Short answer: To cancel Microsoft 365, sign in at account.microsoft.com/services/microsoft365, select Cancel subscription (sometimes shown as Upgrade or Cancel), and confirm with I don’t want my subscription. If you bought it through the Apple App Store, Google Play or a retailer, you have to cancel with them instead. The catch: a refund is only possible within 30 days of purchase (or within 30 days after a renewal charge, once per subscription), and only if you cancel through Microsoft’s own cancel flow.
If you are trying to work out how to cancel Microsoft 365, the hard part is usually not the button. It is knowing which account holds the subscription, whether Microsoft or a third party bills you, and what happens to your OneDrive files and Office apps once the paid plan ends. This guide covers Microsoft 365 Basic, Personal, Family and Premium, explains the difference between canceling and turning off recurring billing, walks through Apple and Google billed subscriptions, and lays out Microsoft’s real refund rules as published on its support site today. If you are cleaning up several subscriptions at once, our guide on how to cancel subscriptions online covers the general approach.
| What your statement or receipt says |
Who bills you |
Where to cancel |
| A Microsoft charge, or a receipt from Microsoft after buying on microsoft.com or in Windows |
Microsoft |
account.microsoft.com/services (your Microsoft account) |
| APPLE.COM/BILL, or you subscribed inside the Word, Excel, Outlook or OneDrive app on an iPhone, iPad or Mac |
Apple |
Settings, then your name, then Subscriptions (or the Mac App Store) |
| GOOGLE *Microsoft, or you subscribed inside a Microsoft app on Android |
Google Play |
Google Play, then Subscriptions |
| A retailer such as Amazon, or a product key card from a store |
The retailer |
The retailer’s own account or support; prepaid keys simply expire |
| Your employer, school or a Microsoft 365 Business plan |
Your organization |
Your IT admin (not covered by the consumer steps below) |
In This Guide
How To Cancel Microsoft 365 Online
This is the route for anyone who bought Microsoft 365 Basic, Personal, Family or Premium directly from Microsoft, whether on the website, in Windows or through a Microsoft Store purchase. Microsoft does not publish separate cancellation steps per plan; the same page handles all of them. You can do it from a phone browser or a computer.
- Go to account.microsoft.com/services/microsoft365 and sign in with the Microsoft account you used to buy the subscription. If you have more than one Microsoft account (a personal Outlook address and an old Hotmail one, for example), use the one that receives the billing emails.
- Find your Microsoft 365 subscription and select Cancel subscription. On some accounts this button is labeled Upgrade or Cancel.
- Read the Please review section at the top of the cancel page. Microsoft may list cheaper alternative plans here, such as moving to a smaller plan instead of canceling outright.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page. Choose I don’t want my subscription to cancel, or I want to keep my benefits if you change your mind.
- Check the subscription card afterward. It should now show an Expires on date instead of a next charge date. Keep the confirmation email.
Microsoft’s own instructions are on its support page, Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription. Customers who bought in Germany can also cancel without signing in at aka.ms/germancancel, using a few account details.
Microsoft does not list a phone number or chat line for canceling on that page. If you hit a technical problem, Microsoft says to go to Contact Microsoft Support, describe the issue, select Get Help, and then Contact Support if the automated answers do not solve it.
Cancel vs Turn Off Recurring Billing
Microsoft offers two controls that sound similar but behave differently, and this is the part most people trip over when they try to cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Turning off recurring billing stops the next automatic charge. Your plan keeps running until the end of the period you already paid for, then expires.
- Canceling also stops future charges, but it is the only way to get a refund. Microsoft’s billing page says that if you are eligible for a refund, you can take it and end the subscription immediately; if you are not, the subscription ends at the close of your current billing period.
Microsoft also notes that you must cancel first to find out whether you qualify for a refund. So if there is any chance you are inside the refund window, use the full cancel flow rather than just switching off recurring billing.
A useful tell: if you open your subscription and see a Turn on recurring billing link instead of a cancel option, recurring billing is already off. Microsoft says the subscription will simply expire on the date shown, you will not be charged after that, and you do not need to do anything else.
