Google limiting 15GB of free storage, only 5GB by default now
9to5Google • • general
Key Points:
- Google has updated its account storage policy, now limiting the full 15GB of free storage to users who verify their accounts with a phone number, while unverified accounts receive only 5GB.
- This change was first noted in March 2026 and aims to prevent abuse by ensuring the 15GB storage is granted only once per person, although users with multiple phone numbers could potentially bypass this.
- Google requires phone number verification during most new account setups, although some exceptions exist, such as setting up a new Android device without a SIM card.
- The policy update coincides with Google's acknowledgment of increased costs and scarcity of memory and storage hardware, which likely influenced the decision to limit free storage.
- Google updated its support pages to reflect the change, modifying language from “15 GB of cloud storage at no charge” to “up to 15 GB of cloud storage at no charge,” indicating the new storage conditions.