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How to Purchase Exchange Online Archiving for One User in Microsoft 365
Question details
The user needs to purchase and assign an Exchange Online Archiving add-on license for a single account to increase mailbox archive capacity.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 / Exchange Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Expanding mailbox archive storage for a specific user who requires more capacity than their standard plan provides.
- Observed behavior
- The standard mailbox archive capacity is insufficient, requiring the administrator to navigate the billing portal to acquire and allocate an additional Exchange Online Archiving license.
Ensure you are signed in to the Microsoft 365 admin center using an account with Global Administrator or Billing Administrator privileges.
Purchase and Assign the License in the Admin Center
Use the Microsoft 365 billing portal to purchase the Archiving add-on and assign it directly to the affected user.
Exchange Online Archiving is treated as an add-on license in Microsoft 365. You must first purchase the correct quantity of licenses before you can assign them to individual users.
Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center. In the left navigation menu, go to 'Billing' and then click on 'Purchase services'.
Search for 'Exchange Online Archiving' in the product list. Select the add-on, specify the quantity as 1 (for one user), and click 'Buy' to complete the checkout process.
Navigate to 'Users' > 'Active users' in the left menu. Select the user who needs the archiving capacity, go to the 'Licenses and apps' tab, check the box for 'Exchange Online Archiving', and save your changes.
Contact Microsoft 365 Billing Support
If you cannot find the Exchange Online Archiving option in your billing portal or cannot assign it, contact support for assistance.
Looking for a cost-effective alternative to Microsoft Office?
While Microsoft 365 handles your Exchange email and archiving needs, you can significantly reduce your software costs by using WPS Office for your document creation and editing. WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install and launch: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the quick on-screen instructions to install the application.
- 3. Open your files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft Office documents without losing any formatting or layouts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I assign an Exchange Online Archiving license without a primary mailbox?
No, Exchange Online Archiving is an add-on. The user must already have a primary mailbox licensed through an eligible Microsoft 365 or Exchange Online plan before the archiving add-on can be successfully assigned.
Why is the Exchange Online Archiving option missing from 'Purchase services'?
The option might be hidden if your current base subscription already includes unlimited archiving (e.g., Office 365 E3 or E5), or if your licenses are managed by a Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partner. If you use a partner, you must request add-on purchases directly through them.
How does the user access the newly purchased archive mailbox?
Once the license is assigned and provisioning is complete, an 'In-Place Archive' or 'Online Archive' folder will automatically appear in the user's left navigation pane in both the Outlook desktop client and Outlook on the web.
