Microsoft 365 subscription

Question

I have a new computer with a year free 375 office, now being asked to pay on recurring charge from old computer. Did not want to cancel incase my info gets deleted

Answer 1

Hello sonia rodriguez,

I see that you need help with Microsoft 365 Subscription Billing. Let me assist you go through this situation.

I suggest you try this:

Step 1: Turn OFF recurring billing on the old subscription

1. Sign in at account.microsoft.com/services with the Microsoft account used on the OLD computer
2. Find the Microsoft 365 subscription that’s charging
3. Select Manage
4. Select Turn off recurring billing
5. Choose I don’t want my subscription

You keep full access until the expiry date and won’t be charged again. For more information: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/turn-recurring-billing-on-or-off-for-a-microsoft-subscription-66f40aee-2317-f74b-40f9-2be7e92f0167

Step 2: Use the 1‑year free Microsoft 365 on the new computer

• Sign in on the new PC with the same Microsoft account if possible
• Activate the included 1‑year Microsoft 365
• That free year will continue separately

(You’ll see it listed as a different subscription under the same account.) For more information: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/AlchemyInsights/grace-period-for-microsoft-365-free-trial

Step 3: Your files are safe

• Turning off billing does NOT delete your files
• Files remain accessible while the subscription is active
• Even after expiration, files are not immediately deleted

Deletion only happens much later, after extended over‑quota status — not when you cancel or turn off billing.

Important:

• Do NOT cancel by uninstalling Office
• Always manage subscriptions at https://account.microsoft.com/services
• Uninstalling apps does nothing for billing.

I hope this will help with your situation. Please feel free to reach back if you have further update or more questions.

Best Regards,

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Answer 2

The subscription on the old computer and the free year on the new computer are separate. The old, paid Microsoft 365 subscription can be safely cancelled or have recurring billing turned off without deleting personal files on the computer.

Key points:

• Cancelling a Microsoft 365 subscription stops future charges; it does not delete local files on the PC.
• After the paid subscription ends, cloud services tied to that subscription (like extra OneDrive storage) may be reduced, so important files stored only in OneDrive should be backed up first.
• The free 1‑year Microsoft 365 that came with the new computer will continue to work under the account it was activated with, even if the old subscription is cancelled.

To stop charges on the old subscription:

1. Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services and sign in with the Microsoft account used on the old computer.
2. Under Services & subscriptions, find the old Microsoft 365 subscription.
3. Select Manage.
4. Either:
   • Turn off recurring billing (so it expires at the end of the current period), or
   • Cancel the subscription following the on‑screen steps.

If the old subscription was purchased through a third party (retailer, mobile provider, etc.), cancellation must be done with that third party.

If charges continue after cancellation, check:

• That cancellation was done at least 2 days before the billing date.
• That the correct Microsoft account was used. If a charge is not recognized, investigate it from the Manage your payments page as described in the billing article.

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References:

• Change your Microsoft subscription payment method and options
• Turn recurring billing on or off for a Microsoft subscription
• Changes to Microsoft 365 email features and storage
• Unable to cancel your Microsoft subscription
• How to Cancel Microsoft 365 subscription if you do not have account info? Or get anyone to help? - Microsoft Q&A
• How to unsubscribe microsoft 365 account? - Microsoft Q&A
• cancel subscription - Microsoft Q&A
• i have been charged twice - Microsoft Q&A
• How to connect with Help and Support - Microsoft Q&A