Google Slashes Free Storage to 5GB, Demands Phone Number

In a significant policy shift, **Google** has reduced the free storage offered with new accounts from **15GB** to **5GB**. To access the previously standard **15GB**, users are now required to link a phone number to their account. This change, which appears to have been implemented around **March 2026**, aims to ensure storage is allocated only once per person, according to Google's updated language. The move impacts storage across **Gmail**, **Google Drive**, and **Google Photos**, and has been noted by users during new account setup processes. The company's support pages now reflect this change, stating users receive 'up to 15 GB' rather than a guaranteed amount.

• Google has reduced its standard free account storage from 15GB to 5GB.
• Accessing the full 15GB now requires linking a phone number to the Google account.
• This policy change was implemented around March 2026.
• The change affects storage for Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.
• Support pages now indicate 'up to 15GB' free storage, implying variability.

Google has altered its free storage policy, reducing the baseline from **15GB** to **5GB** and making the full **15GB** contingent on linking a phone number. This change was implemented around **March 2026**, as evidenced by archive data and updated support documentation. While Google states the phone number is used for verification to prevent duplicate allocations, the exact mechanism and implications for existing accounts remain unclear. The company's support pages now use the phrase 'up to 15 GB,' indicating a potential shift in how free storage is presented and managed.

This move by **Google** is a pragmatic step towards better resource management and combating bot accounts. By requiring phone number verification for the full **15GB**, Google can more effectively prevent the creation of duplicate or fraudulent accounts, ensuring a more stable and secure ecosystem for genuine users. This also potentially frees up server resources, allowing Google to focus on improving core services for its active user base and investing in future innovations within [[Google Workspace|Workspace]].

This reduction in free storage and the mandatory phone number link represent a concerning trend of **Google** nickel-and-diming its users and increasing data collection. The **5GB** baseline is a significant cut, potentially forcing many users to pay for storage they previously received for free. The requirement to link a phone number, a piece of personally identifiable information, raises privacy concerns and could be seen as an attempt to bolster Google's user data profile for advertising purposes, further eroding user trust in [[Google Account|account]] security.

Originally reported by 9to5Google