Every Microsoft 365 price rise, plan change, licence change and end-of-support date for UK organisations, with what to do and Microsoft's source. https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/feed.xml 2026-11-07T08:00:00Z ComputeCloudhttps://computecloud.co.uk/ https://computecloud.co.uk/assets/apple-touch-icon.png https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2028-01-01-microsoft-365-education-portfolio-changes 2026-11-07T08:00:00Z 2026-11-07T08:00:00Z

Microsoft announced on 5 November 2026 what it calls its most significant update to Microsoft 365 Education in more than a decade, taking effect at each institution's first renewal, extension or new agreement on or after 1 January 2028. From then Office 365 A1, the Student Use Benefit and free Exchange Online for Alumni retire, the 100 TB base storage allocation is removed so that pooled storage grows with each paid faculty and student licence, and a new line-up applies: a no-cost A0 for students who use Windows devices, at institutions whose faculty are all on paid A2 or above, and paid A2, A3, A5 and A7 editions for faculty and students, with or without Teams. Office 365 A1 stops being sold through resellers and volume licensing on 1 May 2027, and from each institution's first renewal on or after that date, online services bought through academic volume licensing have one price at every price level. Licences on an agreement that started before 1 January 2028 carry on until it renews, Microsoft says faculty prices for the existing suites with Teams do not change, and A3 faculty gains Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 and A5 faculty gains Intune Suite at no extra cost. What UK customers should do: Find your next renewal or extension date, count the people on Office 365 A1, the Student Use Benefit and free alumni email, check your storage use, and agree the replacement licences with your education partner before your first renewal on or after 1 May 2027, when the pricing change can already apply.

<p>Microsoft announced on 5 November 2026 what it calls its most significant update to Microsoft 365 Education in more than a decade, taking effect at each institution&#x27;s first renewal, extension or new agreement on or after 1 January 2028. From then Office 365 A1, the Student Use Benefit and free Exchange Online for Alumni retire, the 100 TB base storage allocation is removed so that pooled storage grows with each paid faculty and student licence, and a new line-up applies: a no-cost A0 for students who use Windows devices, at institutions whose faculty are all on paid A2 or above, and paid A2, A3, A5 and A7 editions for faculty and students, with or without Teams. Office 365 A1 stops being sold through resellers and volume licensing on 1 May 2027, and from each institution&#x27;s first renewal on or after that date, online services bought through academic volume licensing have one price at every price level. Licences on an agreement that started before 1 January 2028 carry on until it renews, Microsoft says faculty prices for the existing suites with Teams do not change, and A3 faculty gains Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 and A5 faculty gains Intune Suite at no extra cost.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> Find your next renewal or extension date, count the people on Office 365 A1, the Student Use Benefit and free alumni email, check your storage use, and agree the replacement licences with your education partner before your first renewal on or after 1 May 2027, when the pricing change can already apply.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 A3, Microsoft 365 A5, Office 365 A1, Student Use Benefit, Exchange Online for Alumni, Microsoft 365 Education A0, A2 and A7, Microsoft 365 Education storage</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/educator-center/instructor-materials/microsoft-365-education-portfolio">Microsoft Learn: Microsoft 365 Education portfolio evolution (key dates, line-up, storage and retirements)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2027-01-01-business-central-copilot-business-bundles 2026-11-07T08:00:00Z 2026-11-07T08:00:00Z

From 1 January 2027 Microsoft will sell two permanent bundles through cloud solution providers that pair Microsoft 365 Copilot Business with Dynamics 365 Business Central Essentials or Business Central Premium, for customers with up to 300 seats, and neither needs a Microsoft 365 plan. Microsoft's list prices in US dollars are US$95 and US$125 per user a month, US$6 less than buying the two separately, and it says local-currency prices will be available before the bundles are released; the bundles appear in the CSP price list preview on 1 December 2026. Copilot still depends on the Microsoft 365 apps and services each user is licensed for, and for Business Central customers who already have Microsoft 365, Microsoft points resellers to Business Standard or Business Premium with Copilot instead. What UK customers should do: If you run Business Central without Microsoft 365 and want Copilot, ask your reseller for the UK price of the bundle once Microsoft publishes it and compare it with buying the two separately; if you already have Microsoft 365, compare Business Standard or Business Premium with Copilot instead.

<p>From 1 January 2027 Microsoft will sell two permanent bundles through cloud solution providers that pair Microsoft 365 Copilot Business with Dynamics 365 Business Central Essentials or Business Central Premium, for customers with up to 300 seats, and neither needs a Microsoft 365 plan. Microsoft&#x27;s list prices in US dollars are US$95 and US$125 per user a month, US$6 less than buying the two separately, and it says local-currency prices will be available before the bundles are released; the bundles appear in the CSP price list preview on 1 December 2026. Copilot still depends on the Microsoft 365 apps and services each user is licensed for, and for Business Central customers who already have Microsoft 365, Microsoft points resellers to Business Standard or Business Premium with Copilot instead.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If you run Business Central without Microsoft 365 and want Copilot, ask your reseller for the UK price of the bundle once Microsoft publishes it and compare it with buying the two separately; if you already have Microsoft 365, compare Business Standard or Business Premium with Copilot instead.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Copilot Business, Dynamics 365 Business Central Essentials, Dynamics 365 Business Central Premium</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/announcements/2026-november#new-business-central--copilot-bundled-offers-available-january-1-2027">Partner Center announcements, November 2026: New Business Central + Copilot bundled offers available January 1, 2027 (5 November 2026)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-11-02-copilot-chat-fair-use-limits 2026-11-07T08:00:00Z 2026-11-07T08:00:00Z

Microsoft began applying fair use limits to more Copilot Chat features for people without a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence on 2 November 2026 in organisations with 2,000 or fewer Microsoft 365 seats, and starts on 9 November 2026 in larger ones, as it already does for features such as image generation. Copilot Chat stays included in Microsoft 365 subscriptions and no admin action is needed: a user who reaches a limit is told in the product when the feature will be available again, and a response already in progress is not cut off. Microsoft sets the limits, does not publish them because they can change, and admins cannot see or adjust them; in most organisations the limit message lets the user ask an admin for a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence. What UK customers should do: Tell your help desk that a Copilot Chat limit message is expected, not a fault, and check who approves licence requests in the Microsoft 365 admin centre, and whether staff can buy Copilot themselves, before people start asking for licences.

