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How to End a Microsoft Partner Relationship and Move Licenses In-House
Question details
The user needs to terminate their Microsoft licensing agreement with a managed service provider (MSP) and transition their software licenses to be managed in-house.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Moving enterprise or business licensing away from a third-party managed service provider back to internal organizational management.
- Observed behavior
- Transferring billing and administration rights requires specific partner-management procedures rather than standard community support channels.
Before initiating the transfer, ensure you have Global Administrator access to your Microsoft 365 tenant and a clear inventory of all currently active licenses managed by your partner.
Consult Microsoft Partner Center Support for License Transfer
Because changing a Microsoft Partner relationship involves billing and administrative rights, it must be handled through specialized partner-management channels.
Terminating a relationship with a managed service provider (MSP) means transferring the billing and administration of your licenses back to your organization. This process requires precise steps to prevent downtime or accidental loss of user licenses.
Log in to your Microsoft 365 admin center, go to 'Settings', and select 'Partner relationships' to view your current managed service provider details.
If necessary, select the partner and choose 'Remove roles' to revoke their Delegated Admin Privileges (DAP) from your tenant.
For comprehensive guidance on officially changing the relationship status and moving licensing, visit the Microsoft Partner Center Q&A page (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/tags/272/microsoft-partner-center).
Before the partner cancels the current subscriptions, ensure you have purchased the equivalent licenses directly from Microsoft via the Billing section in the admin center to avoid service interruption.
Simplify Your Software Licensing with WPS Office
Managing enterprise Microsoft licenses and partner relationships can be complex and costly. Consider WPS Office as a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative for your team's document processing needs.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install the Suite: Follow the on-screen instructions to quickly deploy WPS Office across your team's devices.
- 3. Open Microsoft Formats Natively: Instantly open, edit, and save your existing .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx files without any conversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing a Microsoft partner delete my user data?
No, removing a partner's administrative privileges or ending the relationship does not delete your tenant's data. However, you must ensure you have active replacement licenses to maintain access to your services.
Can I remove a Microsoft partner without their permission?
Yes, if you have Global Administrator rights in your Microsoft 365 tenant, you can remove a partner's Delegated Admin Privileges (DAP) at any time through the Microsoft 365 admin center.
What happens to my subscriptions when I end the partner relationship?
If the partner was providing your licenses via the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program, they remain responsible for billing until they cancel the subscriptions. You must purchase direct licenses before they cancel to prevent service disruptions.
Why can't community support help with Microsoft partner issues?
Partner relationships involve confidential billing information and administrative rights. Due to privacy and security policies, these issues must be handled exclusively through specialized Microsoft Partner Center channels.
