You want to test Copilot for Microsoft 365 before committing to a paid subscription. The trial gives you full access to Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and other Microsoft 365 apps for a limited time. However, the trial automatically converts to a paid plan unless you cancel before the trial ends. This article explains exactly how to start the trial and how to cancel it to avoid being charged.
Key Takeaways: Managing Your Copilot for Microsoft 365 Trial
- Microsoft 365 admin center > Billing > Purchase services: Start the trial for up to 25 users with no upfront cost.
- Microsoft 365 admin center > Billing > Your products: Cancel the trial subscription before the expiration date to avoid auto-renewal charges.
- Microsoft account > Services & subscriptions: Cancel a trial started with a personal Microsoft 365 subscription.
Understanding the Copilot for Microsoft 365 Trial
The Copilot for Microsoft 365 trial is a time-limited offer that grants your organization full access to Copilot features across the Microsoft 365 suite. The trial lasts 30 days for most business plans. You can assign the trial license to up to 25 users. After the trial ends, the subscription automatically converts to a paid plan at the current per-user price unless you cancel.
The trial is available for organizations that already have a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan. Qualifying plans include Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Business Standard, Business Premium, E3, E5, and similar enterprise plans. You cannot start a trial if your tenant is on a free plan like Microsoft 365 Free or an educational plan without a license.
Each user assigned a trial license gets access to Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, Microsoft Graph-grounded chat, and other apps. Data processing and compliance controls remain the same as your existing Microsoft 365 tenant policies.
How to Start the Copilot for Microsoft 365 Trial
You need Global Admin or Billing Admin permissions in the Microsoft 365 admin center to start the trial. Follow these steps to activate the trial for your organization.
- Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center
Go to admin.microsoft.com and sign in with an account that has Global Admin or Billing Admin privileges. - Open the Billing section
In the left navigation pane, select Billing, then click Purchase services. - Search for Copilot for Microsoft 365
In the search box at the top of the page, type Copilot for Microsoft 365. The search results show the trial option alongside the paid subscription. - Select the trial offer
Click on the Copilot for Microsoft 365 card. Look for the plan labeled Copilot for Microsoft 365 (Trial). Click Details to view the trial terms. - Start the trial
Click the Start free trial button. Confirm the number of trial licenses you want to assign, up to 25. Click Checkout and then Place order. The trial activates immediately. - Assign licenses to users
After the trial is active, go to Billing > Licenses. Select the Copilot for Microsoft 365 trial product. Click Assign licenses. Choose the users who should receive Copilot access. Click Assign to complete the process.
Users receive Copilot access within a few minutes. They can start using Copilot in supported apps immediately after signing out and signing back into Microsoft 365.
How to Cancel the Copilot for Microsoft 365 Trial
Canceling the trial prevents automatic conversion to a paid plan. You must cancel before the trial expiration date. The cancellation process removes the trial subscription and revokes Copilot access for all assigned users. Follow these steps to cancel.
- Open the Microsoft 365 admin center
Sign in to admin.microsoft.com with a Global Admin or Billing Admin account. - Go to Billing > Your products
In the left navigation, select Billing, then click Your products. This page lists all active subscriptions and trials for your tenant. - Locate the Copilot trial subscription
Find the entry labeled Copilot for Microsoft 365 (Trial). Click on the product name to open the subscription details page. - Cancel the trial subscription
On the subscription details page, click the Cancel subscription link. A confirmation dialog appears. Read the cancellation information, then click Cancel subscription again to confirm. - Confirm cancellation in the admin center
After cancellation, the subscription status changes to Disabled. The trial license is removed from all users immediately. Copilot features stop working for those users within one hour.
If you started the trial using a personal Microsoft 365 subscription instead of a business plan, cancel through your Microsoft account. Go to account.microsoft.com/services, sign in, find Copilot for Microsoft 365 under Services & subscriptions, and click Cancel.
If the Trial Does Not Appear or Cancellation Fails
The trial option is missing from Purchase services
The trial is not visible if your tenant already has an active Copilot for Microsoft 365 paid subscription. Remove the paid subscription first, then the trial option appears. Another cause is an incompatible Microsoft 365 plan. The trial requires a qualifying plan such as Business Basic, Standard, Premium, E3, or E5. If your tenant uses a free or education plan, upgrade to a qualifying plan first.
Cancellation button is grayed out
The Cancel subscription button is disabled if the trial has already expired and converted to a paid plan. In this case, you cannot cancel retroactively. You must cancel the now-active paid subscription. Go to Billing > Your products, select the paid Copilot subscription, and click Cancel subscription. You receive a prorated refund for the unused portion of the month.
Licenses remain assigned after cancellation
When you cancel the trial, licenses are automatically unassigned. If licenses remain assigned due to a delay, manually remove them. Go to Billing > Licenses, select the Copilot trial product, click Assign licenses, uncheck all users, and click Save.
Copilot for Microsoft 365 Trial vs Paid Subscription: Key Differences
| Item | Trial | Paid Subscription |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 30 days | Monthly or annual renewal |
| User limit | Up to 25 users | Unlimited based on license count |
| Cost | Free | Per user per month |
| Auto-renewal | Converts to paid unless canceled | Auto-renews until canceled |
| Feature access | Full Copilot features | Full Copilot features |
| Admin control | Same as paid subscription | Same as trial |
The only practical difference is the cost and duration. Functionality and admin controls are identical during the trial period.
You can now start the Copilot for Microsoft 365 trial to test the AI assistant across your organization. Cancel the trial before the 30-day mark if you do not want to continue with a paid plan. Use the admin center to monitor the trial expiration date and set a reminder a few days before it ends to avoid unexpected charges.