<p>Microsoft began applying fair use limits to more Copilot Chat features for people without a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence on 2 November 2026 in organisations with 2,000 or fewer Microsoft 365 seats, and starts on 9 November 2026 in larger ones, as it already does for features such as image generation. Copilot Chat stays included in Microsoft 365 subscriptions and no admin action is needed: a user who reaches a limit is told in the product when the feature will be available again, and a response already in progress is not cut off. Microsoft sets the limits, does not publish them because they can change, and admins cannot see or adjust them; in most organisations the limit message lets the user ask an admin for a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> Tell your help desk that a Copilot Chat limit message is expected, not a fault, and check who approves licence requests in the Microsoft 365 admin centre, and whether staff can buy Copilot themselves, before people start asking for licences.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 Apps for Business, Office 365 E1, Office 365 E3, Office 365 E5, Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Microsoft 365 F1, Microsoft 365 F3, Microsoft 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E5, Copilot Chat, for people without a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/announcements/2026-november#copilot-chat-limits-for-users-without-a-microsoft-365-copilot-license">Partner Center announcements, November 2026: Copilot Chat, limits for users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license (4 November 2026)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-12-01-copilot-business-usage-billing-default 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-11-07T08:00:00Z

Microsoft plans to switch on usage-based (pay-as-you-go) billing by default for new Microsoft 365 Copilot Business licences bought through cloud solution providers, including standalone licences and bundles such as Business Premium with Copilot, with the rollout planned to begin between January and March 2027 (Microsoft's FY27 Q3). A new purchase also switches it on for the Copilot Business licences the tenant already has. The default spending limit is 4,000 Copilot Credits per user a month, which admins can change, and charges are for actual use of metered features such as Copilot Cowork, Work IQ APIs and GitHub Copilot Harness. Microsoft has moved the start twice, from 2 November to 1 December 2026 and then to the first three months of 2027, and says the new timeline applies in every market. What UK customers should do: Pay-as-you-go billing is no longer switched on by default on 1 December 2026. Before you buy more Copilot Business licences through a reseller from January 2027, ask whether pay-as-you-go billing will be switched on, since a new purchase also switches it on for the Copilot Business licences you already have, and set a spending limit that matches your budget before people use metered features such as Copilot Cowork.

<p>Microsoft plans to switch on usage-based (pay-as-you-go) billing by default for new Microsoft 365 Copilot Business licences bought through cloud solution providers, including standalone licences and bundles such as Business Premium with Copilot, with the rollout planned to begin between January and March 2027 (Microsoft&#x27;s FY27 Q3). A new purchase also switches it on for the Copilot Business licences the tenant already has. The default spending limit is 4,000 Copilot Credits per user a month, which admins can change, and charges are for actual use of metered features such as Copilot Cowork, Work IQ APIs and GitHub Copilot Harness. Microsoft has moved the start twice, from 2 November to 1 December 2026 and then to the first three months of 2027, and says the new timeline applies in every market.</p> <p><strong>Updated 7 November 2026:</strong> Microsoft has moved this change again. Its partner update of 3 November 2026 says usage-based billing will be on by default for new Copilot Business subscriptions bought through cloud solution providers during its FY27 Q3, January to March 2027, &quot;instead of December 1, 2026, as previously announced&quot;, and it gives no exact date. It adds that a new purchase also switches usage-based billing on for the tenant&#x27;s existing Copilot Business licences, and that the new timeline applies in all markets. This entry no longer gives a date: until Microsoft sets one, the change is listed under announcements without a date. Microsoft moved the announcement from its October 2026 partner announcements page to its November 2026 page, so the source link has changed.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> Pay-as-you-go billing is no longer switched on by default on 1 December 2026. Before you buy more Copilot Business licences through a reseller from January 2027, ask whether pay-as-you-go billing will be switched on, since a new purchase also switches it on for the Copilot Business licences you already have, and set a spending limit that matches your budget before people use metered features such as Copilot Cowork.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 Copilot Business, Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot, Microsoft 365 Business Premium with Copilot</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/announcements/2026-november#availability-update-updates-to-usage-based-billing-for-new-microsoft-365-copilot-business-licenses-and-partner-center-sandbox-environments">Partner Center announcements, November 2026: Availability update, usage-based billing for new Microsoft 365 Copilot Business licenses (3 November 2026; now January to March 2027)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-12-31-copilot-business-promotions-end 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-11-01T08:00:00Z

Microsoft's promotional price for Microsoft 365 Copilot Business, £13.80 instead of £16.10 per user a month in the UK (annual subscription, ex VAT), and its 25% offer on Microsoft 365 Business Basic plus Copilot Business both end on 31 December 2026, and both apply to new annual subscriptions of 1 to 300 licences. The Copilot Business offer has run since 1 December 2025 and Microsoft has extended it twice; the Business Basic offer started on 1 July 2026. A promotional price lasts only for the subscription term it was bought on, so the subscription renews at the list price in force at renewal, although licences added to it during that term are also at the promotional price. Through resellers, the Copilot Business offer the promotion applies to stops being sold on 1 December 2026, when Microsoft replaces it with a new Copilot Business offer that does not need a Microsoft 365 plan, and Microsoft has not said whether the promotion moves to the new offer. What UK customers should do: If you want Copilot Business at the promotional price, buy it on an annual term before 31 December 2026, and before 1 December 2026 if you buy through a reseller: the current Copilot Business offer stops being sold through resellers that day, and Microsoft has not said whether the promotion moves to the new offer. Budget for the list price from the following renewal.

<p>Microsoft&#x27;s promotional price for Microsoft 365 Copilot Business, £13.80 instead of £16.10 per user a month in the UK (annual subscription, ex VAT), and its 25% offer on Microsoft 365 Business Basic plus Copilot Business both end on 31 December 2026, and both apply to new annual subscriptions of 1 to 300 licences. The Copilot Business offer has run since 1 December 2025 and Microsoft has extended it twice; the Business Basic offer started on 1 July 2026. A promotional price lasts only for the subscription term it was bought on, so the subscription renews at the list price in force at renewal, although licences added to it during that term are also at the promotional price. Through resellers, the Copilot Business offer the promotion applies to stops being sold on 1 December 2026, when Microsoft replaces it with a new Copilot Business offer that does not need a Microsoft 365 plan, and Microsoft has not said whether the promotion moves to the new offer.</p> <p><strong>Updated 1 November 2026:</strong> Microsoft&#x27;s partner update of 29 October 2026 says Copilot Business stays available at its promotional price until 31 December 2026 for 1 to 300 licences on an annual subscription paid annually, and that from 1 December 2026 new Copilot Business purchases move to the new offers that do not need a Microsoft 365 plan, so resellers should confirm the right offer and promotion ID when they quote. It still does not say in so many words that the promotion applies to the new offers, so if you buy through a reseller from 1 December 2026, ask for the promotional price on the quote before you order.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If you want Copilot Business at the promotional price, buy it on an annual term before 31 December 2026, and before 1 December 2026 if you buy through a reseller: the current Copilot Business offer stops being sold through resellers that day, and Microsoft has not said whether the promotion moves to the new offer. Budget for the list price from the following renewal.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 Copilot Business</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://partner.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/article/partner-led-smb-m365-copilot">Microsoft Partner blog: Partner-led momentum, broader availability for SMB (28 May 2026)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-10-27-microsoft-365-e3-30-percent-promotion 2026-11-01T08:00:00Z 2026-11-01T08:00:00Z

Since 27 October 2026 Microsoft has offered 30% off Microsoft 365 E3, with or without Teams, to organisations that buy at least 300 licences on a new one-year subscription through a cloud solution provider (CSP), with annual or monthly billing, until 30 June 2027. The offer is aimed at organisations still on Office 365 with standalone Office apps or on on-premises software: fewer than half of their existing licences can be Office 365 E3 and fewer than 5% can be Microsoft 365, and organisations whose Office 365 licences renewed in 2026 do not qualify. Microsoft applies the discount to the net partner price, the price the reseller pays, and as with other Microsoft promotions the subscription renews at the list price in force at renewal. What UK customers should do: If you have 300 or more users on Office 365 or on-premises software and are weighing Microsoft 365 E3, ask your reseller before 30 June 2027 whether you qualify and to show the discount on the quote, and budget for the full price from the first renewal.

