License & Subscription Issues

How to Upgrade Office 365 E5 to Microsoft 365 E5 Midterm

Olivia Miller Oct 13, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if they can upgrade an annual Office 365 E5 subscription to Microsoft 365 E5 during the current term and how to do it without facing penalties.

How to Upgrade Office 365 E5 to Microsoft 365 E5 Midterm

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Upgrading an active Office 365 E5 subscription midterm under the New Commerce Experience.
Observed behavior: Seeking to transition to a higher-tier plan (Microsoft 365 E5) and have the remaining balance applied without early-termination fees.

Before you start

Ensure you are signed in with an account that has Global Administrator or Billing Administrator privileges in the Microsoft 365 admin center before attempting to change your subscription plan.

Solution 1Recommended

Upgrade Directly via Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Use this method if you purchased your Office 365 E5 subscription directly from Microsoft.

If you bought your subscription straight from Microsoft, you can easily upgrade it midterm through the admin center. The remaining balance of your current subscription will be prorated and applied to the new Microsoft 365 E5 plan, typically avoiding any early-termination penalties.

Sign In to Admin Center

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

Navigate to Your Products

On the left-hand menu, go to 'Billing' and then click on 'Your products'.

Select the Subscription

Find and select your current Office 365 E5 subscription from the list.

Choose Plan Upgrade

Click on 'Change to a different subscription option' or 'Upgrade', select the Microsoft 365 E5 plan, and finally choose 'Change plan' to confirm.

Upgrade Directly via Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Prorated Balance: Your remaining subscription balance will be automatically applied to the upgraded plan without early-termination penalties.

Solution 2

Upgrade a Reseller-Purchased Subscription

If you bought your subscription through a Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) or reseller, the upgrade must be handled through them.

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1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official website and download the free WPS Office installer for your operating system.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Does upgrading midterm reset my billing cycle?

Typically, the billing cycle remains the same. The cost difference between the two plans is prorated for the remainder of your current term, and you will renew at the new Microsoft 365 E5 rate upon your anniversary date.

What if the 'Change plan' option is missing in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center?

If the option is not visible, it is likely because your subscription was purchased through a volume licensing agreement or a third-party reseller. You will need to contact Microsoft Support or your reseller directly to initiate the upgrade.

Are there any data loss risks when upgrading to Microsoft 365 E5?

No, upgrading from Office 365 E5 to Microsoft 365 E5 is an in-place upgrade. All your user accounts, files, emails, and settings will remain fully intact during the transition.

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