Microsoft subscriptions tied to your account fall into two main categories: Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), which bundles productivity software and cloud storage, and Game Pass, which gives you access to games on PC, console, or cloud. Each one charges a monthly or annual fee to your Microsoft account and renews automatically unless you cancel. The cost and what you get depend on which plan you choose and whether you're paying for yourself or a family.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft 365 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive storage, with different tiers for individuals, families, and businesses.
  • Game Pass lets you download and play hundreds of games on Xbox, PC, or through cloud streaming, with a separate tier for console-only access.
  • Subscriptions renew automatically each month or year, and you can cancel anytime through your Microsoft account settings without penalty.
  • Family plans for Microsoft 365 let up to six people use the software on their own devices, but each person needs their own Microsoft account.
  • You can pause a subscription for up to three months instead of canceling if you think you'll want it back later.

Microsoft 365 Plans and What They Cover

Microsoft 365 comes in three main versions for personal use: Personal, Family, and Business Standard. The Personal plan covers one person and costs a set monthly or annual rate; you get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive cloud storage (1 TB), and access to Microsoft support. The Family plan covers up to six people on separate devices at a higher price per month or year, and each person gets their own 1 TB of OneDrive storage plus the same software suite.

Business Standard is designed for small businesses and includes the same core software plus business email hosting and cloud storage through OneDrive for Business. If you use Microsoft 365 through your employer or school, your organization pays for it and you access it through your work or school account — that's different from a personal subscription and doesn't appear on your personal Microsoft account billing.

All Microsoft 365 plans include updates to the software at no extra cost, meaning you always have the latest version of Word, Excel, and the rest. You can install the software on multiple devices (the number depends on your plan), but you can only use it on one device at a time per license.

Game Pass Tiers and Game Libraries

Game Pass has three separate subscription tiers: Game Pass for PC, Game Pass for Console, and Game Pass Ultimate. PC Game Pass gives you access to hundreds of games you can download and play on a Windows computer, plus access to cloud gaming (playing games streamed to your device without downloading). Console Game Pass is the same library but for Xbox consoles only, without cloud gaming. Game Pass Ultimate includes both PC and console access, cloud gaming on all three platforms, and Xbox Live Gold (which lets you play online multiplayer games).

The game library changes monthly — Microsoft adds new games and removes others on a set schedule. When a game leaves the library, you lose access to it unless you own it separately. Game Pass Ultimate also includes a small monthly allowance of Xbox credit you can use to buy games or in-game content at a discount.

Game Pass for PC and Console cost less per month than Ultimate, but Ultimate is the most complete option if you play on multiple platforms. All three tiers renew monthly and can be canceled anytime.

How Billing and Renewal Work

When you start a subscription, you choose whether to pay monthly or annually. Monthly subscriptions renew on the same date each month; annual subscriptions renew once a year. The charge goes to the payment method you have on file with your Microsoft account — usually a credit card, debit card, or PayPal account. Microsoft sends a receipt to your email after each charge.

Subscriptions renew automatically unless you cancel or pause them. If your payment method fails (for example, your card expires), Microsoft will try again over several days. If it keeps failing, your subscription pauses, and you lose access to the software or games until you update your payment information.

You can see all your active subscriptions, upcoming renewal dates, and billing history by signing into your Microsoft account and going to the Subscriptions page. From there you can cancel, pause, or change your payment method without contacting support.

Canceling, Pausing, and Changing Plans

To cancel a subscription, sign into your Microsoft account, find the subscription on your Subscriptions page, and select Cancel. You lose access immediately, though if you paid for a full year and cancel partway through, Microsoft does not refund the unused portion. If you think you might want the subscription back later, you can pause it for up to three months instead — when you pause, the renewal date stops, and you won't be charged, but you can restart it anytime within that window.

If you want to switch from one plan to another (for example, from Personal to Family), you can upgrade or downgrade through your account. Upgrading charges you the difference between what you've already paid and the new plan's cost, prorated to your renewal date. Downgrading refunds the difference in the same way.

If you cancel and then change your mind, you can restart the subscription anytime. There's no penalty for canceling and restarting — you just lose access to the software or games while it's canceled.

Family Plans and Shared Access

Microsoft 365 Family lets up to six people use the software, but each person needs their own Microsoft account. When you set up a Family plan, you add the other people's email addresses or Microsoft accounts to your subscription. Each person can then install the software on their own devices and sign in with their own account to use it.

Each family member gets their own 1 TB of OneDrive storage, separate from everyone else's. If one person cancels their account or leaves the family group, they lose access to the software, but their OneDrive files stay in their account if they still have a Microsoft account. The subscription itself stays active for the remaining family members.

Game Pass does not have a family plan — each person needs their own subscription. However, if you set up an Xbox console as a "home console" for your account, other people who use that console can play your Game Pass games on it, even if they don't have their own subscription.

Free Trials and Promotional Offers

Microsoft sometimes offers free trials for new subscribers — typically one month free for Game Pass or a short trial for Microsoft 365. These trials usually require a payment method on file, and the subscription converts to a paid plan when the trial ends unless you cancel before the trial expires. Check the offer details before you start, because the terms vary.

If you have an Xbox Game Pass trial code (sometimes included with new Xbox consoles or sold separately), you can redeem it through your Microsoft account to add time to a Game Pass subscription. Promo codes for Microsoft 365 work the same way — you enter the code in your account settings to add time or start a new subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same Microsoft 365 subscription on multiple computers?

Yes, but the number of devices depends on your plan. Personal covers one person on up to five devices, though you can only use it actively on one device at a time. Family covers up to six people, and each person can install it on up to five of their own devices. You sign in with your own Microsoft account on each device.

What happens to my files if I cancel Microsoft 365?

Your OneDrive files stay in your account for 93 days after your subscription ends. During that time you can sign back in and download them. After 93 days, Microsoft deletes them. Your local copies of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files stay on your computer, but you can't edit them without an active subscription.

Can I share a Game Pass subscription with someone else?

Not directly — each person needs their own subscription. However, on Xbox consoles you can set one console as your "home console," and other people who use that console can play your Game Pass games without their own subscription. This doesn't work on PC or for cloud gaming.

Do I get refunded if I cancel in the middle of a billing period?

No. If you paid for a full year and cancel partway through, you don't get a refund for the unused time. Monthly subscriptions don't refund either. You can pause instead of canceling if you want to stop being charged without losing the unused portion.

How do I change my payment method for a subscription?

Sign into your Microsoft account, go to the Subscriptions page, and select the subscription you want to change. From there you can update your payment method, which applies to all future renewals. If a payment fails, you can also update it from the notification Microsoft sends you.