<p>Since 27 October 2026 Microsoft has offered 30% off Microsoft 365 E3, with or without Teams, to organisations that buy at least 300 licences on a new one-year subscription through a cloud solution provider (CSP), with annual or monthly billing, until 30 June 2027. The offer is aimed at organisations still on Office 365 with standalone Office apps or on on-premises software: fewer than half of their existing licences can be Office 365 E3 and fewer than 5% can be Microsoft 365, and organisations whose Office 365 licences renewed in 2026 do not qualify. Microsoft applies the discount to the net partner price, the price the reseller pays, and as with other Microsoft promotions the subscription renews at the list price in force at renewal.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If you have 300 or more users on Office 365 or on-premises software and are weighing Microsoft 365 E3, ask your reseller before 30 June 2027 whether you qualify and to show the discount on the quote, and budget for the full price from the first renewal.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E3 (no Teams)</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/announcements/2026-october#introducing-a-30-promotional-offer-on-microsoft-365-e3">Partner Center announcements, October 2026: Introducing a 30% promotional offer on Microsoft 365 E3 (26 October 2026)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2027-04-01-exchange-online-ews-retirement 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft began turning off Exchange Web Services (EWS) in Exchange Online, tenant by tenant, on or soon after 1 October 2026 and will disable it permanently on 1 April 2027, a date it calls the hard deadline. Until then admins can keep named apps working by setting EWSEnabled to True and listing the apps in EWSAllowedAppIDs, but that workaround also stops in April 2027, so any backup, archiving, CRM, scanning or calendar tool that still uses EWS needs a version built on Microsoft Graph. The change covers every Microsoft 365 plan that includes Exchange Online and does not change EWS in Exchange Server, but Exchange hybrid free/busy and Skype for Business Server hybrid both depend on it and need Microsoft's replacement updates or settings before that date. What UK customers should do: Run the EWS usage report in the Microsoft 365 admin centre, ask each vendor on it for a Microsoft Graph version, and finish the move before 1 April 2027.

<p>Microsoft began turning off Exchange Web Services (EWS) in Exchange Online, tenant by tenant, on or soon after 1 October 2026 and will disable it permanently on 1 April 2027, a date it calls the hard deadline. Until then admins can keep named apps working by setting EWSEnabled to True and listing the apps in EWSAllowedAppIDs, but that workaround also stops in April 2027, so any backup, archiving, CRM, scanning or calendar tool that still uses EWS needs a version built on Microsoft Graph. The change covers every Microsoft 365 plan that includes Exchange Online and does not change EWS in Exchange Server, but Exchange hybrid free/busy and Skype for Business Server hybrid both depend on it and need Microsoft&#x27;s replacement updates or settings before that date.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> Run the EWS usage report in the Microsoft 365 admin centre, ask each vendor on it for a Microsoft Graph version, and finish the move before 1 April 2027.</p> <p>Affects: Exchange Online, Apps and add-ins that use Exchange Web Services (EWS), Exchange hybrid free/busy and cross-tenant calendar sharing, Skype for Business Server hybrid</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/servicedescriptions/exchange-online-service-description/exchange-online-service-description">Microsoft Learn: Exchange Online service description (EWS phased disablement from 1 October 2026, permanent retirement 1 April 2027)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2027-01-12-windows-server-2016-office-support-ends 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft ends extended support for Windows Server 2016, and support for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, on 12 January 2027. Microsoft 365 Apps has not been supported on Windows Server 2016 since 14 October 2025: it stays on Version 2602 and gets security updates only until 10 October 2028, and Microsoft recommends Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop for organisations whose servers no longer support the apps. Microsoft's Office and Windows support matrix also shows Office LTSC 2024 supported on Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 only until January 2027. What UK customers should do: If anyone runs Microsoft 365 Apps on a Windows Server 2016 remote desktop server, or Office LTSC 2024 on Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, move them to a supported Windows version, Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop before 12 January 2027.

<p>Microsoft ends extended support for Windows Server 2016, and support for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, on 12 January 2027. Microsoft 365 Apps has not been supported on Windows Server 2016 since 14 October 2025: it stays on Version 2602 and gets security updates only until 10 October 2028, and Microsoft recommends Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop for organisations whose servers no longer support the apps. Microsoft&#x27;s Office and Windows support matrix also shows Office LTSC 2024 supported on Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 only until January 2027.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If anyone runs Microsoft 365 Apps on a Windows Server 2016 remote desktop server, or Office LTSC 2024 on Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, move them to a supported Windows version, Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop before 12 January 2027.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows Server 2016, Office LTSC 2024 on Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2016">Microsoft Lifecycle: Windows Server 2016</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2027-01-06-defender-cloud-apps-file-policies-retire 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft will retire file policies in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps on 6 January 2027, so data loss prevention and labelling rules set up there for SharePoint, OneDrive and connected apps such as Box, Dropbox, Google Workspace and Salesforce stop being enforced. Microsoft wants them recreated as Microsoft Purview DLP or auto-labelling policies and provides a migration tool in the Defender portal, but its guidance says the replacements need a Microsoft 365 E5 or Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance licence or an equivalent standalone Purview DLP licence. Defender for Cloud Apps itself continues, with SaaS app discovery, posture management and threat detection. What UK customers should do: List your Defender for Cloud Apps file policies, check the people they cover hold a qualifying Purview licence, and migrate them before 6 January 2027.

<p>Microsoft will retire file policies in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps on 6 January 2027, so data loss prevention and labelling rules set up there for SharePoint, OneDrive and connected apps such as Box, Dropbox, Google Workspace and Salesforce stop being enforced. Microsoft wants them recreated as Microsoft Purview DLP or auto-labelling policies and provides a migration tool in the Defender portal, but its guidance says the replacements need a Microsoft 365 E5 or Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance licence or an equivalent standalone Purview DLP licence. Defender for Cloud Apps itself continues, with SaaS app discovery, posture management and threat detection.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> List your Defender for Cloud Apps file policies, check the people they cover hold a qualifying Purview licence, and migrate them before 6 January 2027.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 E7, Microsoft Defender Suite, Microsoft Purview Suite, Microsoft Defender + Purview Suites, Microsoft Defender Suite (Frontline), Microsoft Purview Suite (Frontline), Microsoft Defender + Purview Suites (Frontline), Microsoft 365 A5, Microsoft Defender Suite (Education), Microsoft Purview Suite (Education), Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, Microsoft Purview data loss prevention, Enterprise Mobility + Security E5</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-cloud-apps/migrate-file-policies-to-purview">Microsoft Learn: Migrate file policies to Microsoft Purview (Defender for Cloud Apps)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2027-01-01-annual-local-currency-price-updates 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft announced on 8 July 2026 that it will adjust local-currency prices for its Commercial Cloud services once a year on 1 January, starting on 1 January 2027, to reflect sustained exchange-rate movements. Microsoft will give guidance on each year's changes every November, with the details for January 2027 due in November 2026, and it has not yet said whether prices in pounds will change. Price changes to individual products, such as the July 2026 Microsoft 365 rise, will still be announced separately. What UK customers should do: Watch for Microsoft's November 2026 notice. If prices in pounds are due to change, list the subscriptions that renew on or after 1 January 2027, since Microsoft fixes a price only for the subscription's term, and consider buying any planned new subscriptions before that date.

