Google Limits New Accounts to 5GB Without Phone Verification

Google has updated its free storage policy for new accounts, limiting them to 5 gigabytes unless users verify a phone number to unlock the full 15 gigabytes shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. The change, detected in mid-March through updates to support pages and user reports, applies during account creation in select regions.

Previously, every new Google account received 15 gigabytes of free storage without conditions. Support documentation now states accounts come with "up to 15 gigabytes" of cloud storage at no charge, a shift confirmed by internet archives between early March and March 23. During signup, users who skip phone verification see a notice offering 5 gigabytes by default, with an option to link a phone number to receive the additional 10 gigabytes. The prompt explains that Google uses the phone number to ensure storage is added "only once per person."

A Google spokesperson described the adjustment as a test for new accounts in certain areas. "We're testing a new storage policy for new accounts created in select regions that will help us continue to provide a high quality storage service to our users, while encouraging users to improve their...