License & Subscription Issues

Why OneDrive Education Storage Dropped from 5TB to 100GB

Adam Davis Sep 30, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user's Microsoft 365 Education OneDrive storage capacity decreased from 5 TB to 100 GB.

Why Did OneDrive Education Storage Drop from 5 TB to 100 GB?

Product: Microsoft OneDrive Education
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Checking available cloud storage space on a school-provided Microsoft 365 account.
Observed behavior: The OneDrive storage limit suddenly displays as 100 GB instead of the original 5 TB, although some peers may still show the larger capacity.

Before you start

Before proceeding, log into your school's Microsoft 365 portal to confirm your current subscription type (such as Office 365 A1) and review your current storage usage.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Your A1 License and Contact Your School IT Administrator

Understand how the recent Microsoft 365 A1 storage policy change applies to your account and request a storage increase or license upgrade from your institution.

Starting February 1, 2024, Microsoft implemented a policy change that reduced the maximum OneDrive storage limit to 100 GB per user for the free Office 365 A1 education subscription. Because this update is being rolled out gradually across all educational organizations, some user accounts may already reflect the 100 GB limit while others temporarily retain the older 5 TB capacity.

Check Your Microsoft 365 License

Log in to your school's Microsoft 365 portal, navigate to your account settings by clicking your profile picture, select 'View account', and click on 'Subscriptions' to verify if you are assigned the Office 365 A1 plan.

Review Current Storage Usage

Open OneDrive on the web, click the gear icon to access Settings, select 'OneDrive settings', and click 'More Settings' followed by 'Storage Metrics' to see how much of your 100 GB quota is currently utilized.

Contact Your School's IT Support

Reach out directly to your school's Microsoft 365 administrator or IT help desk. Ask if they can assign you an alternative license with a larger capacity (such as Microsoft 365 A3 or A5) or if they can allocate additional pooled storage to your specific account.

Verify Your A1 License and Contact Your School IT Administrator

Account Limitations Over 100 GB: If your existing files exceed the new 100 GB limit, your OneDrive will become read-only. You will not be able to upload new files or edit existing ones in the cloud until you delete enough data to fall below the storage threshold.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Need a reliable alternative for your school documents? Try WPS Office

If your Microsoft 365 Education cloud storage has been restricted and you need a cost-effective suite for your academic assignments, WPS Office provides a lightweight, fully compatible alternative with its own cloud storage options.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download WPS Office Free and install it on your device.
2. Create an Account: Sign in to activate your free WPS Cloud storage for easy document syncing and backup.
3. Open Your Files: Directly open your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files and start editing immediately without format loss.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats, including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx.Lightweight design ensures smooth performance on all student laptops and devices.Built-in WPS Cloud storage offers an alternative way to back up essential school files securely.Free core features for students, saving you from expensive personal subscription upgrades.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I personally purchase more OneDrive storage for my education account?

No. Educational accounts are fully managed by your school or university. You cannot purchase standalone storage upgrades for a school-provided Office 365 A1 account; you must request any upgrades through your IT administrator.

What happens to my files if I am currently over the new 100 GB storage limit?

Your files will remain secure, but your OneDrive account will become read-only. This means you will be blocked from uploading new documents, syncing files, or editing existing files in the cloud until you delete enough data to get back under the 100 GB limit.

Are all Microsoft 365 Education accounts affected by this storage drop?

No. The reduction to 100 GB per user specifically targets the no-cost Office 365 A1 subscription. Paid education plans, such as Microsoft 365 A3 and A5, typically offer higher individual storage limits, though they are still governed by total pooled storage limits set by the institution.

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