How to Cancel Microsoft 365 in 2026 - Avoid Losing Your Files
Cancel Microsoft 365 on web, iPhone, or Android. What happens to Word, Excel, OneDrive files after cancellation. 30-day refund window and free alternatives.
To cancel Microsoft 365, go to account.microsoft.com/services/microsoft365, sign in, and click Cancel subscription. Microsoft will try to keep you with a series of retention screens - keep clicking through until you confirm. The critical thing to know before you cancel: your OneDrive storage drops from 1TB to 5GB. If you have more than 5GB of files stored, you will not be able to upload or sync anything new until you free up space. Microsoft does not delete your files, but your OneDrive will enter a read-only state after 90 days if you are over the limit. At $9.99/month or $99.99/year, Microsoft 365 Personal bundles Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and 1TB OneDrive. If you only use one or two of these apps, the free web versions at office.com might be enough. But if you rely on OneDrive for backup or use advanced Excel features like pivot tables and macros, cancelling has real consequences.
What you'll learn
- How to cancel Microsoft 365 on web, iPhone, and Android
- What happens to Word, Excel, and OneDrive after cancelling
- Microsoft's 30-day full refund policy
- Free trial cancellation and how to avoid being charged
- Free Office alternatives that handle .docx and .xlsx files
Microsoft offers a full refund if you cancel within 30 days of initial purchase or renewal. This is one of the most generous refund windows for any subscription service. If you were just charged, you can get your money back.
Microsoft 365 Plans and Pricing (2026)
| Billing | Price (India) | Price (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | - | $9.99/mo |
| Annual | - | $99.99/yr |
| Free Trial | 30 days | 30 days |
Microsoft 365 Personal covers one user. The Family plan ($12.99/month, up to 6 users) is better value if you are sharing. In India, Microsoft 365 Personal costs around ₹5,299/year through the Microsoft Store. The monthly plan is only available in some regions. If you are on the free trial, you have 30 days to cancel before being charged - set a reminder for day 25 so you do not forget.
How to Cancel Microsoft 365 on Web
- 1Go to account.microsoft.com/services/microsoft365 and sign in
- 2Select Cancel subscription (may appear as Upgrade or Cancel)
- 3On the cancellation page, review the notice at the top
- 4At the bottom, choose 'I don't want my subscription' to confirm
How to Cancel Microsoft 365 on iPhone (iOS)
- 1Open Settings - tap your Apple ID name
- 2Tap Subscriptions
- 3Find Microsoft 365 and tap it
- 4Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm
How to Cancel Microsoft 365 on Android
- 1Open Google Play Store
- 2Tap your profile icon - Payments & subscriptions - Subscriptions
- 3Find Microsoft 365 and tap it
- 4Tap Cancel subscription and confirm
What Happens After You Cancel Microsoft 365?
Your subscription stays active until the end of your current billing period. After that, desktop Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook switch to read-only mode - you can open and view files but cannot edit or create new ones. The web versions at office.com continue to work for free with limited features. OneDrive storage drops from 1TB to 5GB. If you are over 5GB, you have 90 days to download or delete files before your OneDrive goes read-only. Outlook.com email keeps working (it is free), but any custom email domains connected through Microsoft 365 stop working. Saved files on your computer are not affected - only cloud sync and advanced editing are restricted.
Download Your Files Before Cancelling
If you store important files in OneDrive, download them before your plan expires. Go to onedrive.live.com, select the folders you want, and click Download. For large libraries, use the OneDrive desktop app to sync everything to your computer first. Your locally synced files stay on your machine after cancellation - only cloud-only files become inaccessible after the 90-day grace period.
Microsoft 365 in India - Key Notes
Microsoft 365 Personal in India costs approximately ₹5,299/year through the Microsoft Store or Amazon India. Monthly billing is limited in availability - most Indian users are on annual plans. If you purchased through the Microsoft website and paid via UPI or net banking, the recurring payment should stop automatically after cancellation. For credit card purchases, verify that no charge appears on your next statement. If you bought a product key from Amazon or Flipkart (a one-time purchase, not a subscription), there is nothing to cancel - it simply expires after 12 months. Students can get Microsoft 365 Education for free through their university email at microsoft.com/education.
Alternatives to Microsoft 365
Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) is free for personal use and handles most document tasks. LibreOffice is a free desktop office suite that reads and writes .docx and .xlsx files. Apple iWork (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) is free on Mac and iOS. For cloud storage, Google Drive gives you 15GB free versus Microsoft's 5GB. If you only need occasional document editing, the free Microsoft Office web apps at office.com still work after cancelling your subscription. Use RecurStop to track your remaining subscriptions and get alerts before renewal dates so you do not end up paying for something you forgot about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my Word and Excel files if I cancel Microsoft 365?
No. Files saved on your computer stay exactly where they are. Files in OneDrive remain accessible for 90 days after your plan expires, even if you exceed the 5GB free limit. After 90 days, your OneDrive goes read-only if you are over 5GB. Download anything important before that window closes. The desktop apps switch to read-only mode but you can still open and view all your documents.
Can I still use Word and Excel for free after cancelling?
Yes, partially. The web versions at office.com are free and let you create and edit documents with basic features. The desktop apps switch to read-only mode - you can view files but not edit them. If you need offline editing, LibreOffice is a free desktop alternative that handles Microsoft file formats well. For most casual document work, the free web versions are sufficient.
Can I get a refund from Microsoft 365?
Yes, if you act quickly. Microsoft offers a full refund within 30 days of purchase or renewal. Go to account.microsoft.com, find your subscription under Services, and request a refund. This 30-day window is unusually generous compared to most subscription services. After 30 days, no partial refunds are issued. If you subscribed through Apple or Google, use their refund process instead.
How do I cancel a Microsoft 365 free trial without being charged?
Cancel before the 30-day trial ends to avoid charges. Go to account.microsoft.com/services, click Cancel subscription, and confirm. You keep access to the full features for the remainder of the trial period even after cancelling. Set a calendar reminder for day 25 so you do not forget. If you were charged after the trial, you can still get a full refund within 30 days.
What happens to my Outlook email if I cancel Microsoft 365?
Your Outlook.com email address continues to work - it is a free Microsoft service separate from the 365 subscription. You keep access to email, calendar, and contacts through outlook.com. What you lose is the Outlook desktop app (it switches to read-only for advanced features), any custom email domains connected through 365, and the 50GB mailbox drops to 15GB. For most people, the web version of Outlook covers everything they need.