Multiple MS365 accounts

Microsoft personal accounts cannot be merged or have their subscriptions transferred, so choose one account to retain, copy the required data into it, and then cancel the subscription attached to the duplicate account.^1^

1. Identify the account to keep

Sign in separately with each email address and record:

• Which account contains the files, email, purchases, or other information you need.
• Which Microsoft 365 subscription is attached to each account.
• The renewal dates and subscription types.

Normally, retain the account containing most of your data or the preferred email address. Purchases, balances, and subscriptions cannot be transferred between the accounts.^1^

2. Transfer your data before cancelling

OneDrive files

1. Sign in to OneDrive using the account you intend to stop using.
2. Select the required files and folders and download them to your computer.
3. Verify that the downloaded files open correctly.
4. Sign out, then sign in to OneDrive with the account you are keeping.
5. Upload the downloaded files and confirm that they appear and open correctly.

The accounts and their storage remain separate; this is a copy operation, not an account merge.^2^

Do not cancel first: cancelling Microsoft 365 reduces that account’s cloud-storage allowance. If its usage exceeds the free allowance, OneDrive uploads, editing, and synchronization can stop, and Outlook.com mail can also be affected.[^3^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription | Microsoft Support")

Outlook data, if applicable

If the duplicate account has email, contacts, or calendars you need:

• Add both accounts to Outlook and copy the required messages between mailboxes, or use Outlook’s Import/Export feature.
• Export contacts and calendars from the old account and import them into the retained account.^2^

Keep the duplicate account open until all copied data has been checked.

3. Cancel the duplicate subscription

1. Open Microsoft account Services & subscriptions.
2. Sign in with the email address that purchased the duplicate subscription.
3. Select Cancel subscription; the option can instead appear as Upgrade or Cancel.
4. Review the cancellation information.
5. Select I don’t want my subscription, then complete the prompts.[^3^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription | Microsoft Support")

If the page shows Turn on recurring billing, the subscription is already scheduled to expire on the displayed date and will not renew.

Cancellation stops the subscription; it does not merge or automatically close the Microsoft account. Access usually continues through the current billing period when no refund is issued.[^4^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Microsoft subscription refund policy | Microsoft Support")

Refund and third-party purchase conditions

• Refund eligibility is determined during cancellation; not every cancellation qualifies.
• If Microsoft sold the subscription, the cancellation process displays any available refund.
• If it was purchased through Apple, Google Play, Amazon, or another retailer, cancellation must be handled by that seller.[^3^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription | Microsoft Support")

There is no need to close the duplicate Microsoft account unless you specifically want it permanently removed. Leaving it open without a renewing subscription provides time to confirm that nothing important was missed.

References

1. Combining Microsoft accounts | Microsoft Support
2. How to merge two accounts that have different email addresses...one personal and one family account - Microsoft Q&A
3. [Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
4. [Microsoft subscription refund policy | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])