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Fix Microsoft 365 A1 Plus 100 GB OneDrive Storage Limit
Question details
Users are noticing their Microsoft 365 A1 Plus education subscriptions only provide 100 GB of OneDrive storage instead of the previously expected 1 TB.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Checking available cloud storage on an educational Microsoft 365 account or attempting to save files to OneDrive.
- Observed behavior
- OneDrive storage capacity displays a strict limit of 100 GB instead of 1 TB due to recent Microsoft education policy changes, and users may also lose access to desktop Office applications.
Log in to your OneDrive account online to verify your current storage usage and confirm which exact Microsoft 365 license your educational institution has assigned to you.
Contact Your School IT Administrator for a License Upgrade
Reach out to your university or school's Microsoft 365 tenant administrator to request an eligible license upgrade or additional storage allocation.
Effective February 1, 2024, Microsoft implemented changes limiting no-cost Microsoft 365 A1 and A1 Plus education subscriptions to 100 GB of OneDrive storage. Furthermore, the A1 Plus tier is being completely retired by Microsoft.
Locate the IT helpdesk or technical support email for your specific educational institution.
Send a formal request asking about your current Microsoft 365 license tier and inquire if your account can be assigned an alternative license or given additional storage quota.
Since standard A1 licenses do not include desktop apps, specifically ask if you can be upgraded to an A3 or A5 license so you can continue using desktop Office programs.
Manage and Free Up Existing OneDrive Space
If upgrading your school license is not an option, you will need to manually manage your files to stay within the new 100 GB limit.
Use WPS Office as a Free Alternative for Desktop Productivity
With the retirement of Microsoft 365 A1 Plus, many students will be downgraded to the standard A1 license, which completely removes access to desktop Office applications. WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and completely free desktop alternative for all your academic writing and data analysis needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Microsoft 365 A1 Plus subscription being retired?
Microsoft is simplifying its education licensing programs by retiring the A1 Plus tier. Educational institutions are transitioning users to either the free A1 tier (which lacks desktop apps and limits storage to 100 GB) or paid tiers like A3 or A5.
Will I lose access to desktop Office applications with a standard A1 license?
Yes. If your school assigns you a standard Microsoft 365 A1 license after the A1 Plus retirement, you will only have access to the web-based versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, not the installable desktop applications.
Can I personally buy more OneDrive storage for my school account?
No. Storage allocations for education accounts are managed centrally by your school's tenant administrator. You must contact your IT department to request additional storage if you exceed the 100 GB limit.
