Google is said to be testing a decrease in complimentary cloud storage for certain new Gmail users, dropping the capacity from 15 GB to 5 GB. As per a recent report from Android Authority, new Gmail accounts were reportedly only receiving 5 GB of free cloud storage, in contrast to the usual 15 GB that has been traditionally offered across various Google services like Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.
Although Google has not disclosed the specific countries involved in the trial, the company has confirmed to Android Authority that they are experimenting with a revised storage policy in selected regions. User feedback mentioned in the report primarily came from African markets.
In a statement referenced in the report, Google explained that the trial aims to uphold a top-notch storage service while promoting enhanced account security and improved data recovery procedures.
Existing Gmail users with 15 GB of storage are not anticipated to be impacted by this trial. The company’s support page now states that users are entitled to “up to 15 GB” of free storage, replacing the previous wording that explicitly mentioned a fixed 15 GB allocation.
The future scope of this test remains uncertain. Google has not disclosed any plans for a broader implementation timeline or confirmed if the reduced storage limit will be a permanent feature for upcoming accounts.
