Google is currently testing a change that could significantly reduce the free cloud storage new users receive.
The company has quietly moved to a model where a new Google account by default receives only 5 gigabytes of storage instead of the previous 15 gigabytes - the full 15 gigabytes can only be accessed if the user links their phone number to the account. The change first emerged through user observations. A Reddit user shared a screenshot of the account creation view, where Google offered a basic quota of 5 gigabytes and the option to increase it to 15 gigabytes if a phone number was linked to the account. Small text stated that the number is used to ensure that the additional storage is granted only once per person.
Google's own help pages also indicate the policy change. Previously, the company's support pages unequivocally stated that a Google account includes 15 gigabytes of free cloud storage, shared between Gmail, Drive, and Photos services. After mid-March 2026, the text has been changed to promise "up to 15 GB" for free. The change in wording on the page is in line with the new account creation view, where the user is offered two clear options: accept the basic 5 gigabyte quota or link a phone number and get the full 15 gigabytes.
A Google representative has told technology website Android Authority that this is a regional test, which is why some new users still receive 15 gigabytes of storage without phone number verification. The mention of 15 gigabytes on the support pages also suggests that the new policy is not yet globally established, but rather a limited experiment or A/B test.
Google officially justifies the change by stating that free storage is intended to be granted only once per person, not for each account created separately. A phone number serves as a tool to reduce duplicate and abuse-related accounts. Acquiring a new phone number is more cumbersome than opening a new Google account, so tying free storage to a number makes it harder to circumvent the system.
The cloud storage linked to the account provided by Google is used as shared storage for Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Drive. This means that if one fills their cloud storage with, for example, photos, the space reserved for Gmail emails will also be filled simultaneously.
Google's own help pages also indicate the policy change. Previously, the company's support pages unequivocally stated that a Google account includes 15 gigabytes of free cloud storage, shared between Gmail, Drive, and Photos services. After mid-March 2026, the text has been changed to promise "up to 15 GB" for free. The change in wording on the page is in line with the new account creation view, where the user is offered two clear options: accept the basic 5 gigabyte quota or link a phone number and get the full 15 gigabytes.
A Google representative has told technology website Android Authority that this is a regional test, which is why some new users still receive 15 gigabytes of storage without phone number verification. The mention of 15 gigabytes on the support pages also suggests that the new policy is not yet globally established, but rather a limited experiment or A/B test.
Google officially justifies the change by stating that free storage is intended to be granted only once per person, not for each account created separately. A phone number serves as a tool to reduce duplicate and abuse-related accounts. Acquiring a new phone number is more cumbersome than opening a new Google account, so tying free storage to a number makes it harder to circumvent the system.
The cloud storage linked to the account provided by Google is used as shared storage for Google Photos, Gmail, and Google Drive. This means that if one fills their cloud storage with, for example, photos, the space reserved for Gmail emails will also be filled simultaneously.
