Could not create "Azure free account" even though I've never tried before.

Question

Hello,

2 months ago I was trying to get into the Azure ecosystem. I created a fresh account but I was unable to use the "Azure free account" option even though I've never signed up for this before (at least not willingly!)
Is there a way to reset my account so I can properly explore Azure and it's features WITH the free credits and features the Azure free account provides?
If MS Azure would take a look into my account they would see that I have never used a single Azure feature other than what comes by creating the "pay as you go account".

I hope you have some advice as I do not want to create a new account to get a workaround for this issue. This would be a waste of time and resources for all parties involved.

Thanks

Answer 1

Hello @DominikWa-6780

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

The Azure free account ($200 credit + 12 months of select free services) is limited to one enrollment per customer. Once a Microsoft account is associated with Azure even if you only ended up with a pay-as-you-go subscription and never used any resources the free-trial offer is generally considered used and can’t be reset on the same identity.

This is by design and is covered in the official terms:

• Azure free account FAQ / purchase options
• Azure Free Trial offer terms

What you can do next

1. Open a free billing & subscription support request Even though eligibility usually can’t be changed, support can review the account history to confirm whether the free offer was ever activated.

• Go to the Azure portal → Help + support → Create a support request.
  • Choose Billing or Subscription management.
  • Explain that this was a fresh account, you never received or used the $200 credit, and you’d like an eligibility review. Guide: How to create an Azure support request
  1. Continue with the existing pay-as-you-go subscription As a new customer you still receive the monthly free amounts of popular services for 12 months, plus the always-free services. You just won’t get the initial $200 credit. You can track usage and set budgets under Cost Management + Billing to avoid any unexpected charges. List of free services: Explore free Azure services

Creating a completely new Microsoft account is not required and often doesn’t restore eligibility if the same phone number, payment method, or other identity signals are used.

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Answer 2

Hello,

From what I understand, during your initial Azure sign‑up you chose the Pay‑As‑You‑Go subscription type. By doing so, you effectively waived the Free Trial option, which is only available at the very first sign‑up. Once a Pay‑As‑You‑Go subscription is created, it isn’t possible to retroactively switch to the Free Trial or claim the free credits.

In case you never actually created a Pay‑As‑You‑Go account and believe the system flagged you incorrectly, I recommend contacting Azure Support. They can review your account details and confirm whether the free trial was mistakenly marked as used.