Microsoft 365: How to Cancel the Subscription

As we already talked in a past article, Microsoft 365 is a productivity cloud, usually used for personal purposes. The reality it was created specifically for virtual work in organizations. And even when has a free period, not always goes in accord with the person. 

So, if you do not use it any more, here is how to cancel your Microsoft 365 subscription. Remember that Microsoft 365 previously known as Office 365 is a subscription to a package of Office apps like Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, plus 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage. 

Cancel a Personal or Family Subscription 

The easiest way to cancel your Microsoft 365 subscription is by going to the company’s website. The site is simple to use on a Windows or Mac computer, but you can also access it on iPhone or Android mobile. 

1. Once you are on the website, go to Microsoft’s subscriptions tab and sign in with your Microsoft account. 
2. Then, you will see a Manage subscription section that lists the details of your Microsoft subscription: when your plan expires, the next billing date, the payment method, and the total price for your annual or monthly subscription. 
3. Now, select Cancel subscription and follow the steps to confirm cancellation. 

• • Note:

    Or, you can select Turn off recurring billing to disable auto-renew. When you do this, Microsoft will not charge you when your monthly or annual subscription lapses. 

Cancel Microsoft 365 for Business 

Here is a different story, when the cancellation process is, for those with a business subscription to Microsoft 365. Before you unsubscribe, you may have to take extra steps like reducing the number of licences in your organization. 

I recommend you, to start this process a few days before the renewal date to avoid a situation where you must pay the subscription fee again. As well as the previous paragraph, you should also check if your Microsoft account has global admin or billing admin privileges because other account types will not be able to cancel the paid subscription. 

1. You should check if you have a billing profile in your Microsoft account. In the Microsoft 365 admin center. 
2. Go to Billing > Billing & payments. 
3. On the next page, click the Billing profiles tab to see if you have a billing profile. 
4. If you do, go to the Billing > Your products page in the Microsoft admin center. 
5. Then, select the subscription you do not want any more. 
6. On the subscription details page, click Edit recurring billing under Subscription and payment settings. 
7. Now, you can select Turn off to stop recurring billing.  

• • Note:

    While you are at it, you should ask everyone in your organization to save their data before the renewal date.  

Other option is:  

1. Go to the Billing > Your products page and find the subscription you want to cancel.  
2. Click the three-dots button and select Cancel subscription. 
3. Now provide a reason for cancellation and click Save to finish the process. 

If your organization uses 25 or fewer licences, and you do not count have a billing profile, you can follow the cancellation steps outlined above. Now, if it uses more than 25 licences, you should go to the admin center and reduce them to 25 or fewer. And then follow the same steps to cancel your paid subscription. 

What Happens After Cancelling a Microsoft 365 for Business Subscription? 

Now that was cancelled Microsoft 365 for business, your account enters a disabled state. The admin accounts can access and backup your organization’s data for up to 90 days after a cancelled subscription. 

Immediately, the users will not be able to access OneDrive for business. And the Office apps such as Word, Excel, OneNote, etc. Will move into a reduced functionality mode. 

• • Warning:

    Remember, that Microsoft will delete all the data in your Microsoft 365 account between 90 and 180 days after cancellation. 

Microsoft 365 Alternatives 

If you find Microsoft 365 expensive, you should first see if it is possible you can get it for free. Or you could consider these free alternatives to Microsoft Office.