Octobits Blog – There might come a time when you need to know how to cancel Microsoft Azure subscription.
Understanding the cancellation process is a technique to protect your data and avoid unexpected charges, whether it’s due to changing needs, budget constraints, or switching to a different cloud provider.
In short, we need to find the best way to cancel without losing data and getting hit with extra charges.
How to Cancel Your Azure Subscription
To cancel, follow these steps to make sure everything goes smoothly.
First, log in to the Azure Portal. This is your one-stop shop for managing all your Azure services and subscriptions.
Once you’re logged in, just go to “Cost Management + Billing” in the left-hand menu. To see all your active subscriptions, just select “Subscriptions” in this section.
Next, you’ll want to identify the specific subscription you want to cancel.
If you have more than one subscription, it’s important to make sure you choose the right one, otherwise you might end up with some unexpected issues with your services. Just click on the subscription to get the details.
At the top of the page, you’ll see an option to cancel your subscription. Just click this to get the cancellation process started.
Before you cancel, make sure you back up any data you need.
Azure will ask you to handle any active resources that are linked to the subscription.
To make sure all your virtual machines, databases, and other resources are deactivated properly, just select “Turn off resources.”
Please remember you need to turn off the resources because if you don’t, you’ll still be billed even after you’ve cancelled the subscription.
Once you’ve checked that everything’s been taken care of, you can go ahead and confirm the cancellation.
Microsoft might ask for a reason for cancellation, but you can always provide one if you want to.
Once you’ve confirmed, the cancellation will go through. Although you’ll see the cancellation reflected in your account straight away, it can take up to 10 minutes for the status to show on the portal.
Microsoft keeps your data for up to 90 days after cancellation, so you can recover it if you need to.
As disclaimer, sometimes, you might come across a few hiccups when cancelling. Two common reasons for this are hidden resources and permissions.
That’s why it’s a good idea to check your subscription to make sure there aren’t any hidden resources that might be stopping you from cancelling. This means checking resource groups and individual services too.
To flag up that if you’re not the subscription owner or don’t have the right admin permissions, you won’t be able to cancel.
If you need to, just get in touch with the right person or go through your company’s usual channels to get things sorted.
Why is Microsoft Not Letting Me Cancel My Subscription?
Occasionally, users run into trouble cancelling their Azure subscriptions. One common issue is that some resources are still active.
Azure says that you’ve got to deactivate and delete all your resources, including the hidden ones, before you can cancel your subscription.
This means going to the resources, checking they’re not in use, and deleting them if needed.
Another thing to look out for is permissions. If you don’t have the right admin permissions, you won’t be able to cancel the subscription.
Just make sure you’re logged in as the subscription owner or that your account has the right permissions to make changes to the subscription.
If you manage multiple subscriptions or work in a larger organisation, it’s a good idea to double-check permissions and resource statuses. These checks make sure you can cancel subscriptions without any problems.
So, we suggest you take a look at “Microsoft Azure Cost Optimisation: What Actually Works & Myths to Avoid.”
How do I Stop Automatic Subscriptions to Microsoft?
It’s pretty easy to stop automatic renewals of Microsoft subscriptions, but there are a few steps you need to take to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Start by logging into the Azure Portal and finding the “Cost Management + Billing” section. Then, just go to “Subscriptions.”
This section lists all your active subscriptions, making it easier to manage them individually.
Next, choose the subscription you want to edit. Just look for the ‘Auto-Renew’ option and turn it off.
This stops the subscription from renewing automatically, so you won’t get any nasty surprises.
Microsoft’s official docs say that turning off auto-renewal stops future charges once the current subscription period ends.
If you’re a business managing lots of Software as a Service (SaaS) subscriptions, tools like Octobits can be really useful.
Octobits has got you covered when it comes to tracking, managing and optimising your software spending.
Octobits helps you avoid unnecessary renewals and manage your budget effectively by putting all your subscriptions in one place.
This platform is perfect for mid to large-sized businesses where manual tracking of subscriptions can get a bit tedious and prone to mistakes.
Yes, with Octobits, you can see where you might be spending too much or not making the most of your subscriptions.
As a strategic move, we’re here to help you get the most out of each subscription while keeping unnecessary costs to a minimum.
For reference, kindly read “Lost in Microsoft Azure AD Subscription Lifecycle Process? Let’s Simplify.”
Alternatives to Cancellation
Before you cancel your Microsoft Azure subscription, think about other options that might be a better fit for your needs without completely stopping the service.
Another option is to scale down your resources. By reducing the number of active resources or downgrading the service tiers, you can make your costs a lot lower.
This way, you can keep the essential services running while cutting down on unnecessary expenses.
So if you’ve got virtual machines running, you might want to think about reducing the number of them or selecting a lower-performance tier that aligns with your current requirements.
Another option is to temporarily suspend your services.
If your business needs change over time or you think you might need Azure services again soon, it might be better to suspend rather than cancel.
With temporary suspension, you can quickly get your services back up and running again when you need them, without having to go through the whole setup process again.
Think about these options and you’ll be able to keep your cloud strategy flexible while managing costs effectively.
Microsoft’s official resources and customer support are great for getting more info and detailed steps.
In Closing
So yes, cancelling your Microsoft Azure subscription isn’t just a case of clicking a button. It’s a process that requires careful consideration and execution.
Handling your Azure subscriptions well lets you adapt to changing needs and control your cloud spending.
If you run into any problems or need a hand, Microsoft’s documentation and support team are great resources to guide you through how to cancel your Microsoft Azure subscription.
