License & Subscription Issues

Why Your Microsoft 365 Family Storage Shows Only 1 TB

Huda Qurayshi Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know why their Microsoft 365 Family account only provides 1 TB of OneDrive storage when the subscription advertises a 6 TB capacity.

Why Does Microsoft 365 Family Storage Show Only 1 TB?

Product: Microsoft 365 Family
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Checking available cloud storage capacity after purchasing or upgrading to a Microsoft 365 Family subscription.
Observed behavior: The cloud storage capacity shows a maximum of 1 TB for the account instead of the advertised 6 TB total pool.

Before you start

Ensure you have the login credentials for the Microsoft account used to purchase the Microsoft 365 Family subscription, and can access your Microsoft account dashboard.

Solution 1Recommended

Invite Family Members to Allocate Remaining Storage

Use this method to utilize the remaining 5 TB of storage by inviting family members, as Microsoft 365 Family storage cannot be pooled into a single account.

Microsoft 365 Family provides up to 6 TB of OneDrive cloud storage in total. However, this is strictly allocated as 1 TB per person for up to six people.

You cannot combine or pool the unused storage into a single 2 TB, 3 TB, or 6 TB allowance for one account. To use the full capacity, you must invite other users to the plan.

Log in to your Microsoft Account dashboard

Navigate to the official Microsoft account page and sign in with the primary account that owns the Microsoft 365 Family subscription.

Navigate to the Sharing tab

Click on the 'Services & subscriptions' section, locate your active Microsoft 365 Family subscription, and select the 'Share' or 'Manage sharing' option.

Invite family members

Choose your preferred method to share the subscription, such as sending an email invitation or creating a shareable link. Send this to the Microsoft accounts of your family members.

Accept the invitation

Have each family member log into their own Microsoft account and accept the invitation. Once accepted, each member instantly receives their own separate and private 1 TB of OneDrive storage.

Invite Family Members to Allocate Remaining Storage

Storage Pooling Restrictions: Purchasing additional storage for a single account will not unlock the unused family-wide allowance. Each user's storage remains completely separate.

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1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and click on the Free Download button for your operating system.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Can four family members share a total pool of 4 TB in Microsoft 365 Family?

No, the storage cannot be pooled or shared as a single block. Each of the four members will receive exactly 1 TB of individual storage, leaving the remaining 2 TB unused until more people are invited.

If I am the only person using the Family plan, do I get the full 6 TB?

No. Even if you are the sole user on a Microsoft 365 Family plan, your individual account is strictly limited to 1 TB of OneDrive storage.

Can I purchase additional storage to combine with my unused family allowance?

No, purchasing additional storage for one specific account applies only to that account. It does not tap into or combine with the unused family-wide 6 TB allowance.

How do I check how much storage each family member is using?

Because each account's storage is private and separate, you cannot view family members' storage usage from the main owner account. Each member must log into their own Microsoft OneDrive account to check their storage capacity.

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