Effective February 4, 2026, Washington State University is reducing storage allocations across Microsoft 365 services, including Outlook, OneDrive, Teams, and SharePoint, for all students, faculty, and staff to comply with new contracted storage requirements.
Most WSU users are already below the planned allocation reductions and will not be impacted by this change. However, Information Technology Services (ITS) encourages you to review your current storage usage and follow the provided suggestions for taking steps to stay within the new allocations.
New Storage Allocations
Beginning February 4, 2026, the following WSU Microsoft storage allocations will apply:
Individual Services
Storage allocations for individual Microsoft 365 services.
| Service | Students | Faculty & Staff | Affiliates & Hourly Employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlook | 1 GB | 10 GB | 500 MB |
| OneDrive | 1 GB | 10 GB | 1 GB |
Shared Services
Storage allocations for shared Microsoft 365 services.
| Service | Storage Allocation (Per Item) |
|---|---|
| Teams | 50 GB per Team |
| SharePoint Sites | 50 GB per Site |
| Microsoft 365 Groups | 50 GB per Group |
| Shared Mailbox | 500 MB per Mailbox |
| Room Mailbox | 500 MB per Mailbox |
| Equipment Mailbox | 500 MB per Mailbox |
Over-Allocation Impact
Starting in early January 2026, you will receive alerts if your storage reaches or exceeds 90% of the upcoming allocations. These warnings are designed to help you act before restrictions begin on February 4, 2026.
If your WSU Microsoft 365 storage exceeds the new allocations, the following services will be restricted until your usage is reduced:
- Outlook: Sending and receiving email disabled
- OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint, & Microsoft 365 Groups: Creating, uploading, editing, and synchronizing files disabled
Required Action
Please work with your local IT support team to determine the best course of action for managing and possibly reducing your Microsoft data, including available alternative storage resources for your area.
WSU Records Retention Policy
When managing data storage, ensure that all actions align with WSU’s records retention and disposition policy, along with applicable state and federal regulations. Please contact your department or local IT support team for guidance on proper data handling.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Microsoft 365 storage FAQ provides additional guidance on topics such as:
- How can I check my current Microsoft 365 storage usage?
- How will storage allocations be applied for users who have multiple roles?
- Are there any restrictions on what files or items I can or cannot delete?
- Why is WSU reducing storage allocations for Microsoft 365 services?
Contact ITS
For technical support, please contact Crimson Service Desk at crimsonservicedesk@wsu.edu or 509-335-4357.