<p>Microsoft announced on 8 July 2026 that it will adjust local-currency prices for its Commercial Cloud services once a year on 1 January, starting on 1 January 2027, to reflect sustained exchange-rate movements. Microsoft will give guidance on each year&#x27;s changes every November, with the details for January 2027 due in November 2026, and it has not yet said whether prices in pounds will change. Price changes to individual products, such as the July 2026 Microsoft 365 rise, will still be announced separately.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> Watch for Microsoft&#x27;s November 2026 notice. If prices in pounds are due to change, list the subscriptions that renew on or after 1 January 2027, since Microsoft fixes a price only for the subscription&#x27;s term, and consider buying any planned new subscriptions before that date.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft Commercial Cloud services priced in local currency</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/announcements/2026-july#annual-local-currency-pricing-updates-for-commercial-cloud">Partner Center announcements, July 2026: Annual local currency pricing updates for Commercial Cloud</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-12-31-office-online-server-retirement 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft ends support for Office Online Server on 31 December 2026, so after that date it gets no security updates, bug fixes or technical support. Office Online Server provides browser versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for on-premises environments, and Microsoft's recommended path is Microsoft 365, which includes those apps on the web. Microsoft says that for SharePoint Server Subscription Edition and Exchange Server Subscription Edition, Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and Office LTSC 2024 remain the supported desktop clients for viewing and editing documents. What UK customers should do: If your on-premises SharePoint or Exchange relies on Office Online Server for editing in the browser, plan the move to Microsoft 365 or to the desktop apps before 31 December 2026.

<p>Microsoft ends support for Office Online Server on 31 December 2026, so after that date it gets no security updates, bug fixes or technical support. Office Online Server provides browser versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for on-premises environments, and Microsoft&#x27;s recommended path is Microsoft 365, which includes those apps on the web. Microsoft says that for SharePoint Server Subscription Edition and Exchange Server Subscription Edition, Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and Office LTSC 2024 remain the supported desktop clients for viewing and editing documents.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If your on-premises SharePoint or Exchange relies on Office Online Server for editing in the browser, plan the move to Microsoft 365 or to the desktop apps before 31 December 2026.</p> <p>Affects: Office Online Server</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/office-online-server">Microsoft Lifecycle: Office Online Server</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-01-27-smtp-auth-basic-authentication-timeline 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft will turn off Basic authentication for SMTP AUTH client submission in Exchange Online by default for existing tenants at the end of December 2026, although admins will still be able to turn it back on, and tenants created after December 2026 will not have it by default, with OAuth as the supported method. Microsoft says it will announce the final removal date in the second half of 2027, so devices and applications that send email through SMTP AUTH with a username and password need to move to OAuth or another supported way of sending, such as the Microsoft Graph API. What UK customers should do: Find the devices and business applications that send email through Exchange Online with a stored username and password, and move them to OAuth or another supported method before the end of December 2026.

<p>Microsoft will turn off Basic authentication for SMTP AUTH client submission in Exchange Online by default for existing tenants at the end of December 2026, although admins will still be able to turn it back on, and tenants created after December 2026 will not have it by default, with OAuth as the supported method. Microsoft says it will announce the final removal date in the second half of 2027, so devices and applications that send email through SMTP AUTH with a username and password need to move to OAuth or another supported way of sending, such as the Microsoft Graph API.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> Find the devices and business applications that send email through Exchange Online with a stored username and password, and move them to OAuth or another supported method before the end of December 2026.</p> <p>Affects: Exchange Online SMTP AUTH client submission, Devices and apps that send email with a stored username and password</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/exchange/updated-exchange-online-smtp-auth-basic-authentication-deprecation-timeline/4489835">Exchange Team blog: Updated Exchange Online SMTP AUTH Basic authentication deprecation timeline (27 January 2026)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-12-01-copilot-without-base-licence 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

From 1 December 2026 Microsoft will sell new Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot Business licences that do not need a qualifying Microsoft 365 base plan, through all channels and at the same price as today's licences (£23.10 and £16.10 per user a month in the UK, annual subscription, ex VAT). The current licences gained "(add-on)" in their names on 16 October 2026 and stop being sold to new cloud solution provider purchases on 1 December 2026, but existing customers can keep renewing them and changing seat numbers. Microsoft says this changes how Copilot is bought, not what it does, and Copilot still depends on the Microsoft 365 apps and services each user is licensed for. What UK customers should do: No action is needed for existing Copilot subscriptions; if you or your reseller automate licensing, match on product and SKU IDs rather than names.

<p>From 1 December 2026 Microsoft will sell new Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot Business licences that do not need a qualifying Microsoft 365 base plan, through all channels and at the same price as today&#x27;s licences (£23.10 and £16.10 per user a month in the UK, annual subscription, ex VAT). The current licences gained &quot;(add-on)&quot; in their names on 16 October 2026 and stop being sold to new cloud solution provider purchases on 1 December 2026, but existing customers can keep renewing them and changing seat numbers. Microsoft says this changes how Copilot is bought, not what it does, and Copilot still depends on the Microsoft 365 apps and services each user is licensed for.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> No action is needed for existing Copilot subscriptions; if you or your reseller automate licensing, match on product and SKU IDs rather than names.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot Business</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/announcements/2026-october#copilot-offers-and-name-updates">Partner Center announcements, October 2026: Copilot offers and name updates</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-11-01-ai-builder-capacity-add-ons-end-of-life 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft stopped selling AI Builder capacity add-ons to new customers on 1 November 2025, and on 1 November 2026 they reach end of life, so existing customers can no longer renew them or buy more and need to turn off auto-renew. Credits already bought can be used until the add-on's term ends. On the same date, Power Apps and Power Automate premium licences stop coming with AI Builder credits, although credits already included are honoured to the end of the contract term. AI Builder features keep working and use Copilot Credits once AI Builder credits run out. What UK customers should do: If you hold AI Builder capacity add-ons, turn off auto-renew before the next renewal or ask your reseller to, and budget for Copilot Credits for the AI Builder features you still use once your current credits run out.

<p>Microsoft stopped selling AI Builder capacity add-ons to new customers on 1 November 2025, and on 1 November 2026 they reach end of life, so existing customers can no longer renew them or buy more and need to turn off auto-renew. Credits already bought can be used until the add-on&#x27;s term ends. On the same date, Power Apps and Power Automate premium licences stop coming with AI Builder credits, although credits already included are honoured to the end of the contract term. AI Builder features keep working and use Copilot Credits once AI Builder credits run out.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If you hold AI Builder capacity add-ons, turn off auto-renew before the next renewal or ask your reseller to, and budget for Copilot Credits for the AI Builder features you still use once your current credits run out.</p> <p>Affects: AI Builder capacity add-ons, AI Builder credits in Power Apps and Power Automate premium licences, Copilot Credits</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/announcements/2026-october#ai-builder-capacity-add-ons-retiring">Partner Center announcements, October 2026: AI Builder capacity add-ons retiring (22 October 2026)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-10-13-office-2021-end-of-support 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft ended support for Office LTSC 2021, Project LTSC 2021 and Visio LTSC 2021, and for the one-off Office 2021 editions such as Office Home and Business 2021, on 13 October 2026, so they no longer get security updates, fixes or technical support. The apps keep working, but Microsoft 365 Copilot does not work with on-premises Office. Microsoft's supported replacements are a Microsoft 365 plan with the desktop apps or, where the cloud is not an option, Office LTSC 2024, Project LTSC 2024 and Visio LTSC 2024. What UK customers should do: Move remaining Office 2021 users to a plan with the desktop apps, such as Business Standard or Business Premium for up to 300 users or Microsoft 365 E3 above that, or to Office LTSC 2024 where the cloud is ruled out.

