One Pool Replaces Six Allowances
Microsoft 365 Family and Premium now include 2 TB of cloud storage that every member shares, where each of up to six people previously had 1 TB, so a full plan drops from 6 TB to 2 TB.
| Plan | Storage now | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Basic | 100 GB | One person |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | 1 TB | One person |
| Microsoft 365 Family | 2 TB, shared | Subscriber plus up to five members |
| Microsoft 365 Premium | 2 TB, shared | Subscriber plus up to five members |
| Microsoft 365 Pro | 5 TB, shared | Subscriber plus up to five members |
The Register reports that Family, Premium and Pro used to give each of up to six users 1 TB, 6 TB in total, so fully shared Family and Premium plans lose up to 4 TB and Pro plans up to 1 TB. Microsoft calls the change a more flexible experience in which one person does not run out of space while others have unused room. Files stay private to each member unless shared.
The change helps some people. A subscriber who does not share the plan can use the full pool, which is more than the old 1 TB. It hurts the full house: four people with 500 GB each fill 2 TB, and nobody can upload more.
When It Reaches You
| Your situation | When shared storage applies |
|---|---|
| New or upgraded subscription | From 8 October 2026 |
| Existing subscription, no change | First renewal on or after 2 May 2027 |
| Upgrade before 2 May 2027, for example Family to Premium | Immediately, with 2 TB shared |
| Downgrade before 2 May 2027 | Not until the renewal on or after 2 May 2027 |
Microsoft says it will notify you before the change is applied, and that some existing Family and Premium customers in eligible markets may get bonus storage at renewal at no charge. Its page names neither the markets nor the amount.
Going over the pool is not instant lockout. Microsoft says you get warnings as you approach 2 TB and can keep access to your files for up to one year over the limit while you manage storage. You can add storage up to a total of 10 TB.
Who Should Act, And By When
A household with several heavy users is the plain case. The less obvious one is a freelancer or small team that keeps work files on a Family or Premium plan, because 2 TB split across six seats can fill before anyone notices.
From 9 October 2026 you have 205 days until the earliest date existing subscribers move, 2 May 2027. That is enough time to sort the files without paying for a rushed fix.
What To Do Before The Renewal
Open the storage dashboard in your Microsoft account and write down how much each person uses. If the total is above 2 TB on Family or Premium, or 5 TB on Pro, you are choosing between freeing space, buying more storage and changing plan.
Be careful with upgrades. An upgrade before 2 May 2027 moves you to the shared model immediately, while a downgrade leaves you on the old model until renewal. Cancelling is possible in the Microsoft 365 services page of your Microsoft account, and benefits last until the end of the billing period.
If the files belong to a company, note that Microsoft's page does not cover business plans. Price a business plan or a storage service with per-user allowances rather than stretching a family plan, and check the licence terms for your use. Euro prices are not in the sources, so get a quote before deciding.
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