Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides will all be included in files that count toward Google’s 15GB of free storage and against Google One paid storage. The change goes into effect on June 1, 2021, according to recent reports.
Summarily, what that means is that users who have depended on their free storage for emails, Google Drive, and original-resolution Google Photos may need to pay for storage. Specifically, for any slideshow presentations, documents, and spreadsheets created using G Suite. Jamboard files will also be counted toward free storage or Google One paid storage.
What else does this storage change in Docs, Sheets, and Slides mean for end-users?
Now, Google says the change is going to be necessary to keep its cloud storage experience “great” and to keep pace with demand. Users are uploading more than 4.3-million GB of data across all of its services daily. So it makes sense that users may need to purchase one of its paid storage subscriptions to store their files.
But this isn’t the only change coming to storage. With more files counting against storage allotments, Google is also changing the way it automatically deletes files. The search giant says that there are now two circumstances under which it will start deleting users’ backed up data.
First, the company says that if users are inactive in one or more of the services for a period longer than 24 months, it may delete content stored in the services.
The company will also begin deleting data if users are over their allotted storage limit for more than two years. Previously, users simply couldn’t upload anymore content if they went over but it would remain in storage. Or if their storage allotment changed, resulting in a user being over their limit.
Google says it will attempt to notify users multiple times before beginning to delete content. That way, users will have plenty of time to fix the problem, buy a subscription, or download content for uploading to another cloud storage service.
Visiting any of the services online or in-app periodically will stop data from being deleted automatically for that reason.
Users will need to keep tabs on their Photos too
Aside from Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, users will also need to start keeping better track of their Photos storage. That service will also stop offering free unlimited storage around the same timeframe.