Google is reportedly testing a change in Gmail’s free storage system. Right now, every new Gmail account normally gets 15GB of free storage. This storage is shared across Gmail emails, Google Drive, and Google Photos.

But some reports say that Google is trying a new system where new users may only get 5GB of free storage instead of 15GB. This was first noticed by a user who shared screenshots on Reddit (via Piunikaweb) while creating a new Gmail account. The screenshot showed that the account only had 5GB of storage at first.

In this new test, Google gives users a way to get the full 15GB. To unlock it, users may need to add and verify a phone number. Once the phone number is added, the storage increases back to the normal 15GB.

Image via sungusungu (Reddit)

People online have different opinions about this. Some believe Google is doing this to stop fake accounts and spam. Many bots create Gmail accounts, and requiring a phone number can help control this problem. Others think it may be a way for Google to collect more user information.

However, this change does not seem to be happening for everyone. Some people still get 15GB of storage without adding a phone number. In some cases, Google is asking for a phone number during sign-up itself. This suggests that Google may be testing this change only in certain regions or for a small group of users.

So far, Google has not made any official announcement about reducing free Gmail storage. It’s official information that still says that every account gets 15GB of free storage. This means the change is not confirmed yet and may only be an experiment.

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