How to Notify Microsoft of a Death: Subscription Service Bereavement Guide 2026

How to notify Microsoft of a death — step by step

1. Read Microsoft's guidance — you don't need to notify them

   Microsoft has no bereavement phone line and states you do not need to contact them to report a death. Read their support article on accessing services when someone has died. The primary concern is cancelling subscriptions (Microsoft 365, Xbox Game Pass, OneDrive) and recovering or deleting data as appropriate.

2. Cancel Microsoft 365 and other subscriptions

   Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), Xbox Game Pass, and OneDrive storage are subscription services. Cancel these via the Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com if you have access, or contact Microsoft Support to cancel without account access.

3. Close the account or let it expire

   In the UK, Microsoft generally will not close the account for you. If you have the account credentials, close it yourself (you can reopen it within 60 days). If you don't, cancel any billing — Outlook.com and OneDrive are frozen after 1 year of inactivity and the account is deleted after 2 years. Gaining access to the account contents requires a court order or subpoena, so recover important documents first if you have access.

4. Recover important documents from OneDrive

   Before closing the account, try to recover any important documents stored in OneDrive or attached to Outlook emails. Once the account is closed, data cannot be recovered.

What documents does Microsoft need?

• Account credentials (email and password), if you have them
• Deceased's Microsoft account email address
• A court order or subpoena — only if you need access to the account contents

Have multiple certified copies of the death certificate ready. Banks and financial institutions each require an original or certified copy — you cannot usually pass a single copy between organisations. See our guide to how many death certificates you need.

How long does Microsoft take?

Microsoft typically takes 2–6 weeks to process a bereavement notification once all required documents have been received.

During this period, accounts or services will typically be frozen until the estate is administered. This means no new transactions can be authorised.

Microsoft accounts often serve as the login for Windows computers. Be aware that closing the Microsoft account may affect access to locally installed Microsoft 365 applications. Consider whether the devices need to be deactivated separately.

What happens after you notify Microsoft?

Once Microsoft receives your notification and confirms receipt, the account or service will be frozen and no new transactions will be authorised. Estate administration can then begin.

Microsoft will confirm receipt of your notification and advise you of any next steps required to close or transfer the account or policy. Keep a record of all correspondence and reference numbers for the estate file.

What cannot wait