Can You Cancel Microsoft 365 Basic After Buying Office 2019?
Question details
The user wants to know if cancelling a Microsoft 365 Basic subscription will negatively affect their standalone Office Home & Student 2019 perpetual license or delete their data.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 Basic / Office 2019
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Transitioning from a cloud-based Microsoft 365 subscription to a perpetual desktop Office 2019 license without losing files.
- Observed behavior
- The user seeks to retain functionality of desktop apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint via their Office 2019 license while terminating the recurring Microsoft 365 Basic billing.
Check your current OneDrive storage usage to ensure it does not exceed the standard 5GB free tier, as cancelling Microsoft 365 Basic will remove your 100GB storage allowance.
Safely Cancel Microsoft 365 Basic and Transition to Office 2019
Understand the feature differences between the two products and secure your OneDrive files before terminating your subscription.
Microsoft 365 Basic and Office Home & Student 2019 are independent products. Microsoft 365 Basic primarily grants you 100GB of OneDrive cloud storage and an ad-free Outlook experience. Office Home & Student 2019 provides classic, offline desktop applications for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Cancelling your Microsoft 365 Basic subscription will not remove or deactivate your perpetual Office 2019 license. However, your OneDrive storage will revert to the standard 5GB limit, meaning you must back up excess files to avoid synchronization failures.
Log in to the OneDrive website using your Microsoft account. Click on the gear icon and check your 'Storage metrics' at the bottom left to see how much of your 100GB you are currently using.
If you are using more than 5GB of storage, select the excess files and folders, click 'Download' from the top menu, and save them directly to your local computer's hard drive.
Navigate to the Microsoft Account Dashboard online and sign in. Click on the 'Services & subscriptions' tab in the top navigation bar.
Locate your Microsoft 365 Basic subscription in the list, click 'Manage', and select 'Cancel subscription'. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the cancellation.
Open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint from your desktop. Go to 'File' > 'Account' to verify that your software is successfully activated under your Office Home & Student 2019 license.
Switch to WPS Office for a Complete Free Office Experience
If managing multiple Microsoft licenses and subscription tiers is frustrating, WPS Office provides a robust, lightweight, and completely free alternative. You can create, edit, and share documents without worrying about recurring fees or complex account management.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the 'Free Download' button for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer file and follow the quick on-screen instructions to set up the software.
- 3. Open Your Microsoft Files: Launch WPS Office and drag and drop your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files directly into the workspace to continue editing seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my OneDrive files be immediately deleted if I cancel Microsoft 365 Basic?
No, your files are not deleted immediately. However, if your stored data exceeds the free 5GB limit after cancellation, your OneDrive account will become read-only. You will not be able to upload, edit, or synchronize new files until you delete enough data to fall below the 5GB threshold.
Do I need an active internet connection to use Office 2019?
Unlike Microsoft 365, which requires regular online verification to maintain the subscription, Office 2019 is a perpetual license. Once it is activated on your computer, you can use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint completely offline.
Can I install my Office Home & Student 2019 license on multiple computers?
No. Office Home & Student 2019 is a one-time purchase licensed for use on a single PC or Mac. If you need to use Office applications across multiple devices simultaneously, a Microsoft 365 subscription is required.
