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How to Cancel a Microsoft 365 E5 Trial and Stop Recurring Billing
Question details
The user needs to ensure their Microsoft 365 E5 trial is completely canceled and that recurring billing is turned off to prevent unwanted charges.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 E5
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user has initiated a cancellation for an E5 trial but is unsure if recurring billing is fully disabled despite the 'Disabled' status showing on the account.
- Observed behavior
- The subscription displays a 'Disabled' status, but the user is concerned that recurring billing might still be active, potentially leading to a paid conversion.
Log in to your Microsoft 365 Admin Center using the Global or Billing Administrator credentials associated with the E5 trial account.
Verify Disabled Status and Turn Off Recurring Billing
Ensure that your trial is in the correct lifecycle state and explicitly disable recurring billing to prevent any automatic charges from being processed.
A Microsoft subscription in a 90-day 'Disabled' state normally will not convert to a paid plan and is deleted afterward. However, to guarantee you will not be charged, it is highly recommended to manually verify that the recurring billing toggle is turned off.
Log into the Microsoft 365 Admin Center and navigate to the 'Billing' menu on the left sidebar, then select 'Your products'.
Find and click directly on the Microsoft 365 E5 trial subscription name to open its detailed management page.
Look for the 'Recurring billing' section. If the status says 'On', click the 'Edit recurring billing' or 'Turn off recurring billing' link.
Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the cancellation of recurring billing. The status should now reflect that it is disabled.
Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Expensive Subscriptions
If you are canceling your Microsoft 365 trial to avoid recurring charges, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a complete, lightweight, and free office suite that does not require a mandatory paid subscription while remaining fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the 'Free Download' button to get the installer.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the quick setup wizard to install WPS Office on your device.
- 3. Open Your Microsoft Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files without losing any formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a 'Disabled' status mean for a Microsoft 365 trial?
A 'Disabled' status means the cancellation process has begun or the trial period has expired. The subscription typically remains in this state for 90 days before being permanently deleted. During this period, you will not be charged if recurring billing is successfully turned off.
Why can I only see 'View Billing Profile' when managing my subscription?
This usually happens if you lack full administrative privileges or if the specific menu restricts options. Try clicking the subscription name itself instead of the three dots, and ensure you are logged in as a Global Admin or Billing Admin.
Will I be charged after canceling if my trial is already disabled?
You should not be charged if the subscription is disabled, but you must double-check that 'Recurring billing' is turned off in the Billing section to prevent the system from attempting a charge upon the trial's expiration.
