License & Subscription Issues

How to Update Microsoft 365 and Minecraft Subscriptions After Moving Countries

Rana Garcia Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to know how to properly handle Microsoft 365 and Minecraft subscriptions, including updating billing information and retaining data, when relocating to a different country.

How to Update Microsoft 365 and Minecraft Subscriptions After Moving Countries

Product: Microsoft 365, Minecraft Realms, OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Moving internationally (e.g., from Barbados to the United Kingdom) and needing to update the Microsoft account's billing details to the new country.
Observed behavior: Microsoft subscriptions are tied to regional billing, requiring users to cancel and repurchase services in the new country, which raises concerns about potential data loss for OneDrive and Minecraft Realms.

Before you start

Before making any changes to your subscription status, ensure you have downloaded a complete local backup of your essential OneDrive files and Minecraft Realms worlds.

Solution 1Recommended

Cancel and Repurchase Subscriptions with New Billing Details

Since Microsoft subscriptions are often region-locked, you must cancel your current active plans and repurchase them using a payment method from your new country.

Canceling your Microsoft 365 Family or Personal subscription will not immediately delete your Microsoft account data or OneDrive files. Your files will remain associated with your account, though your storage limit may temporarily revert to the free tier until the new subscription is active.

Cancel Active Subscriptions

Log in to your Microsoft account, navigate to the 'Services & subscriptions' page, and select 'Manage' next to your Microsoft 365 and Minecraft subscriptions to cancel them.

Update Billing Address

Go to the 'Payment & billing' section of your Microsoft account dashboard, select 'Address book', and add your new residential and billing address for your new country.

Add New Payment Method

Under 'Payment options', add a valid credit card, debit card, or PayPal account registered in your new country.

Repurchase Subscriptions

Visit the Microsoft Store or Xbox Store, select your desired Microsoft 365 and Minecraft plans, and purchase them using your newly added local payment method.

Data Safety Guarantee: As long as you use the exact same Microsoft account email to repurchase the subscriptions, your Office documents and OneDrive data will seamlessly reconnect to your premium storage limits.

Solution 2

Restore Minecraft Realms Data After Region Change

Minecraft Realms data is only retained for a limited period after cancellation. You must act quickly to restore your world on the repurchased subscription.

Solution 3

Contact Microsoft Support for Region Locks

If you are unable to change your region or if the system rejects your new payment method, you will need to request manual intervention from Microsoft Support.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my OneDrive files when canceling my Microsoft 365 subscription to change countries?

No, canceling your subscription does not delete your Microsoft account data or your OneDrive files. Your account will simply revert to the free 5GB tier. Once you repurchase the subscription in your new country, your premium storage limit will be restored. However, backing up locally beforehand is strongly recommended.

How long does Minecraft keep my Realm data after I cancel my subscription?

Closed Realm data is retained only for a limited period, typically up to 18 months, though policies can vary. To ensure you do not lose your world, you should repurchase your Realms subscription within this retention window so you can restore your world from the backup.

Why can't I just update my billing address to my new country in Microsoft settings?

Microsoft subscriptions are typically region-locked to the country where they were initially purchased to comply with local currencies and tax laws. To change your region entirely, you generally need to let the active subscription expire or cancel it, then start a new one using a payment method registered in the new country.

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