How to Identify Users with Trial Subscriptions in Microsoft 365

A Microsoft 365 trial offers a practical way to explore subscription features without an upfront purchase. It allows you to identify potential issues early and assess whether the services align with your organization’s needs. By exploring the trial thoroughly and testing its capabilities, you can ensure a smooth transition from evaluation to adoption.

A clear look at trial subscriptions and licenses in Microsoft 365

By understanding the limits of Microsoft 365 trials and planning ahead, you can make the most of the evaluation period. With careful planning and timely actions, you can avoid wasted licenses, prevent unexpected charges, and ensure a smooth transition to the right subscription for your organization.

Activating a Microsoft 365 trial subscription is quick and straightforward. After choosing the plan you want to explore, simply complete the signup, provide a valid payment method for verification, and follow a few setup steps in the Microsoft 365 portal. 

Here’s how to get started with your trial and verify its status.

Create a free trial of subscription in Microsoft 365

• Go to the Microsoft 365 Products site, select the subscription plan you want to try, and click Try for free on the selected plan card.
• In the Subscription & account details page, create a new account or sign in with an existing one. Then, click Continue.
• Fill in your checkout information under Sign-in details and click Save.
• Finally, provide your billing information under Payment details and select Proceed.

After signing up for the trial license, confirm that the subscription is active before assigning licenses. This step ensures users can access Microsoft 365 services without disruption.

Verify the trial subscription status in Microsoft 365 admin center

• Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center using the billing account you used for activation.
• Navigate to Billing»Your products in the left navigation menu.
• Locate the trial subscription in the list and confirm the subscription status is shown as Active.

Note: The steps slightly vary if you are using the MCA billing type.

With your Microsoft 365 trial subscription active, the next step is to assign licenses to users so they can access the included apps and services. Assigning trial licenses ensures the right people in your organization can explore features, test capabilities, and share feedback before you decide on a paid plan. You can assign licenses either through the Microsoft 365 admin center or by using PowerShell.

Assign trial licenses for users in Microsoft 365 admin center

• In Microsoft 365 admin center, navigate to Your products page and click on the desired trial subscription. Then, select Assign licenses under ‘Licenses’ pane.
• Hit + Assign licenses and select the user(s) you want to assign the license.
• Expand Turn apps and services on or off section to select the apps you want the user to access.
• Finally, click Assign to complete the Microsoft 365 license assignment.

Assign license to Microsoft 365 user account using PowerShell

A 30‑day Microsoft 365 trial often isn’t enough to fully test subscription features or assess real‑world performance. This can result in rushed purchase decisions or incomplete evaluations.

To address this, Microsoft offers a one‑time 30‑day extension. The additional period allows organizations to continue testing, collect feedback, and make informed choices before committing to a paid plan.

Extend trial version of subscriptions in Microsoft 365

• Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center and navigate to Billing»Your products.
• Select the active trial subscription and click Extend end date under Subscription & payment settings.
• In the Extend end date pane, select a payment method and click Extend trial to apply the trial extension.

Note: The trial can only be extended for another 30 days if it is within 15 days of expiring and has not yet been extended.

When you start a Microsoft 365 trial, the subscription remains active for a limited time. If you realize the trial plan doesn’t meet your organization’s needs, it's essential to cancel it before the trial period ends. This helps you avoid unexpected charges and prevents the subscription from automatically converting into a paid plan.

Note: Before canceling a subscription, make sure users back up or save any important data, as access to services and files will be lost after the subscription ends.

Cancel a Microsoft 365 trial subscription

• In Microsoft 365 admin center, navigate to Billing»Your products.
• Click the More option(⋮) near the desired subscription and choose Cancel subscription.
• Select a reason for cancellation from Please tell us why you’re canceling dropdown and click Cancel subscription to stop your free trial subscription.

Canceling a Microsoft 365 subscription ends your access to the service immediately. If you want to stop future charges but still use the service until the trial expires, consider turning off recurring billing instead. This allows the subscription to remain active until the end of the term without automatically renewing.

Turn off recurring billing for a Microsoft 365 subscription

• Click the subscription you want to manage from the Your products page.
• On the subscription details page, select Edit recurring billing.
• Choose off and click Save to turn recurring billing off for the Microsoft subscription.

Self-service purchases let users activate Microsoft 365 subscriptions without admin consent. This offers flexibility for end users but reduces admin control, since admins can only view these trials rather than manage them. To maintain complete oversight of licensing, it’s best to block self-service trials so that all subscriptions remain under administrative control.

Prevent users from signing up for trials using self service

• Navigate to the Org settings page in Microsoft 365 admin center.
• Under the Services tab, click Self‑service trials and purchases.
• Select the product you want to manage, then set the self service purchase setting to Do not allow and click Save.
• Repeat these steps for each product where you want to restrict self service trials.

Disable Self-service trials for all Microsoft 365 products

Disabling self-service trials in the Microsoft 365 admin center requires updating settings for each app individually. PowerShell simplifies this by blocking all supported trials with a single command. This approach saves time and ensures consistent enforcement of licensing and compliance policies across the organization.