OneDrive File Issues

How to Increase OneDrive for Business Storage Above 1 TB

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users or administrators need to expand the storage capacity of a OneDrive for Business account beyond the default 1 TB limit.

Product: OneDrive for Business
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: An organization or user has reached the default 1 TB limit on their OneDrive for Business account and requires additional cloud storage space for large files and backups.
Observed behavior: The goal is to successfully allocate more than 1 TB of storage to specific users through administrative tools, or to acquire more pooled storage for the organization.

Before you start

Ensure you have Global Administrator or SharePoint Administrator privileges in your Microsoft 365 tenant, as standard users do not have the permission to modify storage quotas.

Solution 1Recommended

Increase Individual User Storage Quota via PowerShell

Use this method if you are an administrator and your organization has sufficient available tenant storage to allocate more space to a specific user.

By default, OneDrive for Business provides 1 TB of storage per user. Global or SharePoint Administrators can increase this limit up to 5 TB (or 25 TB depending on your subscription plan) using the SharePoint Online Management Shell.

Connect to SharePoint Online

Open the SharePoint Online Management Shell as an administrator and run the command `Connect-SPOService -Url https://<yourtenant>-admin.sharepoint.com` to sign in.

Adjust the Storage Quota

Run the command `Set-SPOSite -Identity <User_OneDrive_URL> -StorageQuota <QuotaInMB>` (e.g., use 5242880 for 5 TB) to increase the specific user's limit.

Verify the Changes

Log into the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, navigate to Active Users, select the user, and check the OneDrive tab to confirm the new storage limit has been applied.

Subscription Limitations: Increasing a user's storage quota above 1 TB is only supported if your Microsoft 365 subscription plan (such as E3, E5, or Plan 2) qualifies for expanded storage.

Solution 2

Purchase Additional Tenant Storage

Use this method if your organization has depleted its available pooled tenant storage and cannot allocate more space to users.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

A Seamless Office Experience Integrated with Your Cloud

While upgrading OneDrive for Business storage requires administrative action, you can still optimize how you work with your files. WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and easy-to-use alternative to Microsoft Office. Enjoy a familiar interface and seamless migration without worrying about format compatibility.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free desktop application for your operating system.
2. Connect Cloud Storage: Open WPS Office, go to the Cloud or Open tab in the workspace, and log in to your OneDrive for Business account.
3. Edit and Save: Open any existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file directly from OneDrive, edit it using WPS Office, and save changes automatically back to the cloud.

100% compatible with Microsoft Office formats like .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx.Familiar user interface ensuring zero learning curve and seamless migration.Lightweight installation that runs smoothly even on older devices.Direct integration with cloud storage services including OneDrive to easily access and save your files.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a standard user increase their own OneDrive for Business storage limit?

No, standard users do not have the administrative rights to change storage quotas. You must contact your IT department or Global Administrator to request a storage increase.

What is the absolute maximum storage limit for a single OneDrive for Business account?

Depending on the enterprise subscription, administrators can independently increase storage up to 5 TB per user. For users needing more, Microsoft support can be contacted to raise the limit up to 25 TB per user, provided the tenant meets specific licensing requirements.

Why is the PowerShell command to increase storage failing?

The command may fail if your organization has exhausted its overall pooled tenant storage limit, or if the specific user's assigned Microsoft 365 license does not support capacities above 1 TB.

Document & File Issues