'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Switch from Microsoft 365 Trial to Office Lifetime Subscription
Question details
The user wants to cancel an active Microsoft 365 trial and redeem a one-time Office purchase without losing locally stored documents or cloud files.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Canceling an ongoing Microsoft 365 trial to activate a newly purchased lifetime Office subscription.
- Observed behavior
- The user is concerned about potential data loss for locally stored Word/Excel files and cloud-stored OneDrive documents upon transitioning licenses.
Check your current OneDrive storage usage at onedrive.live.com, as your cloud storage limit will revert to the free 5 GB tier once the Microsoft 365 trial expires.
Redeem Office Lifetime Subscription and Protect OneDrive Data
Safely link your one-time Office purchase to your Microsoft account and back up any cloud files that exceed the free storage quota.
Transitioning from a trial to a lifetime license is handled directly through your Microsoft account. This process does not alter the files saved on your computer, but it does affect your available OneDrive storage space.
Sign in to https://onedrive.live.com using your Microsoft account. Review your storage usage. If it exceeds 5 GB, download your important files to your local hard drive.
Navigate to the Microsoft account setup page and enter the product key for your Office Lifetime product. Ensure you use the same Microsoft account associated with your trial.
Go to your Microsoft account's 'Services & subscriptions' page. Locate your Microsoft 365 trial and select 'Cancel subscription' to prevent future billing.
Open any installed Office app like Word or Excel. Navigate to 'File' > 'Account' and update your license to reflect the newly redeemed lifetime purchase.
Try WPS Office as a Cost-Free Alternative
If you prefer to avoid expensive subscriptions or one-time license fees, WPS Office is a highly compatible, free, and lightweight suite that handles Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files effortlessly.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the 'Free Download' button.
- 2. Install the Suite: Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup.
- 3. Open Microsoft Office Files: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files directly without any conversion required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my Word and Excel files if I cancel my Microsoft 365 trial?
No, any files saved locally on your computer's hard drive will remain completely unaffected and accessible after you cancel your Microsoft 365 trial.
What happens to my OneDrive files after the Microsoft 365 trial ends?
Your OneDrive storage limit will drop to the free tier of 5 GB. If you have more than 5 GB of files, you will not be able to upload new files until you free up space, though your existing files will not be immediately deleted.
Do I need to uninstall Microsoft 365 before installing the lifetime version?
Generally, you do not need to uninstall the software if they are the same version year. You can often just switch the license in the Office app's Account settings. However, if you experience activation issues, uninstalling the trial first is recommended.
