Fix Microsoft 365 Basic Storage Showing 5GB Instead of 100GB
Question details
The user has purchased a Microsoft 365 Basic subscription, but their OneDrive storage quota still displays the free 5 GB limit instead of the included 100 GB.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 Basic / OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Upgrading Microsoft 365 Basic subscription to increase cloud storage capacity.
- Observed behavior
- OneDrive storage displays 5 GB instead of the expected 100 GB after the purchase is complete.
Verify that you are signed into the exact Microsoft account used to purchase the Microsoft 365 Basic subscription, and check your email for the official purchase confirmation receipt.
Wait for Account Synchronization and Check OneDrive Web
Microsoft's servers can take several hours to synchronize your new subscription status and update your storage quota across all services.
When upgrading a Microsoft account, the storage entitlement is not always instantaneous. It is common for the system to take a few hours to process the transaction and reflect the new 100 GB limit.
Allow up to four hours to pass after receiving your Microsoft 365 Basic purchase confirmation.
Open a web browser, navigate to the official OneDrive website, and sign in with your Microsoft account credentials.
Click the gear icon in the top right to open Settings, or look at the storage indicator in the bottom-left corner to confirm if your capacity now shows 100 GB.
Unlink and Restart the OneDrive Desktop App
If the web version shows 100 GB but your local desktop app still shows 5 GB, forcing a reconnection can resolve the display issue.
Contact Microsoft Support for Account Verification
If your storage remains at 5 GB after waiting four hours and resetting the app, Microsoft Support needs to manually verify your subscription entitlement.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft 365 take so long to update my storage?
When you purchase a new subscription like Microsoft 365 Basic, the transaction data needs to propagate through Microsoft's billing and server networks. This synchronization process can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to reflect on your local OneDrive account.
Will I lose my files if I unlink my OneDrive account to fix the storage issue?
No, unlinking your PC from OneDrive only stops the local synchronization process. Your locally downloaded files remain on your hard drive, and all files synced to the cloud remain safely stored online.
How can I check if my Microsoft 365 Basic subscription is currently active?
Log into your Microsoft account on the web, navigate to the 'Services & subscriptions' page, and verify if Microsoft 365 Basic is listed under your active subscriptions along with your recent purchase date.
