Easy to cancel
Cancel Microsoft 365 online - step by step
1
Go to account.microsoft.com and sign inOpen a browser and go to account.microsoft.com. Sign in with the Microsoft account that has the Microsoft 365 subscription.
2
Click "Services & subscriptions"Click Services & subscriptions in the top navigation bar.
3
Find Microsoft 365 → click "Manage"Find your Microsoft 365 subscription in the list and click Manage.
4
Turn off recurring billing - or cancel fullyYou have two options: Turn off recurring billing (subscription continues until it expires, then stops - recommended) or Cancel subscription (ends access now, may offer a partial refund). Choose based on whether you want to use the remaining time you've paid for.
5
Confirm and save confirmationFollow the prompts and save your confirmation email or number.
"Turn off recurring billing" is usually the better optionIf you've already paid for time remaining, turning off autorenewal lets you use what you paid for until it expires - without being charged again. "Cancel immediately" refunds unused time but may not be worth it if only days or weeks remain.
Canceling Microsoft 365 Family (shared plan)
A
If you're the account ownerFollow the steps above at account.microsoft.com. Canceling removes Microsoft 365 access for all family members on the plan at the end of the billing period.
B
If you're a family member (not the owner)You can leave the family plan without canceling the subscription - go to account.microsoft.com → Family → Leave family. The subscription continues for other members.
Save your files before cancelingMicrosoft 365 Personal and Family include 1TB of OneDrive storage. After cancellation, OneDrive storage drops to 5GB free. Files over the limit become read-only and may eventually be deleted. Download any files from OneDrive before your subscription ends.
Last verified - May 2026
What happens to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint after canceling
After your Microsoft 365 subscription ends, Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) switch to read-only mode - you can view existing documents but cannot create or edit them. To continue editing, you'd need to resubscribe or switch to Microsoft's free web-based Office apps at office.com, which work in a browser with no subscription required.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I still use Office after canceling Microsoft 365?
- The desktop apps become read-only. You can still use free Office apps in a web browser at office.com with a free Microsoft account - no subscription needed for basic Word, Excel, and PowerPoint editing online.
- What happens to my OneDrive files when I cancel?
- Your OneDrive storage drops from 1TB to 5GB free. Files over 5GB become read-only and may be deleted after a grace period. Download important files before your subscription ends.
- Does Microsoft offer a refund when you cancel?
- Microsoft offers prorated refunds for annual subscriptions canceled within the first 30 days. After 30 days, no refund is issued but you keep access until the end of the paid period.