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Does Exchange Online Plan 1 Add Mailbox Storage to Microsoft 365 Business Standard?
Question details
The user wants to know if purchasing an additional Exchange Online Plan 1 license will add an extra 50 GB of mailbox storage to a Microsoft 365 Business Standard account.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 / Exchange Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Evaluating mailbox storage upgrade options for an existing Microsoft 365 Business Standard subscription.
- Observed behavior
- The user is seeking clarification on whether an add-on Exchange plan stacks with the current 50 GB storage allocation to increase the overall mailbox capacity.
Verify your current Microsoft 365 subscription tier and check your existing mailbox usage in the Microsoft 365 admin center before purchasing any additional licenses.
Upgrade to Exchange Online Plan 2 or Microsoft 365 Enterprise
Microsoft 365 Business Standard already includes Plan 1. You cannot stack licenses to increase storage; you must upgrade to a higher-tier plan to reach a 100 GB limit.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard inherently includes an Exchange Online Plan 1 license, which provides a default mailbox limit of 50 GB. Purchasing an additional Exchange Online Plan 1 standalone license for the same user will not stack or combine the storage limits.
To increase a user's mailbox capacity from 50 GB to 100 GB, you need to assign them a license that explicitly supports a 100 GB mailbox.
Avoid buying a standalone Exchange Online Plan 1 if you already have Microsoft 365 Business Standard, as it will not provide an additional 50 GB of storage.
To get a 100 GB mailbox, purchase either an Exchange Online Plan 2 add-on, or upgrade the user's base subscription to Microsoft 365 Enterprise E3 or E5.
Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center, navigate to Users > Active users, select the target user, and apply the newly purchased Exchange Online Plan 2 or Enterprise license to their account.
Looking for a Cost-Effective Alternative to Microsoft 365?
While extending Exchange mailbox limits requires upgrading your Microsoft subscription, if you are looking to save money on your core desktop productivity tools, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installer compatible with your operating system.
- 2. Install the application: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
- 3. Open and edit your files: Launch WPS Writer, Spreadsheet, or Presentation to immediately open and continue working on your existing Microsoft Office files.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard mailbox limit for Microsoft 365 Business Standard?
The standard mailbox limit is 50 GB, as the subscription inherently includes Exchange Online Plan 1.
Can I stack two Exchange Online Plan 1 licenses to get a 100 GB mailbox?
No, adding a second Exchange Online Plan 1 license to the same user does not combine the storage capacities. You must purchase a higher-tier plan to increase the limit.
Which Microsoft 365 plans include a 100 GB mailbox?
Plans that include a 100 GB primary mailbox by default are Exchange Online Plan 2, Microsoft 365 Enterprise E3, and Microsoft 365 Enterprise E5.
