Google is quietly testing a policy that could make free Gmail storage a lot less generous. In a limited trial, the company is cutting the free storage for new accounts from 15GB to just 5GB unless users provide a phone number. The change isn’t universal. Some new users still get the full 15GB without being asked for a number, while others are immediately locked into the reduced tier. The test appears to be regional, hitting users in specific countries or populations, but Google hasn’t specified where or why these users are affected.

We tested it ourselves by creating a new Gmail account today in the U.S. and were handed the full 15GB without a hitch. Google did ask for a phone number to send a verification code, but the storage limit remained unchanged. That suggests the storage cut isn’t tied to basic verification—it’s a separate policy being tested in a controlled group. The company’s spokesperson confirmed the trial but didn’t explain the criteria for who gets the reduced storage or why this change is happening now.

Why Google might be doing this

The move fits a pattern Google and other big tech companies have followed for years: offer a free service, then gradually tighten the screws to extract more user data or push people toward paid plans. Google’s free storage has stayed at 15GB for years, shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos. Cutting it to 5GB for some users could nudge them to either share a phone number—likely for targeted ads or verification—or upgrade to a paid plan. It’s a small but telling step in how tech companies balance user demands for free services with their own need to monetize.

The test also raises questions about privacy. While Google says it’s just trialing a storage policy, sharing a phone number gives the company another direct way to track users across its services. It’s a data point that’s harder to ignore than an email address, and it could feed into advertising profiles or security systems. The company insists the trial is temporary, but history shows these kinds of tests often become permanent if they work.

Not everyone is affected yet

If you signed up for Gmail in the last few days and still got 15GB, you’re in the clear—for now. The trial seems limited to new accounts in specific regions, and even among those, not everyone is getting the reduced storage. That inconsistency suggests Google is still figuring out how aggressive to be with the change. It’s also possible the company is testing different policies in different markets, depending on local regulations or user behavior.

The broader implications are what matter most. If Google rolls this out widely, it could signal that free storage isn’t truly free anymore. Users who don’t want to share a phone number or pay for more space might find themselves stuck with just 5GB—barely enough for a month of emails or a handful of photos. For a company that built its reputation on offering generous free tools, this feels like a quiet but significant shift.

Google hasn’t said what happens next. The spokesperson’s statement was vague: “We’re testing a new storage policy.” That’s it. No timeline, no details about how long the trial will last or what criteria determine who gets the reduced storage. For now, users should assume their free storage is safe—but they shouldn’t be surprised if Google starts asking for more in the future.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: The Register
  • Published: May 15, 2026 at 16:09 UTC
  • Category: Technology
  • Topics: #theregister · #tech · #enterprise · #google · #chocolate-factory · #gmail

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 15, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O Google surpreendeu usuários ao anunciar uma mudança radical em sua política de armazenamento gratuito, reduzindo de forma drástica o espaço disponível para novas contas do Gmail. A partir de agora, quem quiser manter os 15GB de armazenamento tradicional terá que cadastrar um número de telefone — caso contrário, o limite cai para apenas 5GB, uma redução de dois terços que pode impactar milhões de brasileiros que dependem do serviço para trabalho, estudos ou vida pessoal.

A medida, ainda em fase de testes, reflete uma estratégia do Google para combater fraudes e melhorar a segurança das contas, mas acende um alerta no Brasil, onde milhões de pessoas usam o Gmail como principal ferramenta de comunicação. Especialistas já apontam que a exigência de telefone pode excluir usuários que não têm acesso a linhas móveis ou preferem manter privacidade, além de gerar desconfiança em quem já enfrenta problemas com vazamento de dados. Para um país onde a inclusão digital ainda é um desafio, a política pode agravar a exclusão de quem mais precisa de serviços gratuitos e confiáveis.

Se confirmada, a nova regra obrigará milhões de brasileiros a repensar como gerenciam seus e-mails e arquivos na nuvem, com possíveis consequências para quem não puder se adaptar.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

Google ha lanzado una polémica medida que obliga a los nuevos usuarios de Gmail a compartir su número de teléfono para evitar la drástica reducción de su almacenamiento gratuito, de 15GB a apenas 5GB. La compañía justifica este cambio como una forma de “proteger la privacidad y prevenir el abuso”, pero la iniciativa ha generado escepticismo entre quienes ven en ella una estrategia más para recopilar datos personales sin ofrecer alternativas claras.

Este ajuste, que afecta principalmente a usuarios en países de habla hispana donde el servicio es masivo, plantea serias dudas sobre el modelo de privacidad de Google. Para los hispanohablantes, acostumbrados a herramientas gratuitas con amplias capacidades, la nueva política podría suponer un revés, especialmente para quienes dependen de cuentas secundarias o compartidas. Además, la falta de transparencia en cómo se gestionarán estos datos —si se vincularán a perfiles publicitarios, por ejemplo— alimenta la desconfianza en una era donde la protección de la información personal es cada vez más prioritaria.