Google Drive is a cloud storage platform that allows users to back up data that is not available on local storage. However, a new file limit is being imposed on the platform, which has become an issue for several users. According to a report by Ars Technica, Google Drive is limiting the number of files that users can store on their accounts, and users have reported facing issues with the platform.
As per the report, some Google Drive users have recently noticed a new message on their accounts, stating that the account has reached its “creation limit”. The message also mentions that users won’t be able to add new files until existing ones are deleted.
This restriction has been imposed on both free accounts and paid Google Workspace and Google One subscribers. The issue was flagged by users on Reddit as well as Google’s Issue Tracker, and the first user report regarding this issue was posted in February.
The limitation puts a cap on the total number of files that can be stored on the platform. Currently, Google is allowing users to store up to five million items, irrespective of file size and type.
If the number of files hits the mentioned mark, the issue will be triggered, and the number of files will include those stored in the trash. Whenever users reach or exceed that limit, Google Drive will show a message indicating that the account has exceeded the creation limit of 5 million items.
One user reported that there were seven million items stored in the account before Google placed this restriction. Now, the user is unable to add any new files, and others in the same situation are reportedly locked out of their accounts. Moreover, the files stored in their Google Drive now show only in “read-only” mode.
Google has reportedly confirmed the limit to some users via support. However, the company is yet to make the Drive restriction official, and it has not offered any warnings to users who have reached or crossed the limit. The company’s support page confirms that users can share up to 4 lakh files through Drive, but it has never mentioned any storage limit.
Google has explained that the reason for imposing such a restriction is to “safeguard to prevent misuse” of its system “that might impact the stability and safety” of the same.
The company has also mentioned that the number of users affected by this change is “vanishingly small.” The limit applies only to the number of items one user can create in any Drive but doesn’t affect the total file limit in Drive. This includes files uploaded to shared folders by another user, which will count towards the user’s total storage capacity but won’t fall under the number limit.
In conclusion, Google Drive’s new file limit is causing problems for several users who have reported facing issues with the cloud storage platform. Google is limiting the number of files that users can store on their accounts, which has triggered an error message for users who have reached or exceeded the five million item limit.
Google has confirmed the limit to some users via support but has not made it official or offered any warnings to users who have reached or crossed the limit. The company has explained that the reason for imposing the restriction is to prevent misuse that might impact the stability and safety of its system. The limit applies only to the number of items one user can create in any Drive and does not affect the total file limit in Drive, which includes files uploaded to shared folders by another user.