Key points
- Microsoft 365 Family plans currently provide 1TB of OneDrive storage for each family member.
- The vendor is preparing to dramatically shrink this per-user storage allotment.
- The change affects shared Microsoft 365 subscriptions rather than individual plans.
Microsoft intends to remove the individual one-terabyte OneDrive storage benefit included in shared Microsoft 365 Family plans. According to reports from ZDNET Security, this change will dramatically reduce the total cloud storage available to households using these subscriptions. Small-business owners who utilize family plans for small teams or home offices should review their current usage immediately.
In plain English
Currently, every person added to a Microsoft 365 Family account receives one terabyte of private OneDrive cloud storage. This means a household with six members has six terabytes of total space. Microsoft is changing this model, ending the per-user storage perk. The company will shrink the overall allotment, meaning users will no longer receive that individual bonus space.
The background
Shared Microsoft 365 plans have long included this generous storage benefit to encourage multi-user adoption. As noted by ZDNET, the current structure allows each family member to store large files, photos, and documents independently. This benefit distinguishes family plans from single-user offerings. The upcoming reduction signals a shift in how Microsoft values shared subscription tiers.
What changes now
Users with shared Microsoft 365 plans should expect a significant drop in available cloud space. The vendor has announced it is about to shrink the allotment, though specific new limits were not detailed in the initial reports. This affects anyone sharing a Microsoft 365 Family subscription. IT teams managing these accounts must prepare for reduced capacity.
What to do and how to stay safe: Microsoft
- Audit current OneDrive usage across all family or team members to identify large files that can be archived or deleted.
- Review subscription options to determine if a different Microsoft 365 plan offers better storage value for your specific needs.
- Monitor official Microsoft communications for exact dates and new storage limits to plan migration or cleanup tasks accordingly.
- Consider external backup solutions for critical data that exceeds the new, reduced storage allowances.
Step-by-step guide: Phishing Risks and Protection for Small Business Operations
General security guidance from the Patch Herald newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
Does this storage change affect individual Microsoft 365 Personal subscriptions?
The reports specifically mention shared Microsoft 365 Family plans and the per-user benefit for family members.
How much storage will Microsoft 365 Family users have after the change?
The source material states the allotment will shrink dramatically but does not specify the new exact storage amount.
When will this storage reduction take effect?
Reports indicate Microsoft is "about to" shrink the allotment, but no specific implementation date was provided in the source material.
