Google Adjusts Free Storage: 5GB Without Phone, 15GB With Verification

Google's New Storage Policy for New Accounts

For many years, Google has offered a generous 15 gigabytes of complimentary cloud storage to all account holders, covering Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. However, recent changes indicate that this longstanding benefit is being revised. Under the updated policy, new users will only receive the full 15 GB of free storage if they provide a phone number during the account creation process. Those who opt not to share their phone number will receive just 5 GB of free storage instead.

Understanding the New Storage Tiers

The shift was first noticed by users on Reddit and appears to affect only newly created accounts. Existing users remain on the previous 15 GB plan without any requirement to add a phone number. The change effectively creates two tiers of free storage: a baseline 5 GB for anonymous or unverified accounts and a higher 15 GB for accounts that have undergone phone verification.

Phone Number: The Key to the Full 15 GB

Google's rationale for requesting a phone number is straightforward: it serves as a verification tool to reduce fraudulent or anonymous account creation. Once a user provides and verifies their phone number, their account is no longer considered anonymous, and the storage limit is raised to the traditional 15 GB. This verification can be completed immediately during sign-up or at a later time, as noted by sources such as GoogleWatchBlog.

Adding Your Phone Number Later

If you sign up for a new Google account without a phone number, you are not locked into the 5 GB limit forever. Google allows users to add and verify a phone number at any point after registration. Once the number is confirmed, the storage allocation automatically increases from 5 GB to 15 GB. This flexibility means users can start with a minimal account and later decide to share their phone number to unlock the full free storage.

Paying for Extra Storage

For those who prefer not to provide a phone number but still need more than 5 GB of storage, Google offers paid subscription plans under the Google One brand. The entry-level plan provides 100 GB for $19.99 per year, while the 2 TB tier costs $99.99 per year (with possible first-year discounts). These plans also include additional benefits such as family sharing and Google Workspace features. More details can be found on the official support page.

Changes in Official Documentation

Google has not issued a formal announcement regarding this change. However, the company's support page originally stated that a Google Account comes with 15 GB of cloud storage at no charge. Observations from 9to5Google, confirmed using the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, show that the wording was quietly altered in March 2026 to say “up to 15 GB” – subtly acknowledging the new reality that the full 15 GB is not guaranteed without phone verification.

Conclusion

While existing users are unaffected, anyone creating a new Google account today faces a choice: provide a phone number to enjoy the classic 15 GB of free storage, or accept a reduced 5 GB limit. The option to upgrade later or pay for additional storage provides flexibility, but the change marks a significant shift in Google's long-standing free storage offering. For the latest updates, refer to Google's official help pages.