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Tech giant Google is reportedly testing a major change to its free cloud storage policy that could impact future account holders. According to recent reports and screenshots circulating online, new Google users may soon receive only 5GB of free storage instead of the current 15GB allocation.

However, users may still be able to unlock the full 15GB of free storage by meeting a specific condition — linking their mobile number to their Google account.

The reported change has sparked discussions across social media platforms and tech communities, especially among users who rely heavily on free storage for services like Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Drive.

What Is Changing in Google’s Free Storage Policy?

At present, every new Google account typically receives 15GB of free cloud storage that can be shared across:

• Gmail
• Google Drive
• Google Photos
• Other connected Google services

According to reports, Google is now testing a revised policy in select regions where new users may initially receive only 5GB of free storage.

To access the remaining 10GB and restore the full 15GB quota, users may reportedly need to verify and link their phone number to the account.

Screenshots discussing the possible policy change have been shared on platforms like Reddit, fueling speculation about a wider rollout in the future.

Google Confirms Limited Testing

According to reports from Android Authority, Google has responded to the growing discussion surrounding the alleged storage changes.

The company reportedly confirmed that it is conducting limited testing of a new storage-related policy for selected regions and users.

Google says the experiment is intended to improve service quality and strengthen account reliability.

However, the company has not officially confirmed:

• Which countries are included
• When the policy could expand globally
• Whether the test will become permanent

At the moment, the change appears to remain part of a controlled experiment rather than a finalized global rollout.

Why Google May Be Introducing This Change

Industry observers believe the possible policy shift could be aimed at reducing fake or duplicate account creation.

Currently, some users create multiple Google accounts to repeatedly access the free 15GB storage benefit.

Because every account traditionally receives 15GB free, users can effectively multiply their cloud storage space without paying for premium plans.

By requiring phone number verification to unlock the full storage quota, Google may be attempting to:

• Reduce spam accounts
• Prevent storage abuse
• Improve account authenticity
• Strengthen platform security

This could also help the company better identify legitimate users while limiting automated or fraudulent account creation.

Existing Users Likely Won’t Be Affected

One important detail mentioned in reports is that the new storage policy may apply only to newly created accounts.

Existing Google users are expected to continue receiving their current 15GB of free storage without any changes.

This means users who already have active Gmail or Google accounts likely will not lose their existing storage benefits.

At present, there is no indication that Google plans to reduce storage limits for older accounts.

Could Phone Verification Become Mandatory?

If the new system expands globally, linking a phone number to a Google account could become increasingly important.

Phone verification is already used by Google for:

• Security checks
• Two-factor authentication
• Account recovery
• Spam prevention

Adding storage benefits to phone verification may further encourage users to maintain verified and authentic accounts.

However, privacy-conscious users may raise concerns about needing to share personal mobile numbers in exchange for full storage access.

Growing Demand for Cloud Storage

The possible policy change comes at a time when cloud storage demand continues rising rapidly worldwide.

Modern users now store:

• Photos
• Videos
• Emails
• Documents
• Backups
• AI-generated content

across multiple devices and cloud platforms.

As data consumption grows, free storage has become one of the most valuable features offered by technology companies.

Many users already find 15GB insufficient due to high-resolution media files and large email attachments.

No Official Global Rollout Yet

For now, the reported 5GB storage policy remains under testing and has not been officially implemented worldwide.

Google has not announced a confirmed launch date or detailed rollout strategy for the new rules.

Still, the reports have generated significant attention because even a small change in free storage allocation could affect millions of future users globally.

If implemented permanently, the move could mark one of Google’s biggest changes to its free cloud storage model in recent years.