The era of 15GB free Gmail storage is ending

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• Google is reportedly testing a 5 GB storage limit for new Gmail accounts, down from the standard 15 GB.
• Users can “unlock” the full 15 GB of free storage by adding a phone number to their account.
• It is currently unclear if this is a permanent rollout or a limited A/B test.

Background

Signing up for a Gmail account normally gives you 15 GB of free cloud storage. That’s fairly generous if managed well, and generally enough for most people. However, recent reports suggest Google is testing a model where only 5 GB is provided unless a phone number is attached to the account.

Reddit Evidence

A screenshot shared on Reddit by user sungusungu (via Piunikaweb) shows:

• The new Gmail account received 5 GB of free storage.
• An option was presented to unlock the full 15 GB by adding a phone number.

Reddit users reacted with concerns about “free” services, suggesting the move could be a way for Google to collect more user data. Some pointed out that the phone‑number requirement might be intended to curb spam.

Personal Test

I created a new Gmail account to verify the claim:

• Attempt 1: Google blocked the sign‑up process until a phone number was provided.
• Attempt 2: Using an alternative Gmail account without a phone number still displayed the standard 15 GB of storage.

Current Status

• It is unclear whether this is a broader change or an A/B test limited to certain regions.
• Google has not announced any modifications, and its support page continues to state that each account receives 15 GB of free storage.
• For now, there appears to be no immediate impact for most users.

We’ve reached out to Google for comment and will update this article when we hear back.