License & Subscription Issues

How to Cancel Office 365 E5 Trial Subscription

Guest Writer Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to cancel an accidentally started Office 365 E5 trial to prevent it from converting into a paid subscription.

How to Cancel an Office 365 E5 No Teams Trial

Product: Microsoft Office 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Canceling a free trial before the billing cycle automatically initiates.
Observed behavior: The trial account is scheduled to auto-renew into a costly paid subscription if not canceled prior to the trial end date.

Before you start

Ensure you have the login credentials for the specific administrator account that was used to initiate the Office 365 E5 trial, as standard users cannot modify billing settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Cancel the Subscription via Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Use the Microsoft 365 Admin Center to manage your products and terminate the trial directly from your billing settings.

This is the official method to halt the trial. You must complete this action before the expiration date to guarantee that your saved payment method is not charged.

Sign into Admin Center

Open your web browser and log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center using the admin account that originally purchased or started the trial.

Navigate to Billing

On the left-hand navigation pane, click on 'Billing' to expand the menu, then select 'Your products'.

Select the Trial Subscription

Locate the 'Office 365 E5' or 'Office 365 E5 No Teams' subscription from your list of active products and click on it to open the details page.

Cancel Subscription

Click the 'Cancel subscription' link or button. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the cancellation and provide any required feedback.

Cancel the Subscription via Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Confirmation: Once completed, you should receive a confirmation email from Microsoft verifying that the trial has been successfully canceled and no charges will apply.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Expensive Subscriptions

If you are canceling your Microsoft 365 E5 trial to avoid high ongoing subscription costs, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a robust, lightweight, and free alternative for all your document creation needs without the anxiety of automatic trial conversions.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click on the free download button.
2. Install the Software: Run the lightweight installer and follow the quick setup wizard to install the suite on your device.
3. Open Existing Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files without losing any formatting.

No auto-renewing subscription traps; absolutely free for core office tasks.Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats, including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx.Familiar user interface requiring zero learning curve for seamless migration.Lightweight application that runs smoothly across Windows, Mac, and mobile devices.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my files immediately after canceling the E5 trial?

No, Microsoft typically retains your data in a reduced-functionality state for a grace period (usually 30 to 90 days) after cancellation. However, it is highly recommended to back up your important files and emails before canceling.

Can I cancel the trial from a standard user account?

No, standard users do not have access to the billing dashboard. You must sign in with a Global Administrator or Billing Administrator account to cancel any Microsoft 365 subscriptions.

What happens if I forget to cancel before the Office 365 E5 trial ends?

If you provided a credit card or payment method during the trial sign-up, your account will automatically be charged for the next billing cycle (monthly or annually) the moment the trial period expires.

Login & Account Issues