Google is reportedly testing a new policy that limits free cloud storage capacity for newly created Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos accounts. While users previously received 15GB of free storage automatically, some new users are now reportedly given only 5GB unless they add a phone number to their Google account.The change was first noticed by several users during the Google account registration process. In the updated interface, Google reportedly offers users two options, continue with 5GB of free storage or add a phone number to unlock the full 15GB allocation.
According to reports from international technology media outlet Google has confirmed that the move is currently part of a limited test and is only being implemented in selected regions. The company said the policy is intended to improve account security and simplify account recovery in the event users lose access to their accounts.
However, Google has not disclosed which countries are involved in the trial or whether the policy will eventually be rolled out globally. Existing Google account holders currently continue to receive the standard 15GB of free storage.
Google free storage is shared across several major services, including Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. In recent years, demand for cloud storage has increased significantly due to larger multimedia files, high resolution video content and the growing adoption of artificial intelligence AI technologies.
Industry observers view the move as part of a broader strategy by technology companies to reduce abuse from fake accounts while also encouraging more users to subscribe to paid storage plans such as Google One. Google previously revised its Google Photos policy in 2021, when high quality photo uploads began counting toward users storage quotas.
On social media and online forums, the reported change has received mixed reactions from users. Some see it as a reasonable step to improve account security, while others believe Google is becoming increasingly aggressive in requesting users phone numbers in exchange for access to the full storage capacity.For now Google still officially states that Google accounts include up to 15GB of free storage, indicating that the policy has not yet been implemented universally.
