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How to Increase Microsoft 365 Business Mailbox Storage
Question details
The user needs to increase the storage capacity of a nearly full Microsoft 365 Business Standard mailbox.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A user is running out of email space and needs to know which license or feature provides additional mailbox capacity.
- Observed behavior
- The primary mailbox has reached or is approaching its 50 GB storage limit, preventing the user from managing emails effectively.
Ensure you have global administrator or Exchange administrator privileges in your Microsoft 365 tenant, as these permissions are required to modify user licenses or enable archive features.
Upgrade to an Exchange Online Plan 2 License
Upgrading to a license that includes Exchange Online Plan 2 increases the primary mailbox storage from 50 GB to 100 GB.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard includes an Exchange Online Plan 1 mailbox with a 50 GB quota. To get a larger primary mailbox, you need to assign a license that includes Exchange Online Plan 2, such as Office 365 E3 or E5.
Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center using your administrator credentials.
Go to the 'Users' section in the left navigation menu and select 'Active users'.
Click on the name of the user whose mailbox is nearly full to open their details pane.
Go to the 'Licenses and apps' tab, uncheck the current license, and assign a new license that includes Exchange Online Plan 2, then click 'Save changes'.
Enable an Archive Mailbox
Enable archiving to provide the user with a secondary mailbox for storing older emails, freeing up space in the primary mailbox.
Utilize a Shared Mailbox for Generic Emails
Move generic organizational emails to a shared mailbox to save individual primary mailbox space.
Looking for a cost-effective alternative to Microsoft 365?
While expanding Microsoft 365 storage often requires purchasing higher-tier, expensive licenses, switching your standard productivity suite to WPS Office can help balance your software budget. WPS Office offers powerful word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software for free, allowing you to invest your IT resources where they matter most.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
- 3. Start Creating: Launch WPS Office to instantly open, edit, and save your existing Microsoft Office documents without any formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the default mailbox size for Microsoft 365 Business Standard?
The default primary mailbox size for Microsoft 365 Business Standard, which includes Exchange Online Plan 1, is 50 GB.
Can I buy more storage without upgrading my entire Microsoft 365 plan?
You cannot directly purchase standalone storage blocks for the primary mailbox. You must either upgrade to a license with Exchange Online Plan 2 (which provides 100 GB) or purchase an Exchange Online Archiving add-on if you only need extra archive space.
Does archiving emails automatically increase my primary storage quota?
No, enabling an archive mailbox provides a separate, dedicated storage space. However, moving older emails from your primary mailbox to the archive mailbox will free up space in your primary 50 GB quota.
How do I check how much mailbox storage I have left?
Users can check their storage in Outlook on the web by clicking the gear icon (Settings), navigating to 'General', and then selecting 'Storage' to view their current usage and limits.
