What happens if my Microsoft 365 subscription expires?

If your Microsoft 365 subscription expires, you’ll lose access to many of the premium features and services included with the subscription. Here’s a detailed look at what happens when your subscription expires:

1. Loss of Access to Premium Features

Microsoft 365 includes several premium features, such as advanced functionality in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive. Once your subscription expires, you’ll lose access to these features:

• Office Apps: While you can still view and open documents in apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you’ll lose access to advanced editing and formatting options unless you purchase a new subscription or switch to a standalone version of Office.
• Premium OneDrive Storage: Microsoft 365 includes 1 TB of cloud storage via OneDrive. If your subscription expires, your storage limit will revert to the free 5 GB allowance. If you have more than 5 GB of files stored in OneDrive, you will no longer be able to upload additional files until you free up space or renew your subscription.
• Premium Skype Minutes: Microsoft 365 includes a set number of Skype minutes to call mobile phones or landlines. Once the subscription expires, these minutes will no longer be available.
• Advanced Security Features: Features like OneDrive Personal Vault (extra security for sensitive files) will no longer be accessible.

2. No More Software Updates

• If you’re using the subscription version of Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.), you won’t receive new updates, bug fixes, or security patches once your subscription expires.
• With Microsoft 365, you’re always on the latest version of the Office suite, as the subscription provides automatic updates. Once expired, your version will freeze at the last update you received.

3. Loss of Access to Additional Services

• Microsoft Teams: While Teams is still available as a free service, some advanced features (such as larger meeting sizes, increased cloud storage for meetings and chats, and business features) are only available with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
• Access to Premium Apps: If you’re using any of the other premium services included with Microsoft 365 (such as Microsoft Editor, Outlook Premium, Microsoft Family Safety, or Microsoft Defender, these will also be disabled).

4. Microsoft Office Web Apps Still Available

• Even if your Microsoft 365 subscription expires, you can still use the free web versions of Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint through your browser. However, these versions offer fewer features than the full desktop versions, and you will need an internet connection to access them.

5. What Happens to Documents?

• Your documents remain on your device and in OneDrive even after the subscription expires. However, if you were using premium features that require a subscription (e.g., syncing across multiple devices or using advanced editing options), you will lose access to them.
• If you’re over the free 5 GB storage limit in OneDrive and don’t reduce it within a certain time frame, you may risk losing access to some of your files.

6. Grace Period

• Microsoft generally provides a grace period (typically around 30 days) after your subscription expires. During this time, you may still have access to some features. Once the grace period ends, you’ll be restricted from using most of the premium features until you renew your subscription.

What Can You Do After Expiration?

1. Renew your Microsoft 365 subscription: This will restore full access to all premium features, services, and cloud storage.
2. Switch to a standalone version of Office: If you no longer wish to pay for a subscription, you can purchase a standalone version of Office (like Office Home & Student or Office Home & Business), but keep in mind that standalone versions don’t offer the same cloud storage or premium features as Microsoft 365.
3. Use Free Office Web Apps: If you just need basic functionality, the web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are free to use with a Microsoft account.

Summary of Key Points

• Premium Features: You lose access to advanced Office apps, 1 TB of OneDrive storage, Skype minutes, and other premium services.
• Office Web Apps: You can still access basic web versions of Office apps online.
• Storage: If you’re over your free OneDrive limit, you may lose access to some files until you free up space or renew your subscription.
• Grace Period: There’s typically a grace period during which you may still have access to some services before everything is restricted.

Where to Buy Microsoft 365

For the best prices on Microsoft 365 and Windows versions, visit Eshoptech.org. Eshoptech.org offers genuine Microsoft products at competitive prices, and you can easily purchase a new subscription or renew your existing one.