'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Share Microsoft 365 Family with Another Device or User
Question details
The user wants to know how to share their Microsoft 365 Family subscription with another person so they can use Office on their own household device.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Sharing a family subscription with another individual, enabling them to install Office apps and access personal OneDrive storage using their own Microsoft account.
- Observed behavior
- The subscription owner needs to grant access to up to five other people and understand the installation and sign-in limits for shared devices.
Ensure you are signed in to the primary Microsoft account that holds the active Microsoft 365 Family subscription.
Share Microsoft 365 Family via Email or Link Invitation
Send a sharing invitation from your Microsoft account dashboard to grant another household member access to your Family subscription.
Microsoft 365 Family allows the primary owner to share the subscription with up to five other people. Each person gets their own separate 1 TB of OneDrive storage and can install the Office applications on their own devices using their personal Microsoft account.
Navigate to account.microsoft.com/services in your web browser and sign in. Confirm that your active plan is listed as 'Microsoft 365 Family'.
Go to account.microsoft.com/services/office/sharing. Locate and click on the 'Start sharing' button to open the invitation options.
Choose to invite the other person by entering their email address or by copying a direct sharing link to send to them manually.
The recipient must open the email or link, accept the invitation, and sign in at office.com with their own Microsoft account to download and install the Microsoft 365 applications.
Looking for a Hassle-Free, Free Alternative to Microsoft 365?
If managing subscription sharing, invitations, and device limits is becoming frustrating for your household, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, entirely free alternative to Microsoft Office that anyone can install and use immediately without complicated family plans.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the lightweight suite on any household device.
- 3. Open Your Files Instantly: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents without needing to sign into a shared subscription account.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can I share my Microsoft 365 Family subscription with?
You can share your Microsoft 365 Family subscription with up to five other people, meaning a total of six individuals can enjoy the benefits of the subscription simultaneously.
Will my family members be able to see my personal files if I share my subscription?
No, they will not. Each person you share the subscription with gets their own private Microsoft account access and a separate 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage. Your files remain completely private unless you explicitly choose to share specific documents with them.
What happens if I sign into Microsoft 365 on more than five devices?
While you can install the applications on as many devices as you like, you can only remain signed in on five devices at the same time. If you sign in on a sixth device, Microsoft will automatically sign you out of one of the previous devices to maintain the active device limit.