Cancel Microsoft 365 On iPhone, iPad Or Mac
If you subscribed inside a Microsoft app on an Apple device, Apple handles the billing. Microsoft’s page says to contact Apple for cancellation or refunds, so the Microsoft account page will not be able to stop the charge. Use Apple’s steps from its cancel a subscription guide.
On iPhone or iPad:
- Open the Settings app and tap your name.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- Tap the Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Scroll down if needed and tap Cancel Subscription.
On a Mac:
- Open the App Store and click your name at the bottom of the sidebar (sign in if asked).
- Click your name again on the page that opens.
- Click Subscriptions, then the Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Click Cancel Subscription.
If there is no Cancel button, or you see an expiration message in red, Apple says the subscription is already canceled. On a free trial billed by Apple, cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends.
Cancel Microsoft 365 On Android (Google Play)
Subscriptions bought inside a Microsoft app on Android are billed by Google Play. Microsoft directs these customers to Google for cancellation and refunds. Google’s steps from its cancel a subscription on Google Play page:
- Sign in to the Google Account that holds the subscription.
- Open your subscriptions in Google Play (play.google.com/store/account/subscriptions).
- Select the Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Tap Cancel subscription and follow the on-screen instructions.
Uninstalling the Word, Outlook or OneDrive app does not cancel anything. Google says plainly that the subscription keeps running when you uninstall the app. After you cancel, you keep access for the time you have already paid for.
Cancel A Free Trial, Retailer Or Family Subscription
Free trial. Microsoft’s trial page says you can cancel within 30 days of signing up and you will not be charged. The steps:
- Sign in at account.microsoft.com/services with the account linked to your trial.
- Find Microsoft 365 and look for a Cancel link or an Expires on date.
- If you see Cancel, select it and confirm.
- If there is no Cancel link but Paid with shows None, or you see Turn on recurring billing, the trial will end on its own on the expiry date and no action is needed.
Retailer purchases. If you bought through a retailer such as Amazon, Microsoft says to contact that retailer directly, and notes that prepaid retail codes follow the retailer’s own return policy. If you redeemed a key on your Microsoft account, check the subscription card there: an Expires on date with no next charge means nothing will renew.
Microsoft 365 Family. The Family plan is canceled from the Microsoft account that bought it, using the same steps as above. Microsoft warns that if you cancel a Family or Premium plan, the people you shared it with also lose their increased storage, so give them notice to move files first.
If Microsoft 365 is one of several creative and productivity tools you are trimming, our guides to canceling an Adobe subscription and canceling Canva cover the same ground for those services.
Renewal Timing And What Happens After You Cancel
Finding your renewal date. Sign in at account.microsoft.com/services and look under Services & subscriptions. A circular arrow icon means recurring billing is on, and the next charge line shows when and how much. If you see Expires on followed by a date, the plan ends on that date unless you renew.
Deadline. Microsoft does not publish a fixed number of days before renewal for Microsoft 365 Personal or Family. To be safe, cancel or turn off recurring billing a few days before the next charge date shown in your account. For Copilot Pro specifically, Microsoft says to turn off recurring billing at least 2 days before the next billing date.
Your Office apps. When the subscription expires, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and the other desktop apps stay installed but switch to what Microsoft calls Reduced Functionality Mode (trial users see View Only mode with Unlicensed Product notices). You can open, view and usually print existing documents, but you cannot create new ones, edit or save changes. The free web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote remain available with a free Microsoft account.
Your OneDrive storage. This is the part that catches people out. Once the plan ends, your account drops to 5 GB of cloud storage (shared by OneDrive and Outlook.com attachments) and 15 GB of Outlook.com mailbox storage. If you are over the free limit, Microsoft says:
- You cannot upload, edit or sync new files to OneDrive, including Camera Roll backups.
- You cannot send or receive email in Outlook.com.
- After 6 months, your OneDrive and its files may be deleted.
So before you cancel, download what you need or clear space to get under 5 GB. If you cancel a Family or Premium plan you shared, the people you shared with also lose their extra storage.
