's happening?
Last year, Google decided to shut down its long-running social media app Google+.

The firm blamed "low usage" and upkeep challenges, and confirmed Google+ would go offline on April 2.

"On 2 April, your Google+ account and any Google+ pages that you've created will be shut down and we will begin deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts," Google explained.

"Photos and videos from Google+ in your album archive and on your Google+ pages will also be deleted."

If you've back up your photos and videos in Google Photos, then they won't be deleted.

But if you haven't then you'll need to download and save your content before April 2.

To download your Google+ data, follow these steps:

Go to the Download your data page. You might have to sign in. Your available Google+ data will be pre-selected.
Click Next.
Choose a file type.
Choose how you want your data delivered.
Click Create archive.

If you were an avid Google+ user, downloading your data might take some time. So don't do it five minutes before midnight on April 1.

Inbox by Gmail shut down – what's happening?
The Inbox by Gmail app is an email app that was launched in October 2014.

Google's grand idea was that Gmail Inbox would improve your email productivity with extra features not available on the normal version of Gmail.

But Google has also confirmed that it will be canning Gmail Inbox on April 2 too.

Users who still use the Inbox by Gmail app on Android phones recently received a warning alert.

"This app will be going away in 15 days," the alert read.

"You can find your favourite inbox features in the Gmail app. Your messages are already waiting for you."

And iOS users have reported getting an alert that warned the app would be disabled by the end of March.

Importantly, you shouldn't lose any data when Gmail Inbox disappears – your emails will be safe.

You should just be able to switch back onto the regular Gmail app and resume emailing as normal.