Admins will be able to manually set storage limits for each user.
If you’re still holding on to a free G Suite legacy account, be prepared for a significant shift. Google has announced that starting May 1st, 2025, legacy G Suite users will transition to pooled storage—effectively changing how storage is managed across their accounts.
For over a decade, users of the G Suite legacy free edition have enjoyed individual storage allocations of 15GB per user, making it an ideal option for families, small teams, and organizations needing shared domain services. However, Google is now aligning these older accounts with the standard Workspace model, where storage is shared collectively across all users within an organization.
Why Is Google Making This Change?
G Suite, which was rebranded as Google Workspace in 2020, has evolved significantly since its initial launch. While Workspace customers have long benefited from pooled storage, legacy G Suite users have remained on an older system of individually allocated space. According to Google, this transition is designed to streamline storage management and provide greater flexibility for users.
“Google Workspace customers have had the benefit of pooled storage for years, and now we’re rolling it out to users with this legacy offering,” Google spokesperson Jenny Thomson told The Verge.
This change simplifies administrative control over storage, allowing organizations to distribute available space more efficiently among users. However, for individuals accustomed to their dedicated storage quotas, this shift may introduce new challenges.
What Does This Mean for Legacy G Suite Users?
If you are a G Suite legacy free edition user, here’s what you need to know:
- No action is required on your part—Google will automatically transition your account to pooled storage.
- Your total allocated storage will remain unchanged, meaning that your organization’s overall storage capacity will not be reduced.
- Storage can now be managed centrally, allowing admins to set limits for individual users to prevent excessive use by a single person.
- There’s no option to opt out of this transition. Pooled storage will become the default model for all legacy G Suite accounts.
- Additional storage can be purchased at a discounted rate, starting at increments of 100GB (typically priced at $15). However, Google has not disclosed the exact discount amount.
Potential Benefits and Drawbacks
For some users, this change brings more efficient storage distribution. If your organization or family has underutilized storage across multiple accounts, pooled storage allows for better resource allocation. No longer will you need to worry about one account maxing out its storage while another remains nearly empty.
On the flip side, for those who have relied on their individual 15GB allocations, this shift introduces uncertainty. Unless an admin actively manages storage limits, some users might consume more than their fair share, potentially leading to space shortages for others in the organization. This makes storage monitoring a crucial task for account admins moving forward.
A Look Back: Google’s History with Legacy G Suite Storage
This isn’t Google’s first attempt to retire individual storage allocations. Back in January 2022, the company initially announced that all G Suite legacy users would have to migrate to paid Workspace plans with pooled storage. However, following user backlash, Google walked back the decision, allowing personal users to continue using their accounts for free while retaining individual storage benefits.
Now, Google is once again pushing forward with its storage consolidation strategy, though this time without removing free access entirely. The new model forces legacy users to adapt to pooled storage but does not require them to purchase a subscription unless additional space is needed.
What Should You Do Next?
If you’re an admin managing a G Suite legacy free edition account, now is the time to review your storage usage and plan accordingly:
- Assess current storage distribution – Identify which users consume the most storage and decide whether limits need to be imposed.
- Establish storage policies – Define usage rules to ensure equitable distribution of storage among users.
- Monitor space consumption – Regularly check storage analytics to prevent sudden shortages.
- Consider upgrading if needed – If your organization requires more space, look into Google’s discounted storage options.
For casual users or families using G Suite legacy accounts, this change may not have a major impact—unless individual members rely heavily on their personal storage limits. In such cases, alternative storage solutions like Google One, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive might be worth considering.
Final Thoughts
Google’s decision to transition legacy G Suite users to pooled storage is a logical step in unifying its storage policies across Workspace. While the move benefits organizations looking for greater flexibility, it does create additional work for admins managing shared resources. If you’re part of this transition, staying proactive about storage allocation will ensure a smooth shift to the new system.
As Google continues evolving its services, this marks yet another phase in the company’s efforts to streamline and modernize its cloud offerings. Whether this shift is a welcome change or a frustrating adjustment will depend largely on how well users manage their shared storage going forward.
