Outlook storage didn’t update after Microsoft 365 Basic purchase & Lost Total Function to Delete Files (Cant Even Connect to free up storage)

Purchased storage can take up to 24 hours to activate; refresh Microsoft’s storage page using the purchasing account, and contact Microsoft support if the quota still has not updated after 48 hours.^1^

Check activation and account assignment

1. Open Manage storage:
   https://onedrive.live.com/?v=managestorage
2. Confirm that you are signed in with the same personal Microsoft account used to purchase Microsoft 365 Basic.
3. Refresh the page and look for the new allowance. Microsoft 365 Basic includes 100 GB of cloud storage used across Outlook, OneDrive, and other Microsoft 365 services.[^2^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Frequently asked questions about Microsoft 365 Basic | Microsoft Support")
4. If the purchase was less than 24 hours ago, allow the activation period to finish, then sign out of Outlook.com and sign back in.
5. If it has been more than 48 hours, do not purchase the plan again. Contact Microsoft so an agent can verify which account holds the subscription and correct the quota assignment.

Microsoft 365 Basic cannot be shared with another Microsoft account. If Outlook.com is signed in under a different address from the purchasing account, that mailbox will not receive the subscription’s storage.^1^

If Outlook becomes usable before activation finishes

In Outlook.com, open Settings → Account → Storage. This page shows which mailbox folders consume space and provides options to permanently remove older items.^3^

To recover some space:

1. Permanently empty Deleted Items; that folder continues counting against the mailbox quota until emptied.
2. Sort mail through Filter → Sort by → Size.
3. Delete the largest unneeded messages, especially those with attachments.
4. To remove an attachment from storage, delete the email containing it and then remove that email from Deleted Items.
5. If available, press Shift+Delete to delete selected messages permanently.

Because your deletion and Sweep controls are disabled, use the storage page rather than repeatedly trying those controls. If the page itself remains inaccessible or read-only after the purchased quota activates, proceed to support.

Contact live support

Microsoft 365 Basic and Outlook.com include chat support.^4^

For an Outlook.com chat/support request:

1. Sign in to Outlook.com.
2. Select Help on the top menu.
3. Search for storage not updated after Microsoft 365 Basic purchase.
4. Scroll to Still need help? and select Yes. If it is hidden after opening an article, use the back arrow in the Help pane.
5. Provide:
   • purchase date and approximate time;
   • the displayed quota;
   • confirmation that the purchasing and Outlook accounts are the same;
   • the fact that delete and Sweep are disabled.

Microsoft documents this in-product support route for users who can sign in.^5^

For billing or subscription activation, use Microsoft’s customer-support page and select Get help. It may offer chat based on the issue and region; regional telephone options are also listed there.^6^

Messages sent while storage was full

Messages sent while the account was over quota are returned to their senders and are not held for later delivery. After service resumes, ask senders to resend anything important.^7^

References

1. Microsoft storage FAQs
2. [Frequently asked questions about Microsoft 365 Basic | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
3. Storage limits in Outlook.com | Microsoft Support
4. What products are included in Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Support
5. How to get support for Outlook.com | Microsoft Support
6. Contact Microsoft customer support | Microsoft Support
7. Can't send or receive email in Outlook.com | Microsoft Support