Summary
As of January 2025, Microsoft 365 Family or Personal customers will automatically get Copilot in their Microsoft productivity apps when they install the latest version. What’s more, this automation comes with a $3 monthly price increase.
If, like me, youaren’t likely to use Copilot—and, more importantly, don’t want to pay for something you won’t use—you’ll need to manually downgrade to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family Classic.
The prices in the screenshots in this article are displayed in GBP (£), as I am using my UK-based subscription to show you the steps for downgrading. You can follow the exact same process wherever you are based.
Before you get started with your downgrade from Microsoft 365 Personal or Family to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family Classic, take a few moments to understand these important points:
How to Downgrade from Microsoft 365 Copilot to Microsoft 365 Classic
First, head to theMicrosoft Services and Subscriptions page, and log in if prompted. Then, locate the subscription you want to downgrade, and click “Manage.” I know I’ve chosen the correct plan in the screenshot below because the subscription price has already been adjusted to reflect the Copilot upgrade (I paid £59.99 last year, and my subscription plan is due to renew in May of this year at the increased price of £84.99).
The next page that loads gives you the option to click “Cancel Subscription,” which you should do now. Don’t worry—nothing will actually happen to your account at this stage. The next page is where you will take the necessary actions.
A new window then appears to confirm that your subscription will not renew until your already-planned renewal date. Providing you’re happy with the contents of the small print, choose a payment method and click “Pay.”
Whether you like it or not, you’ll be stuck with the new Microsoft 365 Copilot plan until your renewal date, at which point your downgrade will occur automatically. If, during this interim period, you realize that you actuallydowant to upgrade to the AI-based plan, click “Don’t Switch to Microsoft 365 Personal/Family Classic…” on the same page where you clicked “Cancel Subscription” earlier, and follow the instructions to confirm this decision.
The important thing is that you maintain control over your subscription and how much screen space Copilot takes up. For example, you can go ahead with the upgraded Microsoft 365 Personal or Family plan butremove Copilot from individual apps in your Microsoft 365 suite. Similarly, you’ll also find you can remove Copilot from the ribbon in individual programs if it’s getting in your way.
