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How to Upgrade and Merge Microsoft 365 Personal Accounts to Family Plan
Question details
The user wants to know if it is possible to merge two separate Microsoft 365 Personal subscriptions into a single shared Microsoft 365 Family plan to consolidate billing and save on costs.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Consolidating two individual Microsoft 365 Personal subscriptions into one shared Family plan.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft accounts cannot be directly merged, but a Family subscription can be shared with up to five other accounts after upgrading one account and modifying the subscription of the other.
Ensure you have the login credentials for both Microsoft accounts and verify the current billing status and expiration dates of both Microsoft 365 Personal subscriptions before making any changes.
Upgrade One Account to Microsoft 365 Family and Send an Invite
Since Microsoft accounts cannot be directly merged, the best approach is to upgrade one Personal subscription to a Family plan and invite the second account.
While you cannot merge the actual Microsoft accounts, Microsoft 365 Family allows you to share your premium benefits with up to five other people. Each person keeps their own separate account, files, and storage.
Navigate to the Microsoft 365 subscription management page and sign in using the primary account that you wish to upgrade.
Select the option to upgrade your current Microsoft 365 Personal plan to Microsoft 365 Family. Follow the checkout process to pay the difference or adjust the billing cycle.
Once the account is successfully upgraded, go to the 'Sharing' tab located in your Microsoft account dashboard.
Click the 'Start sharing' button and enter the email address associated with the second Microsoft account to send them a Family group invitation link.
Log in to the email inbox of the second account, locate the invitation email from Microsoft, and click the link to accept the invite and join the Family group.
Cancel or Modify the Second Account's Subscription
To avoid double billing, the second account must manage its existing Personal subscription before or after accepting the Family plan invitation.
Looking for a Cost-Effective Alternative? Try WPS Office
If managing multiple Microsoft 365 subscriptions is becoming too expensive or complicated, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a robust, lightweight, and free alternative that is highly compatible with all your existing Microsoft Office files.
- 1. Visit the WPS Office website: Go to the official WPS Office website using your web browser.
- 2. Download the software: Click the 'Free Download' button corresponding to your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux).
- 3. Install and launch: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your device.
- 4. Open existing files: Open your Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files directly in WPS Office without losing any of your original formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my OneDrive files when switching from Personal to a shared Family plan?
No, your OneDrive files remain linked to your specific Microsoft account. When you accept a Family plan invitation, your account retains its existing files, and your cloud storage allowance is maintained at 1TB.
Will I get a refund if I cancel my Microsoft 365 Personal subscription to join a Family plan?
Refunds depend on your subscription status and local laws. If you cancel shortly after purchasing or renewing, you may be eligible for a refund. Otherwise, you can turn off recurring billing and wait for it to expire, or contact Microsoft Support for specific billing assistance.
Can the other members of the Family plan see my private documents?
No. Even though the subscription payment is shared, each user has their own private Microsoft account. Other members of the Family group cannot access your OneDrive files, emails, or personal documents unless you explicitly share a specific file or folder with them.
How many people can share a Microsoft 365 Family subscription?
A Microsoft 365 Family subscription can be shared with up to 5 other people, meaning a total of 6 people (including the subscription owner) can enjoy the premium Office apps and 1TB of OneDrive storage each.
