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How to Upgrade Selected Users from Microsoft 365 Plan 1 to Plan 2
Question details
The user needs to increase the mailbox capacity for a specific subset of employees by upgrading their Microsoft 365 licenses from Plan 1 (50 GB limit) to Plan 2 (100 GB limit) without affecting the rest of the organization.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- An administrator wants to allocate an upgraded enterprise license to only five specific users out of a 100-user organization to increase their mailbox storage.
- Observed behavior
- The user is seeking the correct procedure to purchase and assign the Plan 2 licenses to only the targeted individuals while effectively replacing their previous Plan 1 licenses.
Ensure you have global admin or billing admin privileges in the Microsoft 365 admin center before attempting to purchase or modify user licenses.
Upgrade a Single Selected User to Plan 2
Purchase a Plan 2 license and assign it individually to a specific user's account.
Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center. Navigate to Billing, click on Purchase services, and purchase the required number of Plan 2 licenses.
Go to the Users menu and select Active users. Find and click on the specific user account you wish to upgrade.
Open the 'Licenses and apps' tab in the user's details pane. Select the newly purchased Plan 2 license and uncheck the Plan 1 license, then save your changes.
Bulk Upgrade Multiple Selected Users to Plan 2
Efficiently replace existing Plan 1 license assignments with Plan 2 for a specific group of users simultaneously.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the mailbox capacity difference between Microsoft 365 Plan 1 and Plan 2?
Generally, an Exchange Online Plan 1 license provides a 50 GB mailbox capacity per user, whereas a Plan 2 license doubles that capacity, providing a 100 GB mailbox. Note that exact limits may vary subject to specific subscription and service terms.
Will users lose emails during the upgrade from Plan 1 to Plan 2?
No, upgrading a license by replacing the existing assignment in the Microsoft 365 admin center is completely seamless. It simply expands the storage capacity and feature set; all user data, emails, and settings remain perfectly intact.
Why can't I find the Exchange Plan 2 option in the admin center?
Ensure you are navigating correctly to 'Billing > Purchase services'. If the Plan 2 option is still not visible, it might be due to restrictions based on your current base subscription tier or regional availability. In such cases, contacting Microsoft billing support is recommended.
