Update: Google has decided to eliminate the file limit that was recently and unexpectedly imposed on Google Drive. According to a Twitter thread from the official Drive account, the limit was implemented to ensure system stability and improve performance. Furthermore, the company has vowed to enhance its communication with users regarding upcoming changes.
Original story:
Google Drive, the cloud-based storage service, has recently implemented a new policy that limits the number of files a user can create and save in the system. The cap is set at 5 million files, even if the user has purchased additional storage space. The policy has caused some concern for heavy users of the service who may have reached this limit without prior notice.
According to a Google spokesperson, the change was implemented to “maintain strong performance and reliability” and prevent “misuse” of the system. Users who reach the file limit will receive a notification and can contact Google support to address the issue.
The file cap only applies to the number of files created by the user in Drive and not the total of files shared with the user. This means that users can still have over 5 million files in the system as long as they are not solely created by them.
Although 5 million files may seem like an excessive amount, some users have reported reaching this limit, causing concern for those who rely heavily on the service. Users have also reported that they were not alerted to the new policy before it was implemented, leaving them scrambling to relocate or compress excess files once the policy came into effect.
It’s worth noting that the file cap means that someone with 2TB of storage with an average file size over 400KB will reach their file limit before they run out of storage space.
Despite the concerns raised by some users, it is important to recognise that the policy change was likely necessary to ensure the stability and reliability of the Google Drive system (if you choose to believe Google’s public stance). However, it would have been beneficial for Google to provide adequate warning to affected users and update their support pages to reflect the new policy.
