Microsoft recently announced changes to global storage limits for Microsoft 365 (M365) OneDrive, SharePoint and email data. To manage our data and avoid incurring additional expenses, the University of Ottawa will implement new M365 storage quotas beginning May 14, 2025.
Help the University stay within the new storage limits and contribute to a more sustainable, secure and efficient digital environment. Review and remove unnecessary data today and make a positive impact!
New M365 storage limits
Storage limits are based on M365 eligibility. In general, the new M365 storage limits at the University of Ottawa beginning May 14, 2025, are as follows:
| Microsoft app | Employees | Students | Retirees | Alumni |
| OneDrive | 1 TB | 50 GB | N/A | N/A |
| Outlook (Email) | 100 GB | 25 GB | 5 GB | 5 GB |
For most users, no action is required because they are below the limits. If you are exceeding storage capacity for OneDrive, Teams or Outlook, we'll email you. You won't be able to add new items or edit files until you've removed or deleted files and are below your storage limits.
Changes to M365 retention
- Terminations or departures: When students or employees leave the University, their data is subject to University data retention policies.
- Retirees' and alumni's OneDrive and Outlook data: When students' or employees' affiliation with the University ends, their account status changes based on M365 eligibility. OneDrive data is deleted, and their Outlook account changes to an alumni or retiree account. If this applies to you, take the necessary steps to save or move data in advance of your change of status.
- Microsoft Teams: After 180 days of inactivity, an automated email will be sent to team owners to confirm the deletion of the team and associated files.
Useful resources
- Information and Archives Management: Disposition of information
- Information and Archives Management: Information Management Handbook
- University of Ottawa: Procedure 20-4, Disposition of Information