License & Subscription Issues

Is Microsoft Teams Exploratory a Paid License or Free Trial?

Nimra Malik Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to clarify if the Microsoft Teams Exploratory license, which includes 1 TB of OneDrive storage, is a permanent paid upgrade or a temporary trial.

Is Microsoft Teams Exploratory a Paid License or Free Trial?

Product: Microsoft 365 / Microsoft Teams
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing active user licenses and subscription service plans within an organization.
Observed behavior: The user has access to Microsoft Teams and 1 TB of OneDrive storage through the Exploratory license without an obvious expiration date, causing confusion about its billing and subscription status.

Before you start

Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center using an account with Global Administrator or Billing Administrator privileges to verify the active licenses in your organization.

Solution 1Recommended

Manage and Transition from the Teams Exploratory License

Since Teams Exploratory is a temporary trial, administrators must assign a permanent paid license before the trial expires to prevent service disruption.

Microsoft Teams Exploratory is a temporary trial license, not a permanent paid subscription. Even though it provides full Microsoft Teams access and 1 TB of OneDrive storage, the license will eventually expire.

To ensure continuous access to files and communication history, organizations must assign an eligible paid Microsoft 365 or Teams license to the affected users before the exploratory period ends.

Access the Admin Center

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

Review Active Licenses

In the left navigation menu, go to 'Billing' and select 'Licenses'. Locate the Microsoft Teams Exploratory license to check its current status and service plans.

Assign a Paid License

Go to 'Users' > 'Active users'. Select the user currently utilizing the Exploratory license.

Swap the Licenses

Under the 'Licenses and apps' tab, check the box for the new paid Microsoft 365 or Teams license, and uncheck the box for the Microsoft Teams Exploratory license. Click 'Save changes'.

Manage and Transition from the Teams Exploratory License

OneDrive Storage Consideration: Because the Exploratory license includes 1 TB of OneDrive storage, ensure the new paid license you assign also includes sufficient cloud storage to prevent data loss or sync errors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when the Microsoft Teams Exploratory license expires?

When the trial expires, users will lose access to Microsoft Teams and associated services like their 1 TB OneDrive storage. Administrators have a brief grace period (typically 30 days) to assign a paid license before user data is permanently deleted.

Can I upgrade the Teams Exploratory license directly to a paid version?

The Exploratory license itself is not directly 'upgraded'. Instead, an administrator must purchase standard Microsoft 365 or Teams paid subscriptions and manually swap the licenses in the Active Users menu.

Who is eligible for the Microsoft Teams Exploratory experience?

The Exploratory experience is generally available to end-users in organizations with a managed Azure Active Directory who do not currently have a paid license that includes Microsoft Teams.

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