Google has offered 15GB of free storage with its accounts for years, but there can now be some strings attached to claiming the full amount.Users have noticed that some new account holders have to link their phone number to get the expected storage.Otherwise, they're capped at just 5GB.
Google quietly changed its language around the included storage in mid-March, according to .Where it previously promised an unconditional 15GB, it now offers "up to" 15GB shared between Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.Related How to Back Up Your Google Photos Library to a Hard Drive Don't let cloud storage be your only backup.
Posts 45 By Joe Fedewa Users who skip phone number linking are told the policy exists to make sure 15GB is added "once per person." Google is effectively curbing abuse by users who create multiple accounts to avoid paying for a Google One subscription.A Google spokesperson told in a statement that the company is "testing" a storage policy for new accounts when they're created in "select regions," although it didn't name those areas.The move will help Google "continue to provide a high quality storage service" to users while spurring them to "improve their account security and data recovery," according to the representative.
Why does Google want my phone number for a new account? Storage and services are becoming expensive It's no secret that you've long had the option to create multiple Google accounts to claim more than 15GB of free storage, provided you were willing to deal with the resulting hassles.However, AI and automation make this misuse considerably easier: you can theoretically create a seamless storage pool that doesn't require much manual control over your accounts.Malware creators could use this quirk to store code and stolen data without paying as their operations grow.
Google also isn't immune to the effects of the AI demand it's helping to create with Gemini, such as soaring memory prices.A phone number link effectively throttles sign-ups to keep costs in check without affecting people who genuinely need 15GB of space, especially if they already have multiple phone numbers.The problems with phone number linking Privacy advocates and small businesses might object The concern, as you might expect, is that you still have to share your phone number to get 15GB of space that millions take for granted.
Google says it's only asking for the number to limit storage handouts.If you're privacy-minded, however, you might be uncomfortable with sharing your phone number when it's not directly relevant.Google and others provide two-factor authentication without phone numbers in part for this reason.
What if a data breach exposes your number? Some small business owners might also run into problems.If you're creating a separate account for work (but don't want professional services), you might have to tie your personal phone number to that account to have enough storage for email and important documents.Google One is relatively inexpensive, starting at $20 per year for 100GB.
That could still prove costly in some countries, and not everyone will want to pay even if it's within their budget.Many Apple device owners have complained about having to pay for more than 5GB of iCloud space per account — a phone link requirement from Google is gentler, but still an obstacle.
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