License & Subscription Issues

How to Move a User from a Planner Trial to a Paid License

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

A manager needs to know if assigning a paid Planner and Project Plan 3 license to a user with an expiring trial will automatically take over without losing plan data.

Product: Microsoft Planner / Project Plan 3
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Transitioning a user account from an expiring trial subscription to an active paid subscription for the exact same service.
Observed behavior: The user is seeking confirmation on whether manual intervention is needed and if existing project data will remain fully accessible.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrator privileges in the Microsoft 365 admin center before attempting to verify or assign user licenses.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify the Paid License Assignment in Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Confirm that the paid license is properly assigned to the user to ensure a seamless transition and prevent data loss when the trial expires.

When a paid subscription offers the exact same service and features as an expiring trial, the transition is usually automatic. Plan data will be retained as long as the paid license is active before the trial fully expires. Manual data migration is unnecessary.

Log in to the Admin Center

Navigate to the Microsoft 365 admin center and log in using your administrator credentials.

Access Active Users

Go to the 'Users' section in the left-hand navigation menu and select 'Active users'.

Select the User

Find the specific user whose trial is expiring and click on their display name to open their account properties panel.

Verify License Assignment

Click on the 'Licenses and apps' tab. Ensure that the checkbox next to the paid Planner and Project Plan 3 license is ticked, indicating it is actively assigned to the user.

Save Changes

If you needed to manually check the box for the paid license, click 'Save changes' at the bottom of the panel.

Seamless Transition: As long as both licenses provide the same features and the paid license is assigned, the paid license will automatically take over upon trial expiration.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Project Document Management

While Microsoft Planner requires specific licensing and administrative management, you can handle all your project documentation, spreadsheets, and presentations efficiently with WPS Office. It's a lightweight, free alternative that offers excellent compatibility with Microsoft file formats.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click 'Download WPS Office Free'.
2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
3. Create Project Documents: Open WPS Office and explore the comprehensive template library to instantly start managing your project schedules and reports.

Completely free and lightweight office suiteHighly compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formatsRich built-in templates for project planning and trackingFamiliar user interface for quick and easy onboarding

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my project data be deleted if the trial expires before I assign the paid license?

Microsoft typically retains user data for a grace period (often 30 days) after a subscription expires. However, it is highly recommended to assign the paid license before the trial ends to avoid any temporary access interruptions.

Do I need to manually cancel the Planner trial after assigning the paid license?

No, you do not need to manually cancel the trial. Once it naturally expires, the active paid license will automatically provide continued access to the services.

What if the paid license has fewer features than the expiring trial?

If the paid license does not include all the features of the trial (for example, downgrading from Project Plan 3 to Project Plan 1), the user may lose access to certain advanced features, though the basic data will remain accessible according to the new plan's limits.

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