How to Cancel Microsoft OneDrive
Cancel Microsoft OneDrive in a few minutes. Exact steps, the traps to avoid, refund rules, and what happens to your data after cancellation.
The short answer
Microsoft OneDrive costs $2.00/month. You keep access until the end of the period you have already paid for, so cancelling early does not lose you time. Files above the free limit become read-only rather than being deleted immediately, but they are eventually removed — do not treat read-only as permanent storage.
Leutrim Miftaraj
Founder, SubTracker · Updated July 21, 2026
Step by step
- 1
Check whether it comes with Microsoft 365
OneDrive storage is usually part of a Microsoft 365 subscription rather than a separate one. Cancelling 365 reduces the storage.
- 2
Reduce usage below the free limit first
Files above the free allocation become read-only after downgrade, and deletion policies apply eventually.
- 3
Download what you need
Move files off the platform and verify the copies are complete.
- 4
Cancel or downgrade in your Microsoft account
Open Services and subscriptions in your account settings.
Before you cancel
- •Files above the free limit become read-only rather than being deleted immediately, but they are eventually removed — do not treat read-only as permanent storage.
- •OneDrive and Microsoft 365 are usually one subscription; cancelling affects both storage and the Office apps.
- •Photos backed up from a phone are often the bulk of the usage and are easy to overlook.
Refunds
Prorated refunds may apply to annual Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
Before you cancel entirely
Before cancelling, check whether a cheaper tier or an annual plan would solve the problem. Annual billing is typically fifteen to twenty percent cheaper than monthly.
Storage cancellations delete data
Cloud storage is the only category where cancelling can destroy something irreplaceable, and it is the one people most often get wrong.
The mechanism is simple. Your paid plan gives you, say, 200 GB. The free tier gives you 5 GB. When the paid plan ends and you are storing 80 GB, the provider does not politely hold the excess — syncing stops, the account goes read-only, and after a grace period the provider begins deleting to fit the free allowance.
Photos are almost always the problem. Phone photo libraries reach tens of gigabytes without anyone noticing, and if the library exists only in the cloud, "downgrading the plan" and "deleting your photos" are the same action separated by a few weeks.
The correct order of operations
Check your current usage first. Then download everything that exceeds the free tier to a local drive or another service, and verify the download actually completed — a partial sync that looks finished is a common failure. Only then downgrade.
Give yourself the full billing period to do this. The downgrade usually takes effect at the end of the cycle, which is the window you have to move data out. Starting the day before renewal is not enough time for a large photo library.
Leave large shared folders first
On Dropbox and Google Drive, shared folders you own count against your quota even when someone else created the content. Leaving or transferring ownership of large shared folders before downgrading can bring you under the free limit without deleting anything.
If you are charged after cancelling
- •Keep the cancellation confirmation. An email or a screenshot showing the date is the document that resolves this, and it is much easier to save now than to reconstruct later.
- •If you are charged after cancelling, contact the provider first with the confirmation attached. Most reverse the charge without argument when presented with a timestamped confirmation.
- •If the provider does not resolve it, your bank or card issuer can reverse the payment. Card networks treat a charge after a documented cancellation as a straightforward chargeback, and the confirmation is the evidence you need.
- •For recurring card payments you can also instruct your bank to block future payments to that merchant. In the EU and UK, banks are required to honour this instruction even if the merchant continues to request payment.
Current pricing: $2.00/month · onedrive.com
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
How do I cancel Microsoft OneDrive?+
OneDrive storage is usually part of a Microsoft 365 subscription rather than a separate one. Cancelling 365 reduces the storage. Files above the free allocation become read-only after downgrade, and deletion policies apply eventually.
Do I get a refund when I cancel Microsoft OneDrive?+
Prorated refunds may apply to annual Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
What happens after I cancel Microsoft OneDrive?+
You keep access to Microsoft OneDrive until the end of the billing period you have already paid for. After that the subscription stops and you are not charged again.
How much does Microsoft OneDrive cost?+
Microsoft OneDrive costs $2.00/month based on 2026 pricing. Prices vary by region and plan tier, so check your account for the exact amount you are charged.