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Remove Someone from Microsoft Family Group Without Losing 365 Access
Question details
The user wants to know if they can remove a member from a Microsoft Family group without that person losing access to shared Microsoft 365 Family subscription benefits.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 Family
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Managing Microsoft Family group members and shared Office 365 subscription benefits.
- Observed behavior
- Currently, removing a user from the Microsoft Family group automatically revokes their access to the shared Microsoft 365 Family subscription.
Before making changes to your Microsoft Family group, be aware that family safety settings and Microsoft 365 subscription sharing are permanently linked within Microsoft's ecosystem.
Keep the Member in the Family Group to Retain Access
Because Microsoft links 365 Family subscriptions directly to Family group membership, the only way to retain access is to keep the person in the group.
Membership in the Microsoft Family group is currently tied to sharing a Microsoft 365 Family subscription. Removing a person from the Family group also removes their shared subscription access.
Sign in to your Microsoft account in a web browser and navigate to the Family safety dashboard.
Look at the list of members in your family group. Note that anyone you select to 'Remove from family group' will instantly lose their Microsoft 365 benefits.
Leave the member in the family group so they can continue using shared benefits like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage.
Transition the User to a Standalone Subscription
If you absolutely must remove the user from the family group, they will need their own separate subscription to continue using Office apps.
Try WPS Office for Free if You Lose Microsoft 365 Access
If removing someone from your Microsoft Family group causes them to lose access to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, WPS Office is the perfect free alternative. It offers a familiar interface, is lightweight, and doesn't require complex family group sharing.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your device.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the quick on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files to continue working seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do files get deleted if I remove someone from my Microsoft Family group?
No, their files stored on OneDrive will not be deleted immediately. However, if their storage exceeds the free 5GB limit after losing the 1TB Microsoft 365 benefit, their OneDrive will be frozen until they free up space or buy more storage.
Can I share Microsoft 365 Family with a friend outside my household?
Yes, you can invite anyone to your Microsoft 365 Family subscription. However, they must be added to your Microsoft Family group, which may apply family safety and tracking settings depending on their account roles.
Is it possible to hide a user in the Microsoft Family group instead of removing them?
No, Microsoft does not offer a feature to 'hide' members. Everyone in the family group is visible in the family dashboard, and their subscription access is tied to this visibility.
What happens to the Microsoft Office apps installed on their computer when removed?
The Office applications will remain installed on their device, but they will switch to view-only mode. The user will be prompted to activate the software with a valid subscription or product key to resume editing.
