Google cuts new accounts free storage to 5GB unless you verify with a phone number

The full 15GB now depends on linking your phone

Google has quietly reduced the default free cloud storage for new accounts from 15GB to 5GB shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos. The missing 10GB is unlocked only after users link a phone number during setup, a requirement that reportedly wasn’t part of signup earlier this year. Google also revised its help documentation to say “up to 15GB” rather than “15GB,” signaling a conditional offer. Existing users are unaffected.