Google has changed the rules on free storage for new accounts — and most users won't notice until it's too late. New Google accounts now default to just 5GB of free storage. To unlock the full 15GB shared across Gmail, Drive, and Google Photos, users must link and verify a phone number during account setup.
The prompt users now encounter makes the trade-off explicit: provide your number and get 15GB, or skip it and stay capped at 5GB. Google's stated rationale, visible within the signup flow itself, is that the phone number ensures the 15GB allocation is granted "only once per person" — effectively an anti-abuse measure to stop bots and throwaway accounts from hoarding free storage indefinitely.
The Change Was Already Underway in March
This didn't happen overnight. Google quietly changed its language around the included storage in mid-March. Where it previously promised an unconditional 15GB, it now offers "up to" 15GB across its services. Using the Internet Archive's WayBack Machine, the change can be traced to around March 18, 2026, and remains live today.
Google Calls It a Regional Test
A Google spokesperson confirmed to How-To Geek that the company is "testing" a storage policy for new accounts when they're created in "select regions," although it didn't name those areas. Current reports suggest the 5GB cap is most prevalent in parts of Africa, including Kenya and Nigeria. Existing accounts are not affected — only users creating fresh accounts going forward.
Why Now? AI Costs and Account Abuse
AI and automation have made multi-account abuse considerably easier — you can theoretically build a seamless storage pool without much manual effort. Malware creators could exploit this to store code and stolen data at scale. Google also isn't immune to the soaring memory prices driven by AI demand it's partly responsible for creating through Gemini.
The concern is that you still have to share your phone number to get 15GB of space that millions take for granted. Google and others already provide two-factor authentication without phone numbers specifically for privacy reasons — a data breach exposing your linked number is a real risk. Small business owners running dedicated work accounts without wanting to tie a personal number will also feel the friction.
What You Should Do
If you're creating a new Google account, link a phone number during setup to claim the full 15GB. After setup, check your actual storage allocation in Google Account settings — if it reads 5GB rather than 15GB, the account was created without phone verification.
Some users report still receiving 15GB without linking a phone, especially on Android devices set up without a SIM card, so your experience may vary by region and device.