Google tests limiting free storage to 5GB for new accounts if they are not linked to a phone number

Google has started testing a new policy in some regions that limits free storage to 5GB for new accounts instead of offering the usual 15GB, if they don’t link and verify your phone number.

When creating a new Google account, the technology normally offers the ability to 15GB free storage which is shared between Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. Likewise, if you need more storage, you can increase it by purchasing a Google One subscription.

However, technology is modifying this ability initial free storage, limiting it to 5 GB if the new account is not linked to a verified phone number, in order to “ensure that the storage space is only added once per person”, as indicated in the notification sent to some users who have created new accounts, as shared through Reddit.

This was confirmed by a Google spokesperson in statements to Engadget, who detailed that it is “a new storage policy” that they are testing for new accounts “created in specific regions“, which will help Google “continue offering a quality storage service” to users, while encouraging them to “improve the security of your accounts and data recovery.

The aforementioned media has also indicated that Google has modified information on their help page, which now notes that each Google account includes “up to 15 GB,” when before it claimed “15 GB”. This change to the support page took place between the months of February and March, according to Wayback Machine archives.

With all this, it must be taken into account that, in the In most cases, it is mandatory to pair a phone to set up the Google account. However, there are some exceptions such as when configuring an Android smartphone without a SIM card.