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Some users online are reporting that Google may now be offering only 5GB of free cloud storage for newly created Gmail accounts that are created without linking a phone number.
The reports first surfaced on Reddit, where users shared screenshots allegedly showing a reduced storage limit unless phone verification is completed.
What the Reported Change Shows
According to screenshots shared in the Reddit community r/degoogle, newly created Google accounts without a verified phone number display a message like:
“Review your storage options”
The screenshots reportedly show:
- Only 5GB of free cloud storage
- A prompt asking users to verify their phone number
- A notice saying verification unlocks the full 15GB free storage
Users can either:
✔ Verify their number and get 15GB
❌ Skip verification and remain limited to 5GB
Reports Mostly Coming From African Regions
At the moment, the scale of this change remains unclear.
Most online reports appear to come from countries such as:
- Kenya
- Nigeria
This has led some users to speculate that Google may be:
- Running a regional experiment
- Testing anti-spam measures
- Conducting an A/B rollout
So far, Google has not officially announced a global policy change.
Also Read: iPhone 18 Launch Leak Suggests Apple May End Its Once-a-Year iPhone Strategy?
Google Quietly Changed Its Support Page Wording
Interestingly, reports suggest Google may have quietly adjusted the wording on its support pages earlier this year.
Previously, Google stated users receive:
“15GB of cloud storage at no charge”
That wording has reportedly changed to:
“Up to 15GB of cloud storage at no charge”
This subtle update appears to align with reports that some users only receive the full storage amount after verifying a phone number.
Why Would Google Do This?
The reaction online has been mixed.
Some users believe:
- It helps reduce spam accounts
- Prevents abuse and bot signups
- Improves platform security
Others argue:
- It pressures users into sharing personal information
- Reduces anonymous account creation
- Expands data collection practices
A number of users were also surprised that creating a Google account without phone verification was still possible in some regions.
Existing Accounts May Not Be Affected
Current evidence suggests that older Google accounts are not losing storage.
Some users tested existing Gmail accounts without linked phone numbers and still retained the full 15GB storage allocation.
This indicates the reported limitation may currently apply only to:
- Newly created accounts
- Specific regions or test groups
Google Has Not Officially Confirmed the Policy
At the time of writing, Google has not publicly confirmed:
- A permanent policy change
- A global rollout
- Regional restrictions
Until an official announcement is made, it remains unclear whether this is:
- A temporary experiment
- A regional rollout
- Or a future global policy direction
Final Thoughts
If these reports are accurate, the move could signal a major shift in how Google balances:
- Free cloud storage
- Spam prevention
- User verification
For now, users creating new Gmail accounts may want to verify whether phone-number-free signups still include the full 15GB storage allocation in their region.
