Key points
- Microsoft 365 Family plans currently provide 1TB of OneDrive storage for each member.
- The vendor is preparing to reduce this specific per-user storage allotment dramatically.
- Shared household accounts will see a significant decrease in total available cloud space.
Microsoft 365 Family subscribers face an upcoming reduction in their cloud storage capacity, according to reports from ZDNET Security. The vendor is preparing to alter the storage benefits currently attached to shared household subscriptions. This change will directly impact the amount of data users can store in OneDrive.
By the numbers
- 1TB: The current amount of OneDrive cloud storage allocated to every family member on shared plans.
- 6TB: The implied total household capacity loss if a full six-person family loses their individual per-user benefits.
- 0: The number of confirmed patch releases or official fix notes released by Microsoft regarding this storage policy change.
What the figures mean
Current Microsoft 365 plans include one terabyte of OneDrive cloud storage for every family member, according to ZDNET. This structure allows shared accounts to accumulate significant total capacity based on the number of users. Microsoft is about to shrink that specific allotment dramatically, as reported by ZDNET Security. The shift removes the per-user storage boost that has defined the Family tier.
The change affects shared Microsoft 365 plans specifically, rather than individual subscriptions. Users who rely on the cumulative storage of multiple accounts will see their total available space decrease. The vendor has not provided a new specific storage figure for the post-change era in the available reports. This creates uncertainty regarding the final capacity limits for existing subscribers.
What to watch
Security operations teams should monitor for internal communications regarding cloud storage limits. Organizations using shared family or small business plans must audit their current OneDrive usage immediately. The reduction in storage may force users to migrate data to alternative locations. This migration could expose data to less secure environments if not managed carefully.
What to do and how to stay safe: Microsoft
- Audit current OneDrive usage across all shared accounts to identify large files that consume the most space.
- Review data retention policies to ensure old or unnecessary files are archived or deleted before limits tighten.
- Monitor official Microsoft channels for the exact new storage caps and implementation dates for Family plans.
- Ensure that any data migrated to alternative storage solutions meets your organization's security and compliance standards.
Step-by-step guide: Account Takeover Risks and Low-Cost Defenses for Small Teams
General security guidance from the Sandbox Gazette newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
How much OneDrive storage do Microsoft 365 Family members currently get?
Shared Microsoft 365 plans currently include one terabyte of OneDrive cloud storage for every family member.
Is Microsoft increasing or decreasing the per-user storage limit?
Microsoft is preparing to shrink the per-user storage allotment dramatically for shared family plans.
Does this change affect individual Microsoft 365 subscriptions?
The reports specify that shared Microsoft 365 plans are affected, noting the change in benefits for family members.