<p>Microsoft ended support for Office LTSC 2021, Project LTSC 2021 and Visio LTSC 2021, and for the one-off Office 2021 editions such as Office Home and Business 2021, on 13 October 2026, so they no longer get security updates, fixes or technical support. The apps keep working, but Microsoft 365 Copilot does not work with on-premises Office. Microsoft&#x27;s supported replacements are a Microsoft 365 plan with the desktop apps or, where the cloud is not an option, Office LTSC 2024, Project LTSC 2024 and Visio LTSC 2024.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> Move remaining Office 2021 users to a plan with the desktop apps, such as Business Standard or Business Premium for up to 300 users or Microsoft 365 E3 above that, or to Office LTSC 2024 where the cloud is ruled out.</p> <p>Affects: Office LTSC 2021, Project LTSC 2021, Visio LTSC 2021, Office 2021 (Home and Business, Home and Student, Professional)</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/announcements/2026-october#office-ltsc-2021-end-of-support">Partner Center announcements, October 2026: Office LTSC 2021 end of support</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-10-13-microsoft-365-apps-windows-server-2022 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft supports Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows Server 2022 only while that server is in mainstream support, which ended on 13 October 2026, so running the apps there, for example on remote desktop servers, is now an unsupported configuration. Microsoft will keep providing security updates for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows Server 2022 until 10 October 2028, but feature updates stop at Version 2608, and the same applies to the subscription versions of the Project and Visio desktop apps. Microsoft recommends Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop where a server no longer supports the apps, and supports Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows Server 2025 while that is in mainstream support, which ends in October 2029. What UK customers should do: If you run Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows Server 2022 remote desktop servers, plan the move to Windows Server 2025, Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop before security updates end on 10 October 2028.

<p>Microsoft supports Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows Server 2022 only while that server is in mainstream support, which ended on 13 October 2026, so running the apps there, for example on remote desktop servers, is now an unsupported configuration. Microsoft will keep providing security updates for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows Server 2022 until 10 October 2028, but feature updates stop at Version 2608, and the same applies to the subscription versions of the Project and Visio desktop apps. Microsoft recommends Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop where a server no longer supports the apps, and supports Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows Server 2025 while that is in mainstream support, which ends in October 2029.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If you run Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows Server 2022 remote desktop servers, plan the move to Windows Server 2025, Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop before security updates end on 10 October 2028.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows Server 2022, Project and Visio subscription desktop apps on Windows Server 2022</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-apps/end-of-support/windows-server-support">Microsoft Learn: Windows Server end of support and Microsoft 365 Apps</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-10-01-publisher-removed-from-microsoft-365 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft began removing Publisher from Microsoft 365 subscriptions on or shortly after 1 October 2026, so people on plans that included it, such as Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Business Premium, Apps for business and Office 365 E3, can no longer install it or open and edit Publisher files in it. Support for perpetual versions of Publisher ended on 13 October 2026, with Office LTSC 2021 and Office 2021, although those copies can still be installed and used. Microsoft recommends converting Publisher files to PDF or Word and using Word or PowerPoint instead. What UK customers should do: Find anyone who still relies on Publisher files and convert them to PDF or Word, using a licensed perpetual copy of Publisher if the subscription copy has already gone.

<p>Microsoft began removing Publisher from Microsoft 365 subscriptions on or shortly after 1 October 2026, so people on plans that included it, such as Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Business Premium, Apps for business and Office 365 E3, can no longer install it or open and edit Publisher files in it. Support for perpetual versions of Publisher ended on 13 October 2026, with Office LTSC 2021 and Office 2021, although those copies can still be installed and used. Microsoft recommends converting Publisher files to PDF or Word and using Word or PowerPoint instead.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> Find anyone who still relies on Publisher files and convert them to PDF or Word, using a licensed perpetual copy of Publisher if the subscription copy has already gone.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 Apps for Business, Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Office 365 E3, Office 365 E5, Microsoft 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 E7, Microsoft Publisher</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/publisher/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026">Microsoft Support: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-09-30-project-online-retired 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft retired Project Online on 30 September 2026, so Project Web App, its project, schedule, timesheet and resource data, its reporting feeds and APIs, and Project desktop's connection to it no longer work, and Microsoft says that data is no longer accessible through Project Online. Microsoft stopped selling Project Online-only SKUs to new customers on 1 October 2025 and stopped new Project Web App instances on 1 April 2026. Project desktop, Project Server and Planner are not affected, and Microsoft's suggested replacements are Planner, with the premium features in Planner and Project Plan 3 and Plan 5, Project Server Subscription Edition or Dynamics 365 Project Operations. What UK customers should do: If you used Project Online, confirm the project data you need was exported, and at renewal check that each Planner and Project Plan 3 or Plan 5 licence is still needed for Planner's premium features or Project desktop.

<p>Microsoft retired Project Online on 30 September 2026, so Project Web App, its project, schedule, timesheet and resource data, its reporting feeds and APIs, and Project desktop&#x27;s connection to it no longer work, and Microsoft says that data is no longer accessible through Project Online. Microsoft stopped selling Project Online-only SKUs to new customers on 1 October 2025 and stopped new Project Web App instances on 1 April 2026. Project desktop, Project Server and Planner are not affected, and Microsoft&#x27;s suggested replacements are Planner, with the premium features in Planner and Project Plan 3 and Plan 5, Project Server Subscription Edition or Dynamics 365 Project Operations.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If you used Project Online, confirm the project data you need was exported, and at renewal check that each Planner and Project Plan 3 or Plan 5 licence is still needed for Planner&#x27;s premium features or Project desktop.</p> <p>Affects: Project Online (Project Web App), Project desktop connections to Project Online</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/project-online">Microsoft Lifecycle: Project Online</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-08-01-suite-security-and-management-additions 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft added Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 to Office 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 E3, and Intune Plan 2, Intune Remote Help and Intune Advanced Analytics to Microsoft 365 E3, with rollout from June 2026 that Microsoft said would be complete by 1 August 2026, and existing subscriptions get them whatever price or term they are on. Microsoft 365 E5, and so E7, also gains Intune Endpoint Privilege Management, Intune Enterprise Application Management, Microsoft Cloud PKI and Security Copilot, which has been rolling out to E5 tenants since 18 November 2025 at 400 Security Compute Units a month for every 1,000 paid users. Business Basic, Standard and Premium get 50 GB more mailbox storage, Business Basic, Business Standard and Office 365 E1 get URL time-of-click protection, and every suite gets Copilot Chat enhancements and Copilot Chat Analytics. What UK customers should do: Check Message Center for the rollout notices and, at renewal, drop any separately bought Defender for Office 365 Plan 1, Intune Plan 2, Remote Help or Advanced Analytics add-ons that your suite now includes, and on Microsoft 365 E5 check how much Security Copilot capacity you still need to buy.

