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For years, whenever we created a new Google account, the company provided us with 15GB of cloud storage completely free of charge. For most users, this free storage is more than sufficient for their needs. However, the tech giant Google has now implemented a major change to its storage policy.

Now, upon opening a new account, users are being provided with only 5GB of free storage by default. However, there is no need to panic—you can still obtain the full 15GB of storage; Google has simply introduced a new condition to access it. Let's take a closer look at what this entire situation entails.

What is the New Condition for Obtaining 15GB of Storage?
If you create a new Google account today, you will see a notification on your screen indicating only 5GB of free storage instead of the usual 15GB. To increase this limit back to 15GB, Google has now made it a mandatory requirement to link a mobile number to the account. It is worth noting that this new storage arrangement currently applies only to new accounts.

For existing users, the old policy of 15GB of storage remains in effect, and there is no immediate compulsion for them to link their mobile numbers. Although Google had implemented this change on the backend back in March, it is now gradually becoming visible to all new users.

Why Did Google Make This Change?
There are primarily two major reasons believed to be behind this significant change introduced by Google. The first reason is both technical and economic. The company states that the costs of memory and storage hardware are constantly rising. Consequently, providing large amounts of storage for free is becoming increasingly expensive. The second major reason is to curb the creation of fake accounts.

In fact, many users create multiple fake accounts solely to acquire additional free storage. By making the linking of a mobile number a mandatory requirement, Google can now ensure that the benefit of 15GB of free storage is being utilized by a single, genuine user.

How to Link Your Mobile Number to Your Account?
Linking your mobile number is extremely simple. To do this, follow the steps given below:

Open the Google Search, Gmail, or Chrome app on your phone or computer.
Click on your profile picture.
Next, go to the 'Personal Info' section.
Here, you will find the option for a phone or mobile number.

Enter your number and verify it using an OTP (One-Time Password).
A Worthwhile Step: Verifying your mobile number is essential not only for increasing storage but also for a security perspective. If you ever forget your account password, you can easily recover your account with the help of this very number.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.