Multiple outlets report that Google has changed the default free storage allocation for newly created accounts. Instead of the long-standing 15GB of free storage commonly associated with Gmail and Google Drive, new Google accounts are now being provisioned with 5GB of free storage. The reports say Google’s support information no longer promises an unconditional 15GB allocation for all accounts. According to the coverage, linking a phone number to the account restores the higher storage level, with users expected to receive the larger allocation after verification. One outlet also notes that a reduced-storage policy may be tested or rolled out gradually, affecting some users—particularly those who create accounts without adding a phone number. While the specifics of how broadly the change is applied are not fully detailed across the articles, they agree on the key point: phone number verification appears to be the requirement for receiving the greater free storage allotment. The change applies to new accounts, and the implications for existing users are not described in the provided reports.