<p>Microsoft added Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 to Office 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 E3, and Intune Plan 2, Intune Remote Help and Intune Advanced Analytics to Microsoft 365 E3, with rollout from June 2026 that Microsoft said would be complete by 1 August 2026, and existing subscriptions get them whatever price or term they are on. Microsoft 365 E5, and so E7, also gains Intune Endpoint Privilege Management, Intune Enterprise Application Management, Microsoft Cloud PKI and Security Copilot, which has been rolling out to E5 tenants since 18 November 2025 at 400 Security Compute Units a month for every 1,000 paid users. Business Basic, Standard and Premium get 50 GB more mailbox storage, Business Basic, Business Standard and Office 365 E1 get URL time-of-click protection, and every suite gets Copilot Chat enhancements and Copilot Chat Analytics.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> Check Message Center for the rollout notices and, at renewal, drop any separately bought Defender for Office 365 Plan 1, Intune Plan 2, Remote Help or Advanced Analytics add-ons that your suite now includes, and on Microsoft 365 E5 check how much Security Copilot capacity you still need to buy.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Office 365 E1, Office 365 E3, Office 365 E5, Microsoft 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 E7, Microsoft 365 F1, Microsoft 365 F3</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/news/2026-m365-packaging-pricing-updates">Microsoft Licensing: Microsoft 365 pricing and packaging updates</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-07-14-sharepoint-server-2016-2019-end-of-support 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft's extended support for SharePoint Server 2016 and SharePoint Server 2019 ended on 14 July 2026, the last date in their Fixed Lifecycle Policy, so Microsoft no longer provides support or updates for them, and Project Server 2016, Project Server 2019 and SharePoint Designer 2013 reached the end of extended support on the same day. Organisations still running any of them on their own servers are on unsupported software. Microsoft's migration guidance points SharePoint Server customers to SharePoint Server Subscription Edition and SharePoint Designer workflow users to Power Automate. What UK customers should do: If you still run SharePoint Server or Project Server 2016 or 2019, plan a move to SharePoint Online in your Microsoft 365 plan or to the Subscription Edition releases, and rebuild any SharePoint Designer 2013 workflows in Power Automate.

<p>Microsoft&#x27;s extended support for SharePoint Server 2016 and SharePoint Server 2019 ended on 14 July 2026, the last date in their Fixed Lifecycle Policy, so Microsoft no longer provides support or updates for them, and Project Server 2016, Project Server 2019 and SharePoint Designer 2013 reached the end of extended support on the same day. Organisations still running any of them on their own servers are on unsupported software. Microsoft&#x27;s migration guidance points SharePoint Server customers to SharePoint Server Subscription Edition and SharePoint Designer workflow users to Power Automate.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If you still run SharePoint Server or Project Server 2016 or 2019, plan a move to SharePoint Online in your Microsoft 365 plan or to the Subscription Edition releases, and rebuild any SharePoint Designer 2013 workflows in Power Automate.</p> <p>Affects: SharePoint Server 2016, SharePoint Server 2019, Project Server 2016, Project Server 2019, SharePoint Designer 2013</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/sharepoint-server-2019">Microsoft Lifecycle: SharePoint Server 2019</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-07-01-commercial-price-rise 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft raised list prices for most Microsoft 365 and Office 365 commercial suites on 1 July 2026, for example Microsoft 365 Business Basic from £4.60 to £5.40 and Microsoft 365 E3 from £31.00 to £33.50 per user a month (annual subscription, ex VAT); new subscriptions paid the new price at once and existing subscriptions move to it at their first renewal on or after 1 July 2026. Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1 did not change, standalone Teams and Copilot licences and education prices were not included, and charity prices rose in line because they are a fixed discount on the commercial price. Microsoft says the rise reflects the innovation delivered over several years and the security, management and AI features added to the suites in 2026. What UK customers should do: Check each subscription's renewal date, budget for the new price from that renewal, and review whether every user needs their current plan before it renews.

<p>Microsoft raised list prices for most Microsoft 365 and Office 365 commercial suites on 1 July 2026, for example Microsoft 365 Business Basic from £4.60 to £5.40 and Microsoft 365 E3 from £31.00 to £33.50 per user a month (annual subscription, ex VAT); new subscriptions paid the new price at once and existing subscriptions move to it at their first renewal on or after 1 July 2026. Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1 did not change, standalone Teams and Copilot licences and education prices were not included, and charity prices rose in line because they are a fixed discount on the commercial price. Microsoft says the rise reflects the innovation delivered over several years and the security, management and AI features added to the suites in 2026.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> Check each subscription&#x27;s renewal date, budget for the new price from that renewal, and review whether every user needs their current plan before it renews.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Apps for Business, Office 365 E3, Office 365 E5, Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Microsoft 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 F1, Microsoft 365 F3, Enterprise Mobility + Security E3 and E5, Windows E3 and E5, Microsoft Entra ID P1 and P2</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/12/04/advancing-microsoft-365-new-capabilities-and-pricing-update/">Microsoft 365 blog: Advancing Microsoft 365, new capabilities and pricing update (4 December 2025)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-07-01-business-with-copilot-skus 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

On 1 July 2026 Microsoft turned its promotional Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot and Microsoft 365 Business Premium with Copilot bundles into permanent plans for up to 300 users, at £18.10 and £24.60 per user a month with Teams (£15.60 and £22.10 without) on an annual subscription, ex VAT. Microsoft set the permanent prices at the former promotional level (US$23.50 and US$32 in the US), so there is no longer a promotion end date to plan around. Business Basic, Standard and Premium are still sold on their own for customers who would rather add Copilot separately. What UK customers should do: If most of your Business Standard or Business Premium users will get Copilot, compare the bundle with the plan plus the Copilot Business add-on at your next renewal.

<p>On 1 July 2026 Microsoft turned its promotional Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot and Microsoft 365 Business Premium with Copilot bundles into permanent plans for up to 300 users, at £18.10 and £24.60 per user a month with Teams (£15.60 and £22.10 without) on an annual subscription, ex VAT. Microsoft set the permanent prices at the former promotional level (US$23.50 and US$32 in the US), so there is no longer a promotion end date to plan around. Business Basic, Standard and Premium are still sold on their own for customers who would rather add Copilot separately.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If most of your Business Standard or Business Premium users will get Copilot, compare the bundle with the plan plus the Copilot Business add-on at your next renewal.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot, Microsoft 365 Business Premium with Copilot</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/announcements/2026-july#now-available-microsoft-365-business-with-copilot-skus">Partner Center announcements, July 2026: Now available, Microsoft 365 Business with Copilot SKUs</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-06-30-teams-live-events-retired 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft retired Microsoft Teams live events on 30 June 2026, having stopped people booking them for any later date from 3 February 2026, but it will honour live events scheduled before the retirement until 28 February 2027. Microsoft's replacement is Teams town halls within its new Teams events experience, and Microsoft says no admin action is needed for the retirement itself. What UK customers should do: Live events already booked still run until 28 February 2027, so recreate any booked for a later date as a Teams town hall, and use town halls for anything new.

<p>Microsoft retired Microsoft Teams live events on 30 June 2026, having stopped people booking them for any later date from 3 February 2026, but it will honour live events scheduled before the retirement until 28 February 2027. Microsoft&#x27;s replacement is Teams town halls within its new Teams events experience, and Microsoft says no admin action is needed for the retirement itself.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> Live events already booked still run until 28 February 2027, so recreate any booked for a later date as a Teams town hall, and use town halls for anything new.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft Teams live events, Teams town halls</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftteamsblog/retiring-teams-live-events-the-next-chapter-for-events-at-scale-in-microsoft-tea/4486465">Microsoft Teams blog: Retiring Teams live events, the next chapter for events at scale (3 February 2026)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-06-01-sharepoint-onedrive-standalone-end-of-sale 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft stopped selling the standalone SharePoint Online Plan 1 and Plan 2 and OneDrive for Business Plan 1 and Plan 2 licences to new customers after 31 May 2026, and existing customers can renew only until January 2027, after which current contracts run to their end date. The plans are fully retired in December 2029, by which time customers must move to a Microsoft 365 suite, storage capacity packs or pay-as-you-go storage. Microsoft gave low demand, non-standard use and running costs as its reasons. What UK customers should do: If you license anyone on a standalone SharePoint or OneDrive plan, choose the Microsoft 365 suite or storage option that replaces it before your last renewal ahead of January 2027.

