Google attributes free storage to phone number verification for some users who open a new account. In the new test, 5 GB of free storage is given to accounts that do not add a phone number, while the user is asked to link their phone number to the account for 15 GB of space. Google is testing the free storage policy on new accounts. Users who open a Google account have long been offered 15 GB of free storage space shared between Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos.
With the change that the company tested on the new account creation screen, this space does not directly appear as 15 GB for some users. New accounts without a phone number are shown 5 GB of free storage. The user is offered two options on this screen: to continue with 5 GB or to unlock 15 GB of free storage using the phone number. The change was revealed with a screenshot shared on Reddit by a user who created a new Gmail account.
According to the information shared, Google states that it provides 5 GB of storage space in the account without a phone number. On the same screen, there is information that 15 GB of free space will be opened for Gmail, Drive and Google Photos when the phone number is used. In Google’s statement, it is stated that the phone number will be used to ensure that the storage right is added only once per person. This change has not yet been announced as a permanent policy openly applied to all users.
In the statement made by Google, it was stated that the new storage policy was tested for new accounts in certain regions. In the statement, it was stated that the test was carried out to protect the quality of the storage service and to improve users’ account security and data recovery options. The statement on Google’s support page also shows the infrastructure of the change. The company’s support document says that each Google account now includes up to 15 GB of storage, rather than 15 GB of storage shared between Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.
On the Google One support page, it is stated that each Google account has up to 15 GB of storage space shared between Gmail, Drive and Photos. The change particularly concerns users who can open a new account without adding a phone number. In many cases, phone verification is already required when creating a Google account. However, in some scenarios, for example, when setting up an account on an Android device that does not have a SIM card, it may be possible to proceed without a phone number.
In the new test, accounts using this method may encounter 5 GB of free storage instead of 15 GB. No retroactive storage deduction has been announced for existing accounts at this stage. The change being tested focuses on newly created accounts. For this reason, there is no confirmed information about a decrease in the existing quota of users who currently have 15 GB of free storage space. Google’s free storage space is used by Gmail messages and attachments, Google Drive files, Google Photos backups, some Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms, Recorder and Vids contents and WhatsApp backups on Android.
If the quota is exceeded, new files cannot be uploaded to Google Drive, new photos and videos cannot be backed up to Google Photos, and sending and receiving e-mail operations in Gmail may be affected. According to Google’s support page, content may become eligible for deletion if the account remains above quota for two years or more; At this point, the company sends an advance notification to the user. Users who want additional storage can switch to Google One plans.
According to the US pricing quoted by PhoneArena, 100 GB of storage is offered at $ 1.99 per month. On the Google One side, there are also higher storage options such as 200 GB and 2 TB. This storage space can be used between Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos.
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