Unable to use Microsoft basic account

Anonymous
2025-03-17T10:35:55+00:00

Hi,

I have a Microsoft basic account but can no longer use it as whenever I open a document, it asks me to update to Microsoft 365. Therefore I am stuck as if I had no account at all. How can I make sure to be able to use it? Otherwise, why did I pay for it ?

Thank you in advance

Veronique

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Stefan Blom 355.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2025-03-17T11:01:14+00:00

If you mean that you have a Microsoft 365 Basic subscription, note that it does not let you install the Office applications locally on a Windows (or Mac) device. You are paying for web access and additional OneDrive storage (more storage compared to a free account). See https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/microsoft-365-basic/cfq7ttc0ktxs.

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  1. Stefan Blom 355.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-03-17T13:40:59+00:00

    Make sure that you cancel the Basic subscription. See https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/cancel-a-microsoft-365-subscription-46e2634c-c64b-4c65-94b9-2cc9c960e91b.

    If you only need Office for Windows (or MacOS), you can get Office Home 2024 which is a one-time payment license for one user and one PC or Mac (no mobile devices). No additional OneDrive storage is included and Outlook isn't included either.

    All options are summarized at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/buy/compare-all-microsoft-365-products.

    Alternatively, try open source software such as LibreOffice. LibreOffice offers a word processor, a presentation program and a spreadsheet program and these programs are able to create files that are fairly compatible with their Microsoft Office counterparts.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-03-17T11:48:57+00:00

    Hi Stefan,

    Thank you for your answer.

    I thought that it would enable me to work word documents using basic functions....

    Therefore, I paid for nothing as I use thumb drives and not the cloud.

    This is quite disappointing, I am going to look for a free version.

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