Warning: Microsoft now charging Outlook and Hotmail users to keep old emails

Warning: Microsoft at present charging Outlook and Hotmail users to continue old emails

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft has sent out warning messages to free users of its Hotmail and Outlook services warning them that they are reaching a new storage limit.

The new limit appears to be set at 15GB. And according to our colleagues over at TechRadar, such alerts take stoked the ire of long-term users of Microsoft's email service. If users wish to boost that chapters to hold onto archived emails, and then they'll need to pay $69.99 or £59.99 a year.

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Hotmail was finer phased out in 2013, when Microsoft started migrating people over from the Hotmail service to its new Outlook.com e-mail client, though information technology let people proceed their old Hotmail addresses.

Now this limit of 15GB looks like another move to potentially shake legacy users to either purge their old emails or sign up to the Microsoft 365 suite, which volition boost the capacity of an Outlook business relationship and provide admission to other Microsoft services.

Forking out near $lxx to ensure you don't lose admission to what was initially a free Outlook business relationship, which yous may just have used every bit a secondary email address like this writer, may seem a lilliputian steep. That being said, Microsoft'south move has put the free Outlook e-mail storage limit in line with the amount of free storage Google provides for 1 business relationship across all its Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.

However, it would announced Microsoft's change has taken a clutch of users by surprise with some taking to Twitter recently to vocalism their disapproval.

#Outlook's started telling me I'm using 27GB or 15GB and tin can't send or receive emails till I sort it. Is this something new? #microsoftJanuary 23, 2021

Of course, many users may accept noticed no alter if they've kept upwardly with their emails and have avoided hoarding emails with large file attachments. Only for those who might exist getting defenseless out past the new limit, they'll at present accept to go through the grueling task of purging unwanted emails. That is, unless they pay for Microsoft's 365 Suite.

All this stands as a stark warning that, equally handy every bit some complimentary online services are, there are limits and caveats. So you need to exist vigilant for whatsoever changes or usage limits that could grab you out at an inconvenient time if you're non paying attending.

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Roland Moore-Colyer is U.G. Editor at Tom's Guide with a focus on news, features and stance manufactures. He frequently writes well-nigh gaming, phones, laptops and other $.25 of hardware; he's also got an interest in cars. When not at his desk-bound Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of marvel on his face.