Microsoft 365 Refund Policy
Microsoft’s published refund rules for subscriptions bought directly from Microsoft are:
- New purchase: For Microsoft 365 (and Xbox), you can get a refund by canceling within 30 days of purchase or before your first recurring billing date, whichever comes first.
- Renewal charge: If you cancel within 30 days after a recurring payment, you can get a refund of that most recent charge. Microsoft allows this once per Microsoft account, per subscription product.
- Copilot Pro: Cancel within 14 days of purchase for a refund.
- Process: Refund requests made outside the official cancellation process are not eligible, and not every cancellation qualifies. You must cancel first to see whether you are eligible.
- Third parties: If Apple, Google or a retailer billed you, their refund rules apply and you request the refund from them.
For an Apple billed subscription, request a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com: sign in, choose the refund option, pick a reason, select the Microsoft 365 charge and submit. Apple says to expect an update in about 24 to 48 hours. For Google Play, Google notes that most purchase issues are handled under the app developer’s policies and points you to its refund request pages from the Google Play refund policies article.
Copilot And Microsoft 365 Price Changes
Microsoft now includes Copilot AI features in Microsoft 365 Personal, Family and Premium. On Microsoft’s US plan comparison page today, the prices are:
| Plan |
Monthly |
Yearly |
Storage |
Copilot |
| Microsoft 365 Basic |
$1.99 |
$19.99 |
100 GB |
Not included |
| Microsoft 365 Personal |
$9.99 |
$99.99 |
1 TB |
Included (1 person) |
| Microsoft 365 Family |
$12.99 |
$129.99 |
2 TB shared, up to 6 people |
Included for the subscription owner |
| Microsoft 365 Premium |
$19.99 |
$199.99 |
2 TB |
Included, higher usage |
Microsoft’s support site also lists Microsoft 365 Personal Classic and Microsoft 365 Family Classic as plans some subscribers are on. Microsoft’s current support pages do not state Classic pricing, what they include, or whether you can still switch to them, so check the alternatives shown on your own cancel page. Microsoft says it gives at least 30 days’ notice before a price change and that you can cancel before the change takes effect.
If the reason you want to cancel is the higher Copilot price, look at the Please review box on the cancel page first. Microsoft says it may list cheaper plans there, and moving to a plan with fewer features takes effect when your current plan renews.
Cancel vs Downgrade vs Let It Expire
| Option |
What it does |
Refund possible? |
Best for |
| Cancel subscription |
Stops future charges; may end the plan immediately with a refund if eligible |
Yes, within Microsoft’s 30-day windows |
You were just charged or just signed up |
| Turn off recurring billing |
Stops the next renewal; plan runs to its expiry date |
No |
You want to use the time you paid for |
| Switch to a smaller plan |
Moves you to a cheaper plan such as Basic at the next renewal |
Not applicable |
You still want Office apps or extra storage, just cheaper |
| Let a prepaid key expire |
Plan ends on its expiry date with no further charge |
Retailer’s policy applies |
Retail key cards with no payment method on file |
| Close the Microsoft account |
Deletes the account and its data, including OneDrive and Outlook.com |
No |
Only if you are leaving Microsoft services entirely |
Keep in mind that one Microsoft account often covers more than Office. If you also pay for Xbox through the same account, see our guide to canceling Xbox Game Pass before closing anything.
