Revert back to free version of Excel & Word

Question

Revert back to free version of Excel & Word

Brad Clements 0

I am a light user of Excel & Word on iPad & Windows. Free version has always sufficed. Did MS 365 free trial, when it ended tried to revert to free version but accidentally subscribed & paid for a month of 365.

How do I revert back to the free version when the month is up.

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3 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

To go back to the free version after the paid month ends, do two things:

Turn off recurring billing so the paid Microsoft 365 subscription stops:
1. Go to the Services & subscriptions page: https://account.microsoft.com/services
2. Sign in with the same Microsoft account used for the trial/subscription.
3. Under Microsoft 365 (Family/Personal/etc.), select Manage.
4. Select Turn off recurring billing or Cancel subscription, and follow the prompts.
5. The subscription will stay active until the end of the current paid month, then expire.
After the subscription expires, use the free web apps instead of the paid desktop/iPad subscription features:
1. Sign in at Microsoft365.com with the same Microsoft account.
2. Use the Free web versions of Word and Excel from the app launcher.
3. On iPad, make sure signed in with that account; once the subscription ends, the apps will behave as free versions with limited features.

If a Free badge appears when signed in at Microsoft365.com, only the free web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are available, which matches the desired state.

If a one-time purchase (non‑subscription) Office license is ever preferred instead of free web apps, first turn off recurring billing as above, let the subscription expire, then purchase a one‑time Office product and switch the license.

References:

Answer 2

Brad Clements 0

Prior to starting the free trial of 365, Word & Excel were apps on my iPad, and as far as I’m aware not web versions. I want to revert to what I had before the trial.

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Answer 3

EmilyS726 264.9K Independent Advisor

iOS version is free.

If you don't want the paid version, cancel as soon as possible.

If you signed up directly with Microsoft, Please go to https://account.live.com

Sign into your Microsoft account. Then go to Services. Click on Manage for the subscription plan you want to cancel.

If you signed up with Apple App Store, you cancel it via Apple's subscription management in your Apple account.

Brad Clements 0 Reputation points

2026-06-12T22:16:46.99+00:00

Thanks for the help.

Before I reached the end of the free trial I cancelled my subscription. After the trial ended I was unable to edit Word & Excel documents - they were read only. In trying to revert to what I had (IOS versions) I inadvertently signed up & paid for a month. I am concerned that at the end of the paid month, I’ll have the same problem I.e. I’ll be in read only mode. How do I restore the original free iOS versions that have served me well? Should I delete the current Word & Excel apps and re install?
EmilyS726 264.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-12T22:24:13.1+00:00

What iPad do you have? If it is iPad Pro, it is actually not free.. https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/Microsoft-365-Copilot/install-and-set-up-the-microsoft-365-copilot-app-on-an-iphone-or-ipad

Also, if the files you are trying to open contains extra feature, the free version will not support it either.
Brad Clements 0 Reputation points

2026-06-12T22:53:08.7333333+00:00

I have an iPad A16, iOS 26.5. No extra features on my files.
EmilyS726 264.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-12T22:56:06.84+00:00

I see. You might want to remove all the apps you have installed once your subscription runs out.

Then use the link I gave you above, download the individual app listed in the article. Then open the files from there.
Brad Clements 0 Reputation points

2026-06-12T23:19:19.0266667+00:00

Thanks so much. I’ll do that & let you know.
EmilyS726 264.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-13T00:06:33.6633333+00:00

You are welcome.
Brad Clements 0 Reputation points

2026-07-26T00:51:39.71+00:00

An update - unfortunately nothing I tried worked and once again I was forced to pay for yet another month. I have subsequently spent hours on chats, email conversations etc with various MS agents, with no resolution. These discussions all end abruptly without explanation as to why I can’t revert to what I had, with a case closed advice notification. They basically say I can’t revert back, and to use Word & Excel on iPad I must pay a licence, or use Web based versions (which I won’t do, they’re awful). I intend to write to Microsoft Australia, if no satisfactory answer I’ll go to our consumer affairs.