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Microsoft 365 Family storage drops to 2 TB shared: check your usage
The short version
Microsoft is replacing the 1 TB of OneDrive each person gets on Family and Premium plans with a single 2 TB pool shared by everyone. New subscriptions get it now, and existing ones change when they renew in 2027.
What happened
Until now, each person on a Family or Premium plan has had their own 1 TB of OneDrive, Microsoft's online file storage. With six people, that could add up to 6 TB. Under the new setup, the whole plan shares 2 TB. Each person's files stay private, but all of them count towards the same pool.
Microsoft's support page says existing plans change at renewal from 1 April 2027. A Microsoft spokesperson quoted by ZDNET gave a later date, 2 May 2027. The exact timing is unclear, but Microsoft says it will notify existing subscribers first.
Why it matters to you
ZDNET expects most households use less than 2 TB, so many will notice nothing. If your combined files are above that, you will need to clear space or pay for more. ZDNET reports extra storage costs $10 a month for each 1 TB, on top of a Family plan price of $130 a year.
Going over the limit has real effects. You cannot upload or sync new files, and you cannot send or receive Outlook.com email. After six months over the limit, Microsoft may delete your OneDrive files permanently.
What to do
Before your renewal, open the storage section of your Microsoft account dashboard and add up what everyone on the plan uses. Ask each person to delete what they no longer need, starting with the largest files.
If you are over 2 TB, decide whether to trim files or buy extra storage. Only the plan owner can add storage.
Sources
Researched and written by our automated news system.