Multiple subscriptions

Question

I have two Microsoft email accounts. They are ******@msn.com and ******@outlook.com.

My msn.com account is Microsoft 365.

My outlook.com account is Microsoft Basic.

Is it really necessary to have the Basic account when I'm paying for Microsoft 365 on my msn.com account.

If I cancel my Basic account on outlook.com can I still receive my outlook.com emails on my Microsoft 365 account?

Or does each Microsoft email account require a separate subscription?

Answer 1

Hi, the below is what you get, so as far as space on OneDrive it is a waste of time and money, but the Ad Free Outlook account with security feature may be worth having at £20/$20 a year. £1.99 a month Microsoft Basic

A subscription for one person that includes 100 GB of cloud storage with ransomware protection for photos and files, ad-free secure email, and ongoing customer support.

• For one person
• Use on multiple devices at the same time
• Works on web, iOS, and Android
• 100 GB of secure cloud storage
• OneDrive ransomware protection for your photos and files
• Outlook ad-free secure email
• Ongoing support for help when you need it

App availability varies by device/language. Features vary by platform. Outlook security features apply to @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @msn.com email addresses.

Answer 2

Hello

So, the subscriptions are account specific.

So your subscription on msn.com won't benefit your outlook.com account.

Was there a reason you signed up for the Basic plan for the outlook.com account? If you go to https://account.live.com, sign into the outlook.com account, expand Microsoft Storage, are you using more than 5GB for OneDrive and more than 15GB for your outlook mail box? If so, you need to keep the basic plan to allow you for more storage. If not, you can definitely cancel it by going to subscriptions > manage, to cancel it.

Answer 3

Each Microsoft email address is its own Microsoft account, and each account can have its own subscription, but a subscription is not required just to keep using the email address.

Key points based on the scenario:

1. Only one active Microsoft 365 subscription per Microsoft account
   • A single Microsoft account (for example, the one using the @msn.com address) can have only one active Microsoft 365 subscription at a time.
   • Adding another of the same subscription to that same account only extends its time; it does not add more benefits or devices.
   • This does not prevent a different Microsoft account (for example, the @outlook.com address) from having its own separate subscription.
2. What happens if the Microsoft 365 Basic subscription on the @outlook.com account is canceled
   • When a Microsoft 365 subscription is canceled or expires, the Outlook.com email account itself remains; only the premium benefits are removed.
   • For Outlook.com addresses (including @outlook.com), canceling the subscription means losing benefits such as:
     • Ad‑free Outlook.com and Outlook mobile experience
     • Extra cloud storage and related premium features
   • Email sending/receiving on the @outlook.com address continues to work; the mailbox is not deleted.
3. Whether both email addresses can be used without two paid subscriptions
   • The @msn.com account can keep its Microsoft 365 subscription.
   • The @outlook.com account can exist and continue to receive and send email without an active Microsoft 365 Basic subscription; it will just no longer have the Basic plan’s premium benefits.
   • Each email address does not require its own paid subscription just to function as an email account.
4. Receiving @outlook.com mail when Basic is canceled
   • Canceling Microsoft 365 Basic on the @outlook.com account does not prevent that address from receiving mail.
   • Mail for @outlook.com will still be delivered to that Outlook.com mailbox. It does not automatically move into or merge with the @msn.com mailbox; the two accounts remain separate.

If only one set of premium benefits is needed, it is possible to keep the full Microsoft 365 subscription on the @msn.com account and cancel Microsoft 365 Basic on the @outlook.com account, while continuing to use both email addresses.

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References:

• What happens if I add another Microsoft 365 for home subscription to my account?
• Premium features in Outlook.com for Microsoft 365 subscribers
• Frequently asked questions about Microsoft 365 Basic

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