<p>Microsoft stopped selling the standalone SharePoint Online Plan 1 and Plan 2 and OneDrive for Business Plan 1 and Plan 2 licences to new customers after 31 May 2026, and existing customers can renew only until January 2027, after which current contracts run to their end date. The plans are fully retired in December 2029, by which time customers must move to a Microsoft 365 suite, storage capacity packs or pay-as-you-go storage. Microsoft gave low demand, non-standard use and running costs as its reasons.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If you license anyone on a standalone SharePoint or OneDrive plan, choose the Microsoft 365 suite or storage option that replaces it before your last renewal ahead of January 2027.</p> <p>Affects: SharePoint Online Plan 1, SharePoint Online Plan 2, OneDrive for Business Plan 1, OneDrive for Business Plan 2</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/announcements/2026-january#retirement-of-standalone-sharepoint-online-and-onedrive-for-business-plans-plan-1-and-plan-2">Partner Center announcements, January 2026: Retirement of standalone SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business plans</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-06-01-agent-365-licence-prerequisite 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Since 1 June 2026 Microsoft has required new purchases of Microsoft Agent 365, its licence for governing AI agents, to sit on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 E5 or A5, or the Microsoft Defender Suite and Microsoft Purview Suite, including their Frontline and Education versions. Customers without one of these may not get some Agent 365 capabilities. Microsoft 365 E7 already includes both Agent 365 and E5, so E7 customers are not affected. What UK customers should do: Before buying Agent 365, check that the people it will cover already hold one of the qualifying plans.

<p>Since 1 June 2026 Microsoft has required new purchases of Microsoft Agent 365, its licence for governing AI agents, to sit on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 E5 or A5, or the Microsoft Defender Suite and Microsoft Purview Suite, including their Frontline and Education versions. Customers without one of these may not get some Agent 365 capabilities. Microsoft 365 E7 already includes both Agent 365 and E5, so E7 customers are not affected.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> Before buying Agent 365, check that the people it will cover already hold one of the qualifying plans.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 E7, Microsoft 365 A5, Microsoft Defender Suite, Microsoft Purview Suite, Microsoft Defender + Purview Suites (Frontline), Microsoft Defender Suite (Education), Microsoft Purview Suite (Education), Microsoft Agent 365</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/announcements/2026-july#new-licensing-prerequisite-for-agent-365">Partner Center announcements, July 2026: New licensing prerequisite for Agent 365</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-05-01-microsoft-365-e7-launch 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft made Microsoft 365 E7 generally available on 1 May 2026 as a new top enterprise plan that combines Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 Copilot, the Microsoft Entra Suite and Agent 365, at £81.60 per user a month with Teams or £75.00 without (UK list, annual subscription, ex VAT) and US$99 in the US. E7 was not part of the 1 July 2026 price rise, but the features added to Microsoft 365 E5 in 2026 also apply to it, and Agent 365 went on sale separately on the same day. Cloud solution providers could offer launch discounts of 10% or 15% on one-year terms and 15% on three-year terms, which ended for new purchases on 30 September 2026. What UK customers should do: If you already pay for Microsoft 365 E5 and Microsoft 365 Copilot for the same people, compare that combined cost with E7 at your next renewal.

<p>Microsoft made Microsoft 365 E7 generally available on 1 May 2026 as a new top enterprise plan that combines Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 Copilot, the Microsoft Entra Suite and Agent 365, at £81.60 per user a month with Teams or £75.00 without (UK list, annual subscription, ex VAT) and US$99 in the US. E7 was not part of the 1 July 2026 price rise, but the features added to Microsoft 365 E5 in 2026 also apply to it, and Agent 365 went on sale separately on the same day. Cloud solution providers could offer launch discounts of 10% or 15% on one-year terms and 15% on three-year terms, which ended for new purchases on 30 September 2026.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If you already pay for Microsoft 365 E5 and Microsoft 365 Copilot for the same people, compare that combined cost with E7 at your next renewal.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 E7, Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 E7, Microsoft Agent 365</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2026/03/09/introducing-the-first-frontier-suite-built-on-intelligence-trust/">Official Microsoft Blog: Introducing the first Frontier Suite built on Intelligence + Trust (9 March 2026)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-05-01-copilot-three-year-term 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Since 1 May 2026 Microsoft has sold Microsoft 365 Copilot on a three-year term through cloud solution providers for purchases of 100 or more licences, in line with the existing three-year terms for Microsoft 365 E3 and E5. A three-year term fixes the price for the whole term, and from 1 June to 30 September 2026 Microsoft offered 15% off three-year commitments of 300 or more licences. What UK customers should do: If you are rolling Copilot out to 100 or more people for the long term, ask your reseller to quote both the one-year and the three-year term.

<p>Since 1 May 2026 Microsoft has sold Microsoft 365 Copilot on a three-year term through cloud solution providers for purchases of 100 or more licences, in line with the existing three-year terms for Microsoft 365 E3 and E5. A three-year term fixes the price for the whole term, and from 1 June to 30 September 2026 Microsoft offered 15% off three-year commitments of 300 or more licences.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If you are rolling Copilot out to 100 or more people for the long term, ask your reseller to quote both the one-year and the three-year term.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 Copilot</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/announcements/2026-may#new-three-year-cloud-solution-provider-csp-purchasing-option-for-microsoft-365-copilot-now-available">Partner Center announcements, May 2026: New three-year CSP purchasing option for Microsoft 365 Copilot</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2026-04-01-teams-events-licensing-tiers 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Since 1 April 2026 Microsoft has licensed Teams events, the webinars and town halls created in the Teams Events app, in two tiers, and moved the advanced event features that used to need Teams Premium into Teams Enterprise. Business Basic, Business Standard, Business Premium and Microsoft 365 F1 and F3 get the foundational features: events with registration, Q&A and attendance reports for up to 1,000 attendees, and view-only events with Q&A for up to 10,000. Office 365 E1, E3 and E5 and Microsoft 365 E3, E5 and E7 also get the advanced features, including up to 3,000 attendees with chat, reactions, polls and Q&A, custom emails, waitlists, RTMP-In, Microsoft eCDN and event insights. Education plans follow the same split, with A3 and A5 for faculty in the advanced tier. Events above those sizes, up to 100,000 attendees, need an Attendee Capacity Pack, and Teams Premium bought after April 2026 no longer gives access to the event features, although Teams Premium licences bought before 1 April 2026 keep them until their term ends. What UK customers should do: If you pay for Teams Premium mainly for webinars or town halls, check at renewal whether your plan now includes the event features you use, and buy an Attendee Capacity Pack ahead of any event with more than 3,000 engaged or 10,000 view-only attendees.

