How can I switch my subscription to Microsoft?

Question

I am a Global Administrator and Payment Administrator. Our Exchange Online Plan 2 subscription is linked to a third-party provider. The registration page displays a warning that the partner is no longer part of the Cloud Provider network and the subscription will be deactivated. There is no option to cancel the partnership or switch subscriptions. I need assistance switching this subscription to a direct Microsoft subscription.

Answer 1

Dear @G Seb,

I understand this is an urgent issue, and I'm here to help you smoothly migrate your Exchange Online Plan 2 to Microsoft.

Because your current partner is no longer part of a third-party network, your existing subscription cannot be directly "transferred" or modified to remove the partner. To resolve this, you must purchase a new subscription directly from Microsoft in your admin center and then reassign the license. Here's a step-by-step solution to complete this migration:

Step 1: Create a Microsoft Billing Account (If you don't have one)

Before purchasing directly from Microsoft, you need a validated billing profile.

1. Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center as a Billing Administrator or Global Administrator.
2. Go to Billing > Billing accounts.
3. If prompted, follow the steps to set up your direct billing account and add your payment method (credit card or invoice details).

Step 2: Purchase the Direct Subscription

1. In the admin center, go to Purchase services (or Marketplace) > All product.
2. Search for Exchange Online Plan 1.
3. Select the details (monthly or annual commitment) and purchase the exact number of licenses you currently need. Note: Ensure you are purchasing directly from Microsoft, not through another third-party marketplace.

Step 3: Reassign the Licenses to Your Users

You do not need to migrate data or mailboxes; you only need to switch the underlying license.

1. In admin center > Go to Users > Active users.
2. Select the users currently using the partner-provided Exchange Online Plan 1.
3. Under the Licenses and apps tab, uncheck the old partner license and check the newly purchased Microsoft direct license.
4. Save your changes.

Since the old partner subscription is scheduled to be disabled on August 29, 2026, it will automatically deprecate. Once all users are moved to the new direct licenses, you will face no service interruption.

For detailed guidance on how billing and direct purchasing work in the admin center, please refer to the official guide: Understand billing accounts in the Microsoft 365 admin center.

Please let me know if you run into any issues during the checkout or license reassignment process.

---

If the answer is helpful, please click "Yes" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".   

Note: Please follow the steps in the forum document to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.