GOOGLE TESTS 5GB FREE STORAGE CAP FOR NEW ACCOUNTS

Google confirmed it is testing reduced free storage tiers for newly created accounts in select regions. The 5GB baseline applies unless users add a phone number to their account, which may unlock additional storage. The move comes as Google has gradually tightened free storage offerings. In 2021, the company ended unlimited photo backup on Google Photos and began counting those files against the 15GB default free storage limit. Google did not specify which regions are involved in the test or provide details on how phone number verification affects storage allocation. A company spokesperson described the initiative as a regional experiment. The test underscores broader industry trends toward monetizing cloud storage. Competitors like Microsoft and Apple already employ tiered storage models with limited free tiers, pushing users toward paid subscriptions for additional capacity. No timeline was given for wider rollout, and Google has not announced changes to existing accounts.