Google has started requiring new account holders in certain regions to link a phone number in order to receive the full 15GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Accounts without a linked phone number are limited to 5GB.
In mid-March, Google quietly updated its wording around the included storage, replacing the previous unconditional statement of 15GB with a "up to" 15GB.
A Google spokesperson confirmed to How-To Geek that the company is testing this new storage policy for new accounts in some regions. Google did not specify which regions are currently affected.
Why Google Is Tying 15GB of Free Storage to Phone Number Verification
Google says the phone number requirement exists to ensure that the 15GB of free storage is added once per person. The policy aims to stop a long-standing pattern of users creating multiple accounts to combine free storage and avoid paying for Google One subscriptions.
The company states that this change will help continue to provide a high-quality storage service and encourage users to improve their account security and data recovery methods.
AI tools and automation have made it easier to scale multi-account abuse, including potential use by malware operators who could store stolen data across free accounts without paying.
This change also assists Google in managing storage infrastructure costs, especially at a time when DRAM and NAND prices have risen significantly due to demand from AI applications.
What New Google Users Need to Know About the Storage Change
For new account registration in the affected regions, users have two choices: they can link a phone number during setup to receive the full 15GB of free storage, or skip the phone link and accept a 5GB storage limit.
Existing Google accounts created before the policy change are not affected, based on current reports.
Google has not clarified whether the policy will be rolled out to additional regions or if existing accounts might eventually face similar requirements.
Privacy and Practical Concerns Around Google’s New Storage Policy
The change impacts users who prefer not to share their phone numbers with major platforms. While Google offers phone-number-free two-factor authentication through authenticator apps, its storage policy specifically requires a number for full access.
Small business owners creating separate accounts for work-related storage might also encounter difficulties, especially if they want to keep their personal phone numbers separate from their professional accounts.
Google One subscriptions start at $20 per year for 100GB, offering an alternative for users who prefer not to share a number or need more than 5GB of storage.
Google has not provided a timeline for when the policy might expand beyond the current test regions or if the 5GB cap for unlinked accounts will be changed.
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