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How to Add an Existing Hotmail or Outlook Account to Microsoft 365 Family
Question details
The user wants to share Microsoft 365 Family subscription benefits with an existing Hotmail or Outlook.com account that is running out of storage.
- Product
- Microsoft 365, Outlook.com
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Sharing a Microsoft 365 Family subscription to upgrade an existing free Microsoft email account's storage capacity.
- Observed behavior
- The user needs a way to link an existing Hotmail or Outlook account to an active Microsoft 365 Family plan to unlock additional storage benefits without purchasing a separate subscription.
Ensure you have the login credentials for the main Microsoft 365 Family subscriber account and the exact email address of the Hotmail or Outlook account you wish to invite.
Invite the Hotmail or Outlook Account to Your Family Group
The primary Microsoft 365 Family subscriber can share their subscription by sending an invitation link to the existing Outlook or Hotmail account through the Microsoft account dashboard.
By inviting an existing Microsoft account to your family group, they retain their current email address and files while gaining access to premium subscription benefits.
Go to the Microsoft account sharing page and log in using the primary Microsoft 365 Family subscriber's credentials.
Locate the 'Share your subscription' section on the Services & subscriptions page.
Select 'Start sharing', choose 'Invite via email', and enter the existing Hotmail or Outlook.com email address you want to add.
Have the invitee open their Hotmail or Outlook inbox, find the invitation email, and click 'Accept' to join the family group and activate the storage benefits.
Looking for a Free Alternative to Microsoft 365?
If subscription costs and storage limits are becoming a hassle, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a comprehensive, lightweight suite for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations without the recurring fees.
- 1. Download the WPS Office installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
- 2. Install the software: Run the setup file and follow the quick on-screen instructions to install the suite.
- 3. Open your existing files: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files to continue working seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does sharing my Microsoft 365 Family subscription merge our email accounts?
No, sharing your subscription only shares the premium benefits, such as increased OneDrive and Outlook.com storage. Each person's email, files, and passwords remain strictly private.
How much storage does an invited Hotmail or Outlook account receive?
An account successfully added to a Microsoft 365 Family subscription receives 1 TB of personal OneDrive cloud storage and an expanded 50 GB Outlook.com mailbox capacity.
What should I do if the invited user doesn't receive the email invitation?
If the email invitation doesn't arrive in their Hotmail or Outlook inbox, you can log into your Microsoft sharing dashboard, select 'Create link' under the sharing options, and manually send that direct link to the user.
