File Sharing Problems

How to Share OneDrive Storage Across Microsoft 365 Family Accounts

Khadija Khan Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to combine or share OneDrive storage allocations among members of a Microsoft 365 Family subscription.

How to Share OneDrive Storage Across Microsoft 365 Family Accounts

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing family subscription storage and collaborating on files across different accounts.
Observed behavior: Microsoft 365 Family provides separate storage for each user, and the system does not allow these individual capacities to be pooled or transferred.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into your primary Microsoft 365 Family account and have the exact email addresses of the family members you wish to collaborate with.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Shared Folders for Collaboration Between Accounts

Since Microsoft does not allow pooling storage, the best workaround is to create and share folders with edit permissions to collaborate efficiently.

In Microsoft 365 Family, each account receives its own separate OneDrive storage allocation. This storage cannot be directly combined, pooled, or transferred between family members.

To work around this limitation and collaborate effectively, you can share specific folders from one account to another, granting full edit permissions so multiple people can access, add, and manage the same files.

Log into OneDrive

Open your web browser and sign in to your OneDrive account using your Microsoft 365 Family credentials.

Select the Folder to Share

Create a new folder or right-click an existing folder you want to use for shared family storage, then select the 'Share' option from the context menu.

Enter Family Member Details

In the sharing dialogue box, type the email address associated with your family member's Microsoft account.

Grant Edit Permissions

Click the permissions dropdown menu and select 'Can edit' to ensure they have full rights to add, modify, and delete files within that folder.

Send the Invitation

Click 'Send' to dispatch the sharing invitation. The recipient can now access this folder from the 'Shared' section in their own OneDrive.

Use Shared Folders for Collaboration Between Accounts

Storage Limits: Files placed inside a shared folder only count against the storage quota of the folder owner, not the individuals it is shared with.

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1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office on your Windows, Mac, or mobile device.
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3. Share Documents: Upload your documents to WPS Cloud and generate sharing links with customized view or edit permissions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pool all Microsoft 365 Family storage into one large account?

No, Microsoft 365 Family allocates separate OneDrive storage to each of the family members. You cannot combine these individual capacities into a single, larger storage pool.

Do files shared with me count against my personal OneDrive storage?

No, files and folders shared with you only consume the storage quota of the person who originally created and shared the folder.

How do I access folders that a family member has shared with me?

Log in to your OneDrive account, navigate to the left sidebar, and click on the 'Shared' section. Here you will see all files and folders that have been shared with your account.

Can I buy more storage for just one account in Microsoft 365 Family?

Yes, individual users in a Microsoft 365 Family plan can purchase additional OneDrive storage subscriptions for their specific account if they exceed their standard limit.

Document & File Issues