It’s been the standard for years that every new Google account comes with 15GB of free storage. Gmail, Drive, Photos—all of it shared. That was the deal. Well, not anymore, or at least, not exactly.
Google is now reportedly limiting that full 15GB to accounts verified with a phone number. No phone number? You may only get 5GB. Google’s prompt reportedly says:
“Unlock 15 GB storage at no cost by using your phone number.”
A Reddit user spotted this during account setup. Google also reportedly quietly changed its support page language from “comes with 15GB” to “up to 15GB.” According to 9to5Google, that wording changed in March 2026.
Google appears to be framing this move as a way to make sure free storage is only given “once per person.” In theory, linking a phone number makes it harder for automated accounts and bots to abuse the system. And honestly, from Google’s perspective, that logic makes sense.
But here’s where things get sticky: Google wants your phone number, which also means more user data. Some Reddit users called this a new way to collect information under the guise of security. Others pointed out it may simply be about reducing spam and fake accounts. Both can be true at the same time.
What makes the situation slightly confusing is that Google hasn’t officially announced a broad policy change. Some users still receive the full 15GB automatically, while others are reportedly being pushed toward phone verification. Existing accounts without linked phone numbers also still appear to keep their 15GB for now. That has led some people to believe Google may simply be testing the feature in certain regions or with specific account setups.
Compared to companies like Apple, which still gives users 5GB of free iCloud storage, Google’s offering remains relatively generous.
If you already have a Google account without a phone number attached, it may be worth checking your storage. Some users still report having the full 15GB. But for new users, there’s now a chance you’re either giving up your number or giving up 10GB of space. In the end, it’s still your choice to make.
