Miscellaneous topics that do not fit into specific categories.
To stop renewal in March, cancellation must be done against the Microsoft account (email) that owns the subscription, or via the payment provider if that’s not possible.
- First, confirm whether the subscription was bought directly from Microsoft or from a third party (retailer, app store, bank/credit card offer):
- If it was from a retailer (for example Amazon, Best Buy, etc.) or via Google Play / Apple App Store, contact that retailer or store’s support to cancel and stop future charges. For details, see the guidance under Check who you bought it from in the “Unable to cancel your Microsoft subscription” article.
- If it was bought directly from Microsoft, cancellation normally requires signing in with the Microsoft account that owns the subscription:
- Standard self‑service cancellation is done at the Services & subscriptions page as described in Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription.
- If the old email address is a Microsoft account that can no longer be accessed, use the payment method route instead:
- Contact the bank or credit card issuer that is being charged and ask them to stop or block recurring payments to Microsoft for that subscription. This is explicitly suggested as an option when the account owner cannot access the Microsoft account.
- If the subscription was purchased in Germany, there is a special flow that does not require signing in:
- Use Cancel a Microsoft subscription acquired in Germany (linked from the cancellation and refund articles) and follow the steps there with the required purchase information.
- If a refund is also desired after cancellation and the subscription was purchased from Microsoft, first cancel (or stop renewal) and then check eligibility using the refund self‑help tool described in How to get a refund on a Microsoft subscription.
Because the original email account cannot be accessed, the practical options are:
- Cancel/stop the recurring charge through the card/bank or retailer/app store that is billing the subscription, or
- Use the Germany-specific cancellation flow if applicable.
References:
- Unable to cancel your Microsoft subscription
- Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription
- How to get a refund on a Microsoft subscription
- How to Cancel Microsoft 365 subscription if you do not have account info? Or get anyone to help? - Microsoft Q&A
- cancel subscription - Microsoft Q&A
- Request refund - Microsoft Q&A
- Changes to Microsoft 365 email features and storage
- Troubleshoot installing Office