License & Subscription Issues

How to Check Microsoft Defender for Endpoint License Usage

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to review Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 license information and monitor current usage.

How to Check Microsoft Defender for Endpoint License Usage

Product: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Tracking device protection quotas and ensuring sufficient licenses before adding more devices to the network.
Observed behavior: The goal is to locate the license-usage report to track assigned or estimated usage and maintain adequate coverage.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary administrative privileges and access to the Microsoft Defender portal before attempting to view licensing information.

Solution 1Recommended

Check License Usage via the Microsoft Defender Portal

Access the built-in license reporting dashboard to view your assigned and estimated usage for Defender for Endpoint Plan 2.

Monitoring your license consumption allows your organization to plan for expansion and ensures that newly enrolled devices immediately receive endpoint protection.

Sign in to the Portal

Navigate to the Microsoft Defender portal and log in using your administrator account credentials.

Navigate to Endpoint Settings

In the left-hand navigation pane, click on 'Settings', and then select 'Endpoints'.

Open the Licenses Page

Under the Endpoints menu, click on 'Licenses' to access your organization's license information.

Review the Usage Report

Examine the license-usage report displayed on the screen to track your assigned or estimated license usage against your total purchased quota.

Check License Usage via the Microsoft Defender Portal

Maintain Sufficient Licenses: Ensure that the number of available licenses is sufficient for all protected devices. Exceeding your licensed quantity may negatively affect device coverage and feature availability.

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Analyze IT Security Reports with WPS Office

While you manage security and licensing in the Microsoft Defender portal, you will often need to export and analyze those usage reports. WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, perfect for managing administrative spreadsheets and compliance documentation.

1. Download the Suite: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the straightforward on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
3. Analyze Your Data: Use WPS Spreadsheet to open, filter, and format the license usage reports exported from your security portals.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) for analyzing exported license usage and device reports.Lightweight architecture ensures fast performance, even on older IT administrative workstations.Familiar tabbed interface allows for seamless migration with zero learning curve.Built-in PDF toolkit for securely sharing compliance and licensing status with stakeholders.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if my organization exceeds its Microsoft Defender for Endpoint license count?

If you exceed your licensed quantity, new devices might not be covered by endpoint protection, and certain premium security features or administrative capabilities may become temporarily unavailable until you procure additional licenses.

Where can I purchase more Microsoft Defender for Endpoint licenses?

You can purchase additional licenses directly through the Microsoft 365 admin center under the 'Billing' and 'Purchase services' section, or by contacting your Microsoft Volume Licensing partner.

Can I export my license usage data for external reporting?

Yes, Microsoft typically provides an option to export your license usage and device inventory data into a CSV or Excel file, which you can then analyze using spreadsheet software like WPS Office.

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