How to cancel Microsoft 365 and end your subscription

No longer have use for Microsoft 365, formerly known as Office 365? Then it might be time to cancel your subscription. You can cancel directly through your Microsoft customer account. If you purchased the subscription through a third-party provider, different cancelation terms may apply.

What’s included with Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 bundles Microsoft’s essential Office and productivity programs into one cloud-based subscription. Previously called Office 365, Microsoft 365 gives you access to popular Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, Exchange Server, Outlook, OneDrive and PowerPoint via the Microsoft cloud. With access provided through the cloud, you don’t need to install apps individually.

To buy Microsoft 365, you need a Microsoft account. Here, you can choose from a range of subscription plans on Microsoft’s website and install the software. With a subscription, you get unlimited access to Microsoft desktop applications as well as via the Microsoft 365 web interface.

Depending on the plan you picked, you’ll get access to a different range of functions and even full, installable versions for desktop and mobile. The Microsoft 365 pricing varies depending on whether you use the productivity suite for personal purposes, Microsoft 365 Business, or for school or university. One advantage of Microsoft 365 is its cloud-based usage model, which provides device- and location-independent access to all essential Office services. However, this also means that your data is stored primarily on U.S. servers.

What to know before canceling

If you got your subscription directly from Microsoft, you can cancel via your customer account or even delete your Microsoft Office 365 account. If you have Microsoft 365 through a third-party provider, you’ll need to check their cancelation policy before canceling. Just remember that your access to Microsoft applications and the data you store in Outlook or OneDrive will be lost when you delete your Microsoft account.

If you change your mind or want to restore an accidentally deleted account, you have a period of 60 days to do so. After this grace period, all data associated with the account will be irretrievably lost. If you cancel your Microsoft 365 subscription, users on your subscription will immediately lose editing privileges and only be able to open files in the read-only mode for a limited time. For Microsoft 365 subscriptions with multiple users within an organization or business, administrators can access subscription data for up to 90 days following cancelation.

How to cancel Microsoft 365 step by step

Follow these steps to cancel your Microsoft 365 subscription:

How to cancel Microsoft 365 Basic, Personal and Family accounts

Step 1: Log in to the Microsoft manage subscription page page using your customer credentials.

Step 2: Go to Services and subscriptions and select your plan. Next, select Manage and then Cancel subscription.

Step 3: Now follow the instructions from Microsoft to cancel your subscription. Cancelations are effective immediately—even if you’re billed on a monthly or annual basis.

How to delete your Microsoft Office 365 account

If you no longer want to use any of the Microsoft services, it’s best to delete your Microsoft account. In the Office app, sign in to your account and go to Settings > Help and support > Delete > Delete account > Close account. To move ahead with deleting your account, select Mark account for closure.

In the browser, log in to the Microsoft website, click on “Your Info,” and under the “Account Info” tab, select “Close Account.” Note that there is a 60-day waiting period for account deletion after any security-related information has been updated.

Is there a cancelation period with Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 lets you cancel your plan at any time regardless of whether you have a monthly or annual subscription. This means you’re not tied to Microsoft if you decide to switch to another service. If you have an annual subscription, you can let it expire at the end of the billing period. Alternatively, you can request a refund for the remaining period within 30 days of the subscription renewal.

If you are still within the trial period for your subscription, you can cancel the trial within 30 days. This will prevent your free trial from automatically converting into a paid subscription. A Microsoft 365 trial typically lasts for one month.

What are the consequences of closing your Microsoft account?

Canceling your Microsoft 365 account means that all data and files associated with your subscription will be deleted after 90 days at the latest. Directly following cancelation, you won’t be able to edit or create files and documents, and your Office services will only be available in the read-only mode. However, you can still open, print and back up your files from the cloud to other media for 30 days. If you delete your account completely, you will also lose access to the linked Skype service as well as Outlook features.

What Microsoft 365 alternatives are there?

Depending on your plan, Microsoft 365 offers the latest versions of well-known Office services like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. In addition, there are practical teamwork and communication services like group chats, video conferences, Outlook and Exchange for your emails and calendar as well as up to 1 TB of storage with Microsoft OneDrive. If Microsoft 365 doesn’t seem like the right fit though, there are numerous Microsoft 365 alternatives out there.

A direct comparison of Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 shows Google Workspace to be a strong competitor. It includes practical office and team functions like Google Docs, Calendar and Gmail. Other collaboration tools, groupware and word processing software include OpenOffice, LibreOffice, iWork for iCloud, Dropbox Business and the OX App Suite.