License & Subscription Issues

What Happens to Office and OneDrive After Canceling Microsoft 365

Guest Writer Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know the impact of canceling a Microsoft 365 subscription on Office editing capabilities and OneDrive storage, as well as how to successfully remove the OneDrive application from a Mac.

What Happens to Office and OneDrive After Canceling Microsoft 365

Product: Microsoft 365 / OneDrive
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Canceling or letting a Microsoft 365 subscription expire and managing the resulting storage and software footprint.
Observed behavior: Upon subscription expiration, Office applications lose editing features, and the user faces difficulty uninstalling the OneDrive app because it is currently running in the background.

Before you start

Before canceling your subscription, ensure you download and locally back up any essential files stored in OneDrive, as your cloud storage limit will drastically decrease upon expiration.

Solution 1

Review Office and OneDrive Functionality Changes

Understand the automatic functionality changes to your Microsoft Office apps and cloud storage limits after your subscription expires.

When your Microsoft 365 subscription ends, your software and services do not immediately disappear, but their capabilities are significantly restricted.

Office Applications enter Reduced-Functionality Mode

Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will remain installed on your device, but they will require a valid license to edit documents. They will enter a reduced-functionality mode where you can only view and print files, but cannot create or edit them.

OneDrive storage reverts to the free tier

Your OneDrive storage allowance will drop from the subscription tier (usually 1 TB) to the standard free allowance of 5 GB. If your current data exceeds 5 GB, your files will become read-only until you free up space.

Office 2021 Users: If you own a separate one-time-purchase license for Office 2021, canceling Microsoft 365 will not affect your Office 2021 applications.

Solution 2Recommended

Unlink and Uninstall OneDrive on Mac

Safely disconnect your Microsoft account and completely remove the OneDrive application from your Mac system.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Keep Editing Documents for Free with WPS Office

If your Microsoft 365 subscription has expired, you don't have to lose your document editing capabilities. WPS Office is a lightweight, easy-to-use alternative that lets you open, edit, and save Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without a monthly fee.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
2. Install the software: Run the downloaded installation file and follow the on-screen prompts to set up the software.
3. Open existing Office files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files to continue editing instantly.

Completely free to use without mandatory subscription renewalsExcellent format compatibility with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint filesLightweight application that won't consume excessive Mac or PC resourcesFamiliar user interface ensuring a seamless migration from Microsoft Office

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my files if my OneDrive storage exceeds the free 5GB limit after cancellation?

No, Microsoft will not immediately delete your files. However, your OneDrive account will become read-only. You will not be able to upload new files, edit existing ones, or sync across devices until you delete enough files to drop below the 5 GB threshold.

Can I still use my installed Office apps offline after my subscription expires?

You can open the apps offline, but they will remain in reduced-functionality mode. You will only be able to read and print your documents. To restore editing capabilities offline, you would need a new valid subscription or an alternative office suite.

Why do I get an error saying OneDrive is open when trying to delete it?

macOS prevents you from deleting applications that are actively running. You must first close the app by clicking the OneDrive icon in your top menu bar, selecting the settings gear, and choosing 'Quit OneDrive' before moving it to the Trash.

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