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What is Azure Blob Storage and how do we know if that's what we're using?

Susan Hennessy 20 Reputation points
2026-05-06T13:22:36.6966667+00:00

We recently received an email stating we need to migrate from GPv1 to GPv2 and have no idea what it is. Care to give us a hint?

Susan Hennessy

Azure Blob Storage
Azure Blob Storage

An Azure service that stores unstructured data in the cloud as blobs.

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AI answer

2026-05-06T13:23:01.11+00:00

Azure Blob Storage is one of the core services in an Azure Storage account that stores unstructured data as objects (called blobs). A general-purpose v1 (GPv1) storage account is the older type of Azure Storage account that can host blobs, files, queues, and tables. General-purpose v2 (GPv2) is the newer, recommended account type that supports all the same core services plus newer features such as blob tiering, lifecycle management, and advanced redundancy options.

To know whether Azure Blob Storage (and GPv1 vs GPv2) is being used:

  1. Understand what GPv1 is
    A GPv1 account is the original general-purpose Azure Storage account type. It supports all four core storage services (Blobs, Files, Queues, Tables) and classic redundancy SKUs (LRS, GRS, RA-GRS). It predates blob tiering and many newer management features.
  2. Understand what GPv2 is and why the email was received
    General purpose v2 (GPv2) storage accounts are the recommended account type for most Azure Storage scenarios. GPv2 provides access to the latest Azure Storage features including blob tiering, lifecycle management, and advanced redundancy options and offers the most cost effective pricing model for a wide range of workloads.
    Microsoft will retire GPv1 storage accounts on a specified date; all GPv1 accounts must be upgraded to GPv2 before that date to avoid service disruption. That retirement is why the migration email was received.
  3. How to tell if GPv1 or GPv2 is in use
    The context describes how to inventory accounts and identify GPv1 and legacy Blob storage accounts:
    • Use Azure Resource Graph, CLI, Azure Inventory, or the Azure portal to identify all GPv1 accounts (kind Storage) and legacy Blob storage accounts (kind BlobStorage).
    • These are the account types that must be migrated to GPv2.
  4. What happens when upgrading
    • Upgrading from GPv1 to GPv2 is an in-place Azure Resource Manager operation that changes the account kind.
    • There is no downtime and no data loss; endpoint names and data remain the same.
    • Once upgraded to GPv2, the account cannot be downgraded back to GPv1.
  5. Why GPv2 matters for Blob Storage
    • GPv2 delivers the lowest per-gigabyte capacity prices and supports default account access tiers (hot or cool) and blob-level tiering between hot, cool, cold, or archive.
    • Converting a storage account from GPv1 to GPv2 changes how Blob Storage is billed, but does not impact pricing for Azure Files or Azure Disks.

In practice, if an application is storing files, backups, or other unstructured data in Azure Storage, it is very likely using Azure Blob Storage within a GPv1 or GPv2 account. The email about migrating from GPv1 to GPv2 indicates at least one storage account in the environment is still GPv1 and needs to be upgraded.

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  1. TP 156.7K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-05-06T13:50:29.21+00:00

    Hi Susan,

    In addition to the AI answer, if you sign in to Azure portal and click on link below, you can see a list of your storage accounts:

    https://portal.azure.com/#view/Microsoft_Azure_StorageHub/StorageHub.MenuView/~/StorageAccountsBrowse

    If you look at the Kind column, GPv1 accounts are shown as Storage. If you click on an account, you will see Account kind: Storage (general purpose v1).

    If you only have relatively small number of accounts I would suggest clicking on each one to double-check. You will see message at the top of each reminding you to upgrade before October 13, 2026.

    Please click Accept Answer and upvote if the above was helpful.

    Thanks.

    -TP

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