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Fix OneDrive Showing 5 GB Instead of 1 TB After Microsoft 365 Family Upgrade
Question details
The user's OneDrive account continues to display a 5 GB storage limit instead of the expected 1 TB after upgrading from an expired Microsoft 365 Personal plan to a Microsoft 365 Family subscription.
- Product
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Upgrading to a Microsoft 365 Family subscription and expecting the 1 TB cloud storage quota to be applied to the account.
- Observed behavior
- The storage quota does not update automatically, leaving the account stuck at the free 5 GB tier even though the new subscription is active.
Log in to your Microsoft Account dashboard via a web browser and confirm that your Microsoft 365 Family subscription status is listed as 'Active'.
Allow Time for Server Propagation
Storage entitlement updates can take time to propagate across Microsoft's servers, so waiting and re-signing in is the safest first step.
When switching between subscription tiers (such as Personal to Family), the automated provisioning process is not always instantaneous. Microsoft explicitly advises that storage quota updates may require up to 72 hours to fully sync across all shared and primary accounts.
Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray or menu bar, select 'Help & Settings', and click 'Settings'. Go to the 'Account' tab and click 'Unlink this PC'.
Allow up to 72 hours for the new 1 TB storage quota to refresh on the backend servers.
Open the OneDrive app again and sign in using the Microsoft account associated with the Family subscription to fetch the updated quota.
Manually Trigger a Storage Refresh
Deleting and restoring a small amount of data can sometimes force the OneDrive servers to recalculate your storage quota.
Contact Microsoft Support for Manual Provisioning
If the primary or shared accounts remain stuck at 5 GB after 72 hours, intervention from Microsoft Support is required.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Microsoft 365 Family shared account only have 5 GB of OneDrive storage?
It can take up to 72 hours for the 1 TB quota to reflect on shared accounts after they accept the Family invitation. If it still shows 5 GB after this period, the primary account holder may need to remove and re-invite the user, or contact support.
Do I need to uninstall and reinstall the OneDrive app to update my storage capacity?
No, reinstalling the application does not affect your cloud storage entitlement. Simply unlinking your account and signing back in is usually sufficient to refresh the local app's storage display.
Will I lose my files if my Microsoft 365 Personal plan expires before the Family plan is fully activated?
No. Even if your subscription temporarily lapses and your quota reverts to 5 GB, your files remain safely stored in a read-only state. You will regain full editing access once the new Family subscription is synced.
