I hope that what follows will calm some of that storm before it makes a direct hit:
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1. Yes, Microsoft has announced that Copilot AI will now be included with M365 Family and Personal Plans by default.? This was supposed to have started on January 16, 2025, worldwide.
2. No, there will not be any price change until your next renewal date arrives, at which point, if you didn't downgrade to M365 Family or Personal Classic (about which more, later) your cost will increase by $30/year to have M365 with Copilot.
3. Yes, it appears that Microsoft has given those of us who don't want the Copilot AI included to avoid having anything change when the next renewal comes.? You will have it for free until that point.
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This is the announcement regarding Copilot now being included in M365 Family and Personal, but also includes instructions on how to downgrade to classic before one's next renewal date: ?
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I direct the readership's attention to this part of that announcement, specifically, if one does want to "stick with what you've currently got" which is what the Classic versions of M365 Family or Personal are:
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Downgrade to Microsoft 365 Personal or Microsoft 365 Family Classic
1. Go to Services & subscriptions. Sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your subscription, if prompted.? [Note: I've found the easiest way to get directly where you need to be is to do the following in MS-Word: ?Hit Alt + F, D, Y 3? (File Backstage View, Accounts, Manage Account button) this opens your Subscriptions page in the web browser for the Microsoft Account under which you hold the subscription for the M365 you're using at that moment.
2. Activate the Manage Subscription control (first one in that page) which presents a list of options.? Arrow down to? Cancel subscription and activate.
3. To downgrade to another plan with fewer features, select Microsoft 365 Personal Classic or Microsoft 365 Family Classic, or another plan that works for you.
4. Follow the instructions to complete the switch.
Your existing subscription might not change immediately, but it will automatically switch to the new plan at renewal. You will not be charged for the new plan until it renews.?
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Note well that you can perform the downgrade in advance of your renewal date, and that you will keep your current billing rate with the Classic plan when your renewal is processed.? So, if you play with Copilot in the M365 Office Suite programs during the period between January 16, 2025, and your renewal date, and decide at any point you don't want it when the free trial up through renewal is over, then follow the above noted instructions to stick with what you've got.
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This is the ONLY information I have, and since my own renewal date is not until the month of August, I will not be doing the downgrade to Classic for my next renewal until I have had enough time playing with the trial to decide if I want to keep the integrated Copilot features or not.
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It would be much appreciated if those who do follow the above noted instructions report back on how the process worked and whether it was accessible.? My guess is that when you cancel your existing service you'll immediately be asked if you want to resubscribe at a different service level, which would be the newly created Classic level if you want to keep everything as it has been.
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Brian? ¡¤ ¡á? ¡¤ ???? ¡¤ ?Virginia, USA?- Windows 11 Pro, Version 24H2, Build 26100; M365 Family; Android 13 (Xiaomi HyperOS 1.0.10.0)
It is much easier to be critical than to be correct.
?????? ~ Benjamin Disraeli, 1804-1881
Brian Vogel