<p>Since 1 April 2026 Microsoft has licensed Teams events, the webinars and town halls created in the Teams Events app, in two tiers, and moved the advanced event features that used to need Teams Premium into Teams Enterprise. Business Basic, Business Standard, Business Premium and Microsoft 365 F1 and F3 get the foundational features: events with registration, Q&amp;A and attendance reports for up to 1,000 attendees, and view-only events with Q&amp;A for up to 10,000. Office 365 E1, E3 and E5 and Microsoft 365 E3, E5 and E7 also get the advanced features, including up to 3,000 attendees with chat, reactions, polls and Q&amp;A, custom emails, waitlists, RTMP-In, Microsoft eCDN and event insights. Education plans follow the same split, with A3 and A5 for faculty in the advanced tier. Events above those sizes, up to 100,000 attendees, need an Attendee Capacity Pack, and Teams Premium bought after April 2026 no longer gives access to the event features, although Teams Premium licences bought before 1 April 2026 keep them until their term ends.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If you pay for Teams Premium mainly for webinars or town halls, check at renewal whether your plan now includes the event features you use, and buy an Attendee Capacity Pack ahead of any event with more than 3,000 engaged or 10,000 view-only attendees.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Office 365 E1, Office 365 E3, Office 365 E5, Microsoft 365 F1, Microsoft 365 F3, Microsoft 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 E7, Microsoft 365 A1 (legacy), Microsoft 365 A3, Microsoft 365 A5, Microsoft Teams events (webinars and town halls), Microsoft Teams Premium, Attendee Capacity Pack for Teams events</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/events-licensing">Microsoft Learn: Teams events licensing overview (event features by licence and the 1 April 2026 licensing changes)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2025-11-01-teams-suites-and-price-gaps 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

From 1 November 2025 Microsoft again let new customers worldwide, including in the UK, buy Microsoft 365 and Office 365 Enterprise suites with Teams as well as without, and set a minimum price gap between the two versions of each suite under its commitments to the European Commission. In the UK today, Microsoft 365 E5 is £51.60 with Teams and £45.00 without, and Business Premium is £16.90 and £14.40 (per user a month, annual subscription, ex VAT), while Microsoft Teams Enterprise on its own is £6.60. Microsoft holds the gaps constant in US dollars for the seven-year enforcement period, so the gaps in pounds can move with exchange rates. What UK customers should do: At each renewal, check whether the no-Teams version plus separate Teams licences for the people who need them costs less than the Teams version for everyone.

<p>From 1 November 2025 Microsoft again let new customers worldwide, including in the UK, buy Microsoft 365 and Office 365 Enterprise suites with Teams as well as without, and set a minimum price gap between the two versions of each suite under its commitments to the European Commission. In the UK today, Microsoft 365 E5 is £51.60 with Teams and £45.00 without, and Business Premium is £16.90 and £14.40 (per user a month, annual subscription, ex VAT), while Microsoft Teams Enterprise on its own is £6.60. Microsoft holds the gaps constant in US dollars for the seven-year enforcement period, so the gaps in pounds can move with exchange rates.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> At each renewal, check whether the no-Teams version plus separate Teams licences for the people who need them costs less than the Teams version for everyone.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Office 365 E1, Office 365 E3, Office 365 E5, Microsoft 365 E3, Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft 365 F3, Microsoft Teams Enterprise, Microsoft Teams Essentials</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/09/12/evolving-our-productivity-offerings-to-resolve-european-competition-concerns-about-teams/">Microsoft blog: Evolving our productivity offerings to resolve European competition concerns about Teams (12 September 2025)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2025-07-01-nonprofit-business-premium-e1-grants-end 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

Microsoft ended its free Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1 grants for eligible charities at each organisation's next renewal on or after 1 July 2025, for licences held through cloud solution providers or bought direct online. Charities keep up to 300 free Microsoft 365 Business Basic licences and discounts of up to 75% on many paid plans, so Business Premium now costs an eligible UK charity £4.20 per user a month rather than £16.90 (annual subscription, ex VAT). Charity prices also rose on 1 July 2026, because Microsoft sets them as a fixed percentage discount on the commercial price. What UK customers should do: If your charity has not reviewed its licences since the grant ended, check which staff need Business Premium and which can use the free Business Basic licences.

<p>Microsoft ended its free Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1 grants for eligible charities at each organisation&#x27;s next renewal on or after 1 July 2025, for licences held through cloud solution providers or bought direct online. Charities keep up to 300 free Microsoft 365 Business Basic licences and discounts of up to 75% on many paid plans, so Business Premium now costs an eligible UK charity £4.20 per user a month rather than £16.90 (annual subscription, ex VAT). Charity prices also rose on 1 July 2026, because Microsoft sets them as a fixed percentage discount on the commercial price.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If your charity has not reviewed its licences since the grant ended, check which staff need Business Premium and which can use the free Business Basic licences.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Office 365 E1, Microsoft 365 Business Basic</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/nonprofitpartners/announcement-microsoft-365-business-premium--office-365-e1-grant-discontinuation/4415334">Microsoft Tech Community: Business Premium and Office 365 E1 grant discontinuation (May 2025)</a></p> https://computecloud.co.uk/microsoft-365/licensing-changes/#2025-04-01-monthly-billing-annual-subscriptions-5-percent 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z 2026-10-24T08:00:00Z

From 1 April 2025 Microsoft has charged 5% more for an annual subscription paid monthly than for the same subscription paid yearly in advance, for new subscriptions and at renewal, whether it is bought online, through a cloud solution provider (CSP) or under a Microsoft Customer Agreement for enterprise. Microsoft says this covers all annual subscriptions with a monthly billing option, including Microsoft 365, Office 365, Enterprise Mobility + Security and Windows 365, and that local prices may vary slightly because of exchange rates, local pricing policies and rounding. The monthly billing option for annual Microsoft 365 Copilot subscriptions, available since 1 December 2024, was priced 5% higher from the start. The uplift applies to annual subscriptions paid monthly, not to month-to-month subscriptions. What UK customers should do: If you pay monthly for an annual subscription and can pay for the year in advance, switch to annual billing at your next renewal date to avoid the 5% uplift.

<p>From 1 April 2025 Microsoft has charged 5% more for an annual subscription paid monthly than for the same subscription paid yearly in advance, for new subscriptions and at renewal, whether it is bought online, through a cloud solution provider (CSP) or under a Microsoft Customer Agreement for enterprise. Microsoft says this covers all annual subscriptions with a monthly billing option, including Microsoft 365, Office 365, Enterprise Mobility + Security and Windows 365, and that local prices may vary slightly because of exchange rates, local pricing policies and rounding. The monthly billing option for annual Microsoft 365 Copilot subscriptions, available since 1 December 2024, was priced 5% higher from the start. The uplift applies to annual subscriptions paid monthly, not to month-to-month subscriptions.</p> <p><strong>What UK customers should do:</strong> If you pay monthly for an annual subscription and can pay for the year in advance, switch to annual billing at your next renewal date to avoid the 5% uplift.</p> <p>Affects: Microsoft 365 and Office 365 annual subscriptions paid monthly, Enterprise Mobility + Security, Windows 365 and other online services paid monthly, Microsoft 365 Copilot annual subscriptions paid monthly</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft_365blog/flexible-billing-for-microsoft-365-copilot-pricing-updates-for-annual-subscripti/4288536">Microsoft 365 blog: Flexible billing for Microsoft 365 Copilot, pricing updates for annual subscriptions and Teams Phone (12 November 2024)</a></p>