License & Subscription Issues

How to Move from a 200 GB OneDrive Plan to Microsoft 365 Basic

Huma Ashraf Ch Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to downgrade an older 200 GB personal OneDrive subscription to a 100 GB Microsoft 365 Basic plan while retaining their standalone Office 2021 installation.

How to Move from a 200 GB OneDrive Plan to Microsoft 365 Basic

Product: Microsoft OneDrive / Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reducing cloud storage costs by switching to a smaller subscription plan without losing access to permanently licensed Office desktop apps.
Observed behavior: The user needs a safe, step-by-step method to transition their account to the Microsoft 365 Basic tier (100 GB) since they are only using about 40 GB of their 200 GB allowance.

Before you start

Ensure your current OneDrive storage usage is well below 100 GB before downgrading to prevent file sync interruptions when the new storage limit takes effect.

Solution 1Recommended

Cancel Current Subscription and Purchase Microsoft 365 Basic

Manually cancel your legacy 200 GB OneDrive plan and subscribe to Microsoft 365 Basic using the same Microsoft account to adjust your storage limit to 100 GB.

Since direct downgrades from legacy standalone OneDrive plans to Microsoft 365 plans might not be available as a one-click option, you need to cancel the old subscription first and then buy the new one. Doing this with the same Microsoft account ensures your existing files remain accessible.

Access Services & Subscriptions

Navigate to the Microsoft Services and Subscriptions page (account.microsoft.com/services) in your web browser and sign in using the Microsoft account associated with your 200 GB OneDrive plan.

Cancel the 200 GB Plan

Locate your current 200 GB personal OneDrive subscription in the list, click 'Manage', and select the option to 'Cancel subscription'.

Purchase Microsoft 365 Basic

Go to the official Microsoft OneDrive plan comparison page (microsoft.com/microsoft-365/onedrive/compare-onedrive-plans). Select and purchase the 'Microsoft 365 Basic' plan using the exact same Microsoft account.

Verify Office 2021 Functionality

Continue using your standalone Office 2021 desktop applications normally. Because Microsoft 365 Basic operates independently of desktop app licenses, your existing programs will remain installed and unaffected.

Cancel Current Subscription and Purchase Microsoft 365 Basic

Office 2021 Compatibility: Microsoft 365 Basic provides 100 GB of storage and web apps but does not include premium Office desktop apps. Your existing Office 2021 programs will continue working perfectly without conflicts.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Looking for a cost-effective alternative to Microsoft Office?

If you are managing subscriptions and trying to reduce software costs, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office without the burden of expensive recurring subscription fees.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installer for Windows, Mac, or Linux, and run the setup file.
2. Open Your Existing Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open any existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files; no file conversion is needed.
3. Enjoy Free Productivity: Use Writer, Spreadsheet, and Presentation tools indefinitely without paying for a premium subscription plan.

Completely free to download and use for essential document, spreadsheet, and presentation tasks.Highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats, ensuring seamless handling of DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files.Built-in 1 GB cloud storage with easy options to integrate third-party cloud drives like Google Drive or Dropbox.Familiar, tabbed user interface makes migrating from Office 2021 or Microsoft 365 incredibly straightforward.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my files when downgrading from 200 GB to 100 GB?

As long as your total stored data is under 100 GB (such as the 40 GB you are currently using), your files will remain safe and accessible. If you exceed 100 GB, you won't be able to upload new files or sync edits until you free up space or upgrade your storage.

Does Microsoft 365 Basic include desktop versions of Word and Excel?

No, Microsoft 365 Basic only includes the web and mobile versions of Microsoft Office applications. However, it will not uninstall or affect your separately purchased, permanent Office 2021 desktop apps.

Can I upgrade my OneDrive storage later if 100 GB is not enough?

Yes. If you need more space in the future, you can visit your Microsoft account settings and upgrade to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family plans, which offer 1 TB or more of cloud storage.

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