How Many Devices Per User? Microsoft 365 Maximum Devices Limit Explained!
Quick Recap:
- You can install the Microsoft 365 software on unlimited devices.
- Only 5 active devices are allowed at the same time.
- If you try to sign in on the 6th device, it will automatically log out of your account that you haven’t used in weeks and switch to View mode only.
- Your subscription plan decides the number of devices on which you can use a single MS 365 account.
Microsoft 365 Maximum devices? Or how many devices per user?– A simple question that has transitioned into a topic of confusion in the Microsoft community over the years.
You will find many MS 365 users claiming on blogs and forums that you can only have 5 active sessions per 365 account. Indeed, it is the truth, but the half-truth!
Most users don’t know that the “5-device rule” only applies to the majority of users.
In simple words, the number of devices on which you can use a MS 365 account totally depends on your subscription plan.
Yes, these plans actually count “devices” differently. So, let’s find out the Office 365 max devices limit. And, how many devices can you use with one Microsoft Office 365 account?
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How Many Devices Per User? (As Per Microsoft 365 Subscription Plans)
Let’s understand the Office 365 maximum device limit with the informative and tidy table below.
| Plan Type | Users Per Plan | Total Devices Allowed | Maximum Potential Devices |
| Personal | 1 User | 5 active devices total (any mix). | 5 devices |
| Family | Up to 6 Users | 5 active devices per user. | 30 (6 users x 5 devices) |
| Business | 1 User/License | 5 PCs + 5 Tablets +5 Phones. | 15 per license |
| Education | Students/Faculty | 5 PCs + 5 Tablets +5 Phones. | 15 per license |
As you can clearly see from the table cited above, different subscription plans treat device count limitations distinctively.
The personal plan allows only a single user to install and activate the Office apps on up to 5 devices at the same time. So, the total potential Office 365 personal device limit is up to 5 devices.
Think of the Microsoft 365 Personal plan as your Netflix account. You get 5 screens in total, and it doesn’t matter whether it is a TV, phone, laptop, or tablet. If all 5 screens are active and you try to access Netflix on the 6th device, it will deny access.
On the other hand, if you look at Business/ Education plans, it offers 3 separate categories for 5 devices. It simply means your one MS 365 account can be used on a mix of 15 different devices( computers, tablets, phones) at the same time.
The instant takeaway of the above would be this:
- Personal/Family = Total 5 Seats.
- Business/Education = 5 Seats in Each Category.
SysTools Recommends: Compare Microsoft Office 365 Plans & Features: Choose the Best One.
Troubleshooting Common Microsoft 365 Device Limit Issues
To leave no space for any sort of confusion or doubts, we have engineered this section highlighting the troubleshooting of common MS 365 device limit issues.
Query#1: What happens if I sign in to a 6th device or hit the limit?
If you hit the “device count” limit, Microsoft will automatically sign you out of the device you haven’t used in a while. Unlike the previous version, where you had to manually deactivate a device.
You log in to the device #6 >> the least recently used device signs out >> enters into View mode.
Query#2: Can I use Microsoft 365 offline?
Yes, you can use Microsoft 365 offline. However, there’s a “30-day” offline timer. Once every 30 days, you are required to connect each device to the internet. If you stay offline for more than 30 days, the apps will go into “View Only” mode, and worse, your license tokens will expire.
Note: You can also extend the offline access up to 180 days by opting for specific enterprise licenses. This option perfectly aligns with the secure and remote environment.
Query#3: We have one PC with three different Windows profiles. How will it count?
It will count as one installation. However, to access their own personalized OneDrive/Settings, each user is required to log into their own MS account within the Office. Also, if you notice carefully, the device count will tie to the user account signed into the office.
How to Manage and Remove Devices from Microsoft 365?
Although you do not have to manually sign out to maintain the Office 365 max devices limit, as in previous MS 365 versions. Still, if you want to manage and remove devices from the Microsoft 365 account, you can follow the steps as per your subscription plan.
Hot Reads: How to Remove a Device from Office 365?
For Home Users (Personal/Family)
- Go to the Microsoft Account Devices page >> Sign in.
- Select the devices you want to remove.
- Finally, hit the Sign Out or Remove device.
For Business & Education Users
- Open Microsoft 365 Portal >> sign in.
- Click “View apps & devices”.
- In the Devices section, hit Sign Out next to the device you want to deactivate.
Author’s Take
As we explained above, you can only be signed in and active on 5 devices simultaneously from one Microsoft 365 account. And, if you try to sign into the 6th device, it will automatically sign out from the least used device to stay within the limit.
However, each MS Office 365 subscription plan implements the “5 device rule” differently.
For instance, if you have an active 365 Family Plan, the total potential number of devices can reach up to 30 (6 users x 5 devices). Whereas the Business/Education plans provide 3 separate pools of 5, resulting in 15 devices per license (5 PCs, 5 iPads, 5 Phones).
In a nutshell, it is true that Office 365 personal device limit is 5, but it is not always 5. The Microsoft 365 maximum device limit entirely depends on your plan. So, check your plan and 2x your productivity with the number of devices.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q.1 Do iPhones and Androids count as “devices”?
A confident yes✅! iPhone and Android do count as devices. Microsoft 365 counts a phone, a tablet, a Mac, and a PC equally and tags them as “devices”. It will reflect on your Office 365 maximum devices limit.
Q.2 How many computers can I install Office 365 on?
With an active Microsoft 365 subscription plan, you can install and use Office 365 on 5 computers at the same time. It can be a mix of Windows and Mac.
Q.3 Can I install Microsoft 365 on a Mac and a PC with the same license?
Absolutely yes ✅! You can install MS 365 on a Mac and a PC with the same license. The 5 active devices can be a mix of Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android tablets.
Q.4 Does the web browser version count toward the limit?
No! It doesn’t count. You can even sign in to Office.com on an unlimited number of web browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari) and on any public or private computers. Your 5-device slots will remain untouched.
Q.5 Does uninstalling the app remove the device from the list?
Yes, but that’s not always immediately. Also, it is considered a healthy practice to sign out before uninstalling Microsoft 365 on PC.
