MICROSOFT has begun rolling out a overhaul of storage for Microsoft 365 Family and Premium subscriptions, shifting away from per-user quotas to a shared pool. Previously, each member on a Family plan enjoyed an independent 1 TB of OneDrive storage, giving up to 6 TB per subscription. The new policy cuts the total available space to a single shared 2 TB pool, which must be shared among up to six members. The change means an average of around 333 GB per person, potentially constraining power users who relied on the older 6 TB total.
Microsoft justifies the move by emphasising that unused space can be reallocated among members, though the reality depends on whether idle space exists and whether files are collectively managed. Individual accounts retain ownership and privacy of files, but once the 2 TB limit is exceeded, users must delete content or buy more storage. The Personal plan remains unchanged at 1 TB, but at a higher unit price than the new shared Family option for many users.
An expansion path is offered up to 10 TB, with some existing customers possibly receiving transitional extra space, though exact pricing and automatic allocation details were not clarified.
The rollout timeline places new or upgraded subscriptions under the shared model from 8 October 2026, with existing Family or Premium plans transitioning at their first renewal on or after 2 May 2027; early upgrades may take effect immediately, and a one-year grace period is provided before any potential deletions for oversized files.