License & Subscription Issues

How to Cancel a Microsoft 365 Subscription After One Year

Adam Davis Oct 10, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to properly cancel their Microsoft 365 subscription or stop recurring billing after completing a one-year billing cycle.

How to Cancel a Microsoft 365 Subscription After One Year

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing software subscriptions and preventing future automatic charges for the next billing cycle.
Observed behavior: The user needs a clear pathway to stop recurring billing while ensuring they can still access their Microsoft 365 services until the current paid subscription period ends.

Before you start

Before proceeding, make sure you have the login credentials (email and password) for the specific Microsoft account that was originally used to purchase the subscription.

Solution 1Recommended

Cancel via the Microsoft Services & Subscriptions Dashboard

This is the standard and recommended method to cancel your Microsoft 365 plan or turn off recurring billing online.

When you turn off recurring billing, you will not be charged again for the upcoming year. You can continue to use all Microsoft 365 apps and services until your current subscription period officially reaches its expiration date.

Sign in to your Microsoft Account

Open a web browser, navigate to https://account.microsoft.com/services, and sign in using the Microsoft account associated with your active subscription.

Locate your subscription

Scroll through your account dashboard to find your active Microsoft 365 subscription, then click on 'Manage' next to it.

Cancel or disable recurring billing

Click on 'Cancel subscription' or 'Upgrade or cancel', and follow the on-screen prompts to confirm. If the page only displays 'Turn on recurring billing', it means recurring billing is already disabled and no further action is needed.

Cancel via the Microsoft Services & Subscriptions Dashboard

Usage Until Expiration: Once canceled, note the expiration date displayed on your dashboard. Your Office apps will remain fully functional until that exact date.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office After Canceling Microsoft 365

If you have canceled your Microsoft 365 subscription but still need powerful productivity tools, WPS Office is an excellent free, lightweight, and easy-to-use alternative. It offers a familiar interface and seamless migration for all your document needs.

1. Download and Install: Get the free WPS Office installer from the official website and run it on your computer.
2. Open Your Existing Files: Simply double-click your existing Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files to open them directly in WPS Office.
3. Save in Microsoft Formats: Continue saving your work in .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx to ensure seamless sharing with MS Office users.

Completely free to use, saving you money after you cancel your Microsoft 365 subscription.Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats including DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.Lightweight installation that runs incredibly smoothly on both PC and Mac.All-in-one suite containing Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and PDF tools in a single window.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my files if I cancel my Microsoft 365 subscription?

No, your locally saved files will remain perfectly safe on your hard drive. However, your OneDrive cloud storage limit will revert to the free 5GB tier. If you have more than 5GB of data in OneDrive, you will need to back it up locally to avoid losing access to synced files.

Can I get a refund if I cancel Microsoft 365 before the year ends?

Refunds are generally only available if you cancel within 30 days of your initial purchase, or within 30 days of an automatic renewal for an annual subscription. Otherwise, you simply disable future billing and keep access for the remainder of the paid term.

What happens to the Office desktop apps after the subscription expires?

Once the expiration date passes, the Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) will enter 'view-only' mode. You will still be able to open, read, and print your documents, but all editing and formatting features will be disabled until you subscribe again or switch to a free alternative like WPS Office.

Why don't I see the 'Cancel subscription' option on my Microsoft dashboard?

If the cancel option is missing, it is highly likely you purchased the subscription through a third-party vendor (such as Apple, Google Play, or Amazon). In these cases, you must manage and cancel your subscription directly through that third-party platform's subscription management page.

Login & Account Issues