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Can Microsoft 365 Personal Share OneDrive Storage Between Family Profiles?
Question details
The user wants to know whether the 1 TB of OneDrive storage included with a Microsoft 365 Personal subscription can be divided or shared among multiple family profiles or Microsoft accounts.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 and OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to allocate cloud storage for different family members using a single Microsoft 365 Personal subscription on shared or separate computers.
- Observed behavior
- The subscription provides exactly 1 TB of storage exclusively for the primary subscribing account, with no built-in option to split it among other Microsoft accounts.
Log into your Microsoft account dashboard to verify your current subscription tier (Personal or Family) before modifying any account sharing settings.
Upgrade to Microsoft 365 Family
To provide separate 1 TB OneDrive storage allocations for up to 5 additional family members, you must upgrade your Personal plan to a Family subscription.
Microsoft 365 Personal is designed strictly for a single user. Because Microsoft accounts cannot and should not be shared between different individuals, upgrading to the Family tier is the only official method to grant distinct storage allocations to other profiles.
Navigate to the Microsoft account dashboard in your web browser and sign in with the email associated with your Microsoft 365 Personal subscription.
Go to the 'Services & subscriptions' tab, locate your Microsoft 365 Personal plan, and click on 'Upgrade to Microsoft 365 Family'.
Follow the on-screen prompts to pay the pro-rated difference and confirm your new subscription plan.
Once upgraded, navigate to the 'Sharing' tab and send email invitations to your family members. Each accepted invitation will grant them their own private 1 TB of OneDrive storage.
Use the Same Account on Multiple Devices
If you do not want to upgrade and only need to access files across different devices, you can sign in with the same primary Microsoft account.
Switch to WPS Office for a Cost-Effective Family Solution
If upgrading to Microsoft 365 Family is too expensive just to get separate accounts for your household, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative to Microsoft Office, making it easy for every family member to have their own productivity suite without costly monthly subscriptions.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your preferred operating system.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the quick installation wizard to set up the suite on your computer.
- 3. Create Separate Accounts: Have each family member create their own free WPS account to access built-in cloud storage and sync their personal documents privately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my Microsoft 365 Personal subscription with my spouse?
No, Microsoft 365 Personal is meant for a single user. While you can install it on multiple devices, you cannot create a separate profile for your spouse. They would have to use your account, giving them full access to your private OneDrive files.
How much storage does a Family subscription provide?
Microsoft 365 Family provides up to 6 TB of total cloud storage. This is strictly allocated as 1 TB per person for up to 6 people (you and 5 invited family members).
Will I lose my files if I upgrade from Personal to Family?
No, your files will remain perfectly safe. Upgrading to a Family plan simply changes your billing tier and unlocks the ability to invite others; it does not affect the data already stored in your personal OneDrive.
