cloud storage

Verify that the Microsoft 365 upgrade is attached to the same Microsoft account as the affected Outlook email, because storage purchased under another account will not increase the old account’s allowance.

Check the account and storage

1. Open Services & subscriptions:
   https://account.microsoft.com/services?ref=officesupport
2. Sign in using the exact Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, or MSN address that displays the storage warning.
3. Confirm that the upgraded subscription appears as active. Microsoft documents this page as the place to identify and manage the account associated with the subscription.^1^
4. Check the account’s storage dashboard:
   https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2226904
5. Select Microsoft storage and review both:
   • Cloud storage: OneDrive files, photos, Recycle Bin items, and Outlook.com attachments.
   • Mailbox storage: Email, calendar items, contacts, and deleted messages.^2^

A full cloud-storage quota can stop Outlook.com from sending or receiving email even when the mailbox itself has available space.^3^

If the upgrade is shown on the correct account

A new storage allowance can take up to 24 hours to appear. If it was purchased recently, allow that time and check the storage dashboard again.^4^

If the account remains over quota:

• In OneDrive, delete unneeded large files and then empty the OneDrive Recycle Bin; Recycle Bin contents still consume storage.
• In Outlook.com, open Settings → Account → Storage to identify large folders.
• Empty Deleted Items, because those messages continue to count until permanently removed.^3^

Download any files that must be retained before permanently deleting them.

Talk to Microsoft Support

If the correct subscription still does not appear after 24 hours—or the increased quota has not updated after 48 hours—contact Microsoft Support:

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2181303

Enter “Microsoft 365 storage upgrade not applied to Outlook account”, select Get Help, and then choose Contact Support. Microsoft provides separate account/billing and technical-support routes for personal OneDrive accounts.^5^

Emails rejected while the account was over quota are not delivered automatically; after storage is restored, ask senders to resend them.^2^

References

1. Changes to Microsoft 365 email features and storage | Microsoft Support
2. Microsoft storage FAQs
3. Storage limits in Outlook.com | Microsoft Support
4. OneDrive billing questions | Microsoft Support
5. My OneDrive says it's full