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How to Add Exchange Online Plan 2 to Microsoft 365 Business Standard
Question details
The user needs to increase a specific user's mailbox capacity from 50 GB to 100 GB in Microsoft 365 Business Standard without affecting other users.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 / Exchange Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Upgrading the mailbox storage limit for a single user by purchasing and assigning an add-on license.
- Observed behavior
- The user wants to successfully acquire Exchange Online Plan 2 from the Marketplace and assign it to the target user, replacing the default Plan 1.
Ensure you are logged into the Microsoft 365 admin center with Global Administrator or Billing Administrator permissions before attempting to purchase or assign new licenses.
Purchase and Assign Exchange Online Plan 2
Buy the Exchange Online Plan 2 license from the Microsoft 365 Marketplace and reassign licenses for the specific user.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard includes Exchange Online Plan 1, which provides a 50 GB mailbox limit. To upgrade a single user to a 100 GB limit, you need to purchase a standalone Exchange Online Plan 2 license. Because a user cannot have two conflicting Exchange plans at the same time, you must first disable the default Plan 1 license before assigning Plan 2.
Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center. Navigate to Billing > Purchase services or use the search bar to find the 'Marketplace'.
Search for 'Exchange Online Plan 2' in the Marketplace. Select the plan, specify that you need one license, and complete the checkout process.
Go to Users > Active users in the left-hand navigation menu. Click on the name of the user whose mailbox you wish to upgrade to open their properties panel.
Click on the 'Licenses and apps' tab. Scroll down to the 'Apps' section for their current Business Standard license, and uncheck the box next to 'Exchange Online (Plan 1)'.
Scroll back up to the 'Licenses' section. Check the box to assign the newly purchased 'Exchange Online Plan 2' license to the user, then click 'Save changes'.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will assigning Exchange Online Plan 2 delete the user's existing emails?
No. Upgrading to Exchange Online Plan 2 simply increases the storage limit of the existing mailbox from 50 GB to 100 GB. All current emails, contacts, rules, and calendar events will remain entirely intact.
Why do I have to disable Exchange Online Plan 1 first?
A user account cannot have two conflicting Exchange Online licenses active at the same time. You must turn off the Plan 1 module included in the Business Standard bundle so the standalone Plan 2 license can take over the mailbox provisioning.
Do I need to upgrade licenses for all users in my organization?
No. You can purchase and assign an Exchange Online Plan 2 license for just a single user. The rest of your organization will remain on their standard Microsoft 365 Business Standard licenses with 50 GB mailboxes.
What if I cannot find Exchange Online Plan 2 under Purchase services?
If it does not appear under 'Purchase services', check the 'Marketplace' tab within the Microsoft 365 admin center. Also, ensure your account has the Global Administrator or Billing Administrator role, as standard users cannot view or purchase add-on services.
