Recently, many overseas users have discovered that when registering a new Gmail account, the free cloud storage space provided by the system has been reduced from the previous 15GB to 5GB. This change has attracted attention from the outside world. Google officially responded recently, explaining the reasons behind this new measure and disclosing a simple method to restore the original capacity.
According to a statement made by a Google spokesperson to the technology media Android Authority, the manufacturer is currently testing a new storage space policy in specific regions. Newly registered accounts are initially issued only 5GB of capacity, but as long as the user binds their personal phone number in the account settings, the system will unlock the remaining capacity for free, increasing the total space back to the standard 15GB. Officials pointed out that this move is intended to ensure that the company can continue to provide high-quality storage services to the public, while encouraging users to improve their account security settings and data recovery mechanisms.
Although Google has not yet disclosed the specific list of affected test areas, the relevant policy tweaks have been reflected on the official support page. The current description of storage space has been changed from the original “includes 15GB” to “includes up to 15GB”.
As for the rights and interests of existing users, it is expected that as long as the account has been bound to a valid phone number, the 15GB of free storage space shared across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos will remain unchanged. Users only need to ensure that the security and backup information of their accounts are kept updated, and they can continue to use various Google Cloud services as usual.