Troubleshooting
| Problem |
Why it happens |
Fix |
| No Microsoft 365 subscription appears in your account |
You are signed in to a different Microsoft account, or Apple, Google or a retailer bills you |
Search your email for the receipt to see which account and which company billed you, then use the matching route above |
| There is no Cancel button, only Turn on recurring billing |
Recurring billing is already off |
Nothing to do; the plan expires on the date shown and you will not be charged again |
| You canceled but were charged again |
A second subscription exists (another account, or an in-app purchase on a phone) |
Check account.microsoft.com, Apple Subscriptions and Google Play Subscriptions; cancel the one still active and request a refund within the window |
| Office says Unlicensed Product or Reduced Functionality |
The subscription expired or the app is signed in to an account without a plan |
Sign in with the account that holds a plan, use the free web apps, or renew |
| You cannot send email in Outlook.com after canceling |
Your mailbox or cloud storage is over the free limit |
Delete large attachments and files until you are under 15 GB mailbox and 5 GB cloud storage |
| Family members still see premium storage |
Benefits continue until the paid period ends |
Wait for the expiry date; access ends for everyone then |
| Refund was not offered |
You are outside the 30-day window, already used your one renewal refund, or a third party billed you |
Check the purchase date; for Apple or Google billing, request a refund from them |
If Microsoft Will Not Cancel
If you cannot cancel online and support does not resolve it, keep a written record: screenshots of your subscription page, confirmation emails, dates and the names of anyone you spoke to. As a backstop, you can ask your bank or card issuer to block future charges from Microsoft, but treat that as a last step, because it does not cancel the subscription itself. You can also report the problem to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or to your state attorney general.
The FTC’s click-to-cancel rule was vacated by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in July 2025, so it is not in force. The federal Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA) still applies to online subscriptions, and California and several other states have automatic renewal laws that require an easy way to cancel. This is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cancel my Microsoft 365 subscription?
Sign in at account.microsoft.com/services/microsoft365, select Cancel subscription (or Upgrade or Cancel), and choose I don’t want my subscription. If Apple, Google or a retailer bills you, cancel through them instead.
How do I cancel Office 365?
Office 365 for home users is now called Microsoft 365, so you cancel it the same way: from the Services & subscriptions page of your Microsoft account. Work or school Office 365 plans are managed by your organization’s admin.
Can I cancel Microsoft 365 and get a refund?
Yes, if you cancel within 30 days of purchase or before your first recurring billing date, whichever comes first. You can also get the most recent renewal charge back if you cancel within 30 days of it, once per account per product.
What is the difference between canceling and turning off recurring billing?
Both stop future charges. Canceling is the only way to claim a refund, and if you qualify, it can end the plan immediately; turning off recurring billing simply lets the plan run until its expiry date.
Will I lose my files if I cancel Microsoft 365?
Your files stay in OneDrive, but your storage drops to 5 GB. If you are over that limit, you cannot add or sync new files, and Microsoft says OneDrive and its files may be deleted after 6 months.
Can I still use Word and Excel after I cancel?
The desktop apps go into Reduced Functionality Mode, so you can open, view and usually print documents but not edit or create them. The free web versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint still work with a Microsoft account.
How do I cancel Microsoft 365 on my iPhone?
If you subscribed in the app, open Settings, tap your name, tap Subscriptions, choose Microsoft 365 and tap Cancel Subscription. If you subscribed on Microsoft’s website, cancel from your Microsoft account in a browser instead.
How do I cancel a Microsoft 365 Family plan?
Sign in with the Microsoft account that bought the plan and use the same Cancel subscription steps. Everyone you share with loses their extra storage when the plan ends.
How do I cancel a Microsoft 365 free trial without being charged?
Cancel within 30 days of signing up from account.microsoft.com/services. If the trial shows Paid with: None or a Turn on recurring billing link, it will end on its own and you will not be charged.
Can I avoid the Copilot price increase without canceling?
Check the Please review section on Microsoft’s cancel page, which may list cheaper plans. Microsoft 365 Basic, at $19.99 a year, does not include AI features but keeps 100 GB of storage and an ad-free Outlook inbox.
The Short Version
- Check your receipt to see whether Microsoft, Apple, Google or a retailer bills you.
- Move or download anything in OneDrive over 5 GB before your plan ends.
- For Microsoft billing, go to account.microsoft.com/services/microsoft365, select Cancel subscription, and choose I don’t want my subscription.
- For Apple or Google billing, cancel in Subscriptions on your device or in Google Play.
- Cancel within 30 days of a purchase or renewal if you want a refund, and use the full cancel flow, not just recurring billing.
- Confirm the subscription now shows an Expires on date and keep the confirmation email.
