Microsoft Office 365: Difference between revisions
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In March 2020, a rebranding effort that began in 2017 seeking to unify Microsoft's personal/small-medium business product lines with their enterprise offerings was completed, and it was announced that all existing Office 365 products and subscriptions would be renamed to Microsoft 365.<ref name="ms-rebrand">{{Cite web|title=Microsoft Office 365 is a part of Microsoft 365|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/office-365|website=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022030805if_/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/office-365|archive-date=2020-10-22|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | In March 2020, a rebranding effort that began in 2017 seeking to unify Microsoft's personal/small-medium business product lines with their enterprise offerings was completed, and it was announced that all existing Office 365 products and subscriptions would be renamed to Microsoft 365.<ref name="ms-rebrand">{{Cite web|title=Microsoft Office 365 is a part of Microsoft 365|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/office-365|website=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022030805if_/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/office-365|archive-date=2020-10-22|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | ||
== Consumer impact summary == | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
{{Ph-C-CIS}} | {{Ph-C-CIS}} | ||
== Incidents == | ==Incidents== | ||
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:Microsoft Office|Microsoft Office category]]. | This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:Microsoft Office|Microsoft Office category]]. | ||
=== General === | ===General=== | ||
==== Forced telemetry (diagnostic data) transmission ==== | ====Forced telemetry (diagnostic data) transmission==== | ||
The only editions of the Microsoft 365 desktop apps which expose controls over the amount of telemetry data they regularly transmit back to Microsoft are the highly-priced "E" (Enterprise) or the Microsoft 365 for Education plans that require a minimum purchase of 300 or more individual user licenses, users of all other tiers are not furnished with an opt-out control as was possible in years part. Even for those volume-licensed editions with the controls, no option is provided that allows for fully deactivating the sharing of telemetry data; moreover, the controls they are given access to are configured at the lowest user privacy level by default. | The only editions of the Microsoft 365 desktop apps which expose controls over the amount of telemetry data they regularly transmit back to Microsoft are the highly-priced "E" (Enterprise) or the Microsoft 365 for Education plans that require a minimum purchase of 300 or more individual user licenses, users of all other tiers are not furnished with an opt-out control as was possible in years part. Even for those volume-licensed editions with the controls, no option is provided that allows for fully deactivating the sharing of telemetry data; moreover, the controls they are given access to are configured at the lowest user privacy level by default. | ||
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Experts in computing security now generally advise all users that it cannot reasonably be assumed that any data entered into nor any interaction had with a Microsoft 365 application will remain private unless the system is "air gapped," or completely without an active internet connection. This has led to loud concerns being raised about evolving norms regarding user consent, especially in light of the fact that even highly-trusted institutions such as hospitals in countries outside the industrial first world frequently opt to run consumer versions of Microsoft software as a cost-saving measure. | Experts in computing security now generally advise all users that it cannot reasonably be assumed that any data entered into nor any interaction had with a Microsoft 365 application will remain private unless the system is "air gapped," or completely without an active internet connection. This has led to loud concerns being raised about evolving norms regarding user consent, especially in light of the fact that even highly-trusted institutions such as hospitals in countries outside the industrial first world frequently opt to run consumer versions of Microsoft software as a cost-saving measure. | ||
=== Copilot === | ===Copilot=== | ||
==== Microsoft Copilot on by default ==== | ====Microsoft Copilot on by default==== | ||
After a round of opt-in pre-release testing, Microsoft's new AI agent—named Copilot—was announced as an "opt-out" (on by default) feature enhancement for Microsoft 365 subscribers on January 22, 2025.<ref name="hoffman">{{Cite web|last=Hoffman|first=Chris|date=2025-01-22|title=Copilot AI comes to Microsoft 365 plans: Everything you need to know|url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/3806855/copilot-ai-microsoft-365.html|website=Computerworld|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210012231if_/https://www.computerworld.com/article/3806855/copilot-ai-microsoft-365.html|archive-date=2025-02-10|access-date=2026-04-02|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | After a round of opt-in pre-release testing, Microsoft's new AI agent—named Copilot—was announced as an "opt-out" (on by default) feature enhancement for Microsoft 365 subscribers on January 22, 2025.<ref name="hoffman">{{Cite web|last=Hoffman|first=Chris|date=2025-01-22|title=Copilot AI comes to Microsoft 365 plans: Everything you need to know|url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/3806855/copilot-ai-microsoft-365.html|website=Computerworld|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210012231if_/https://www.computerworld.com/article/3806855/copilot-ai-microsoft-365.html|archive-date=2025-02-10|access-date=2026-04-02|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | ||
=== Copilot up-sell ''(2024—)'' === | ===Copilot up-sell ''(2024—)''=== | ||
Microsoft has been accused of misleading customers from around October 2024 by suggesting they had to move to higher-priced Microsoft 365 personal and family plans that included Copilot.<ref name="kumar">{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=Sneha|date=2025-10-27|title=Australia sues Microsoft over AI-linked subscription price hikes|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-takes-microsoft-court-says-it-misled-27-million-customers-2025-10-26/|website=Reuters|url-status=live|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/xlhzD|archive-date=2026-03-06|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="video-explanation">{{Cite web|author=Atomic Shrimp|date=2025-01-25|title=Microsoft’s Sneaky Forced-Upsell to 365 Users; If You Don’t Need/Want Copilot, Don’t Pay for It|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYVPThx7yss|website=[[YouTube]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=eYVPThx7yss|archive-date=2025-01-25|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | Microsoft has been accused of misleading customers from around October 2024 by suggesting they had to move to higher-priced Microsoft 365 personal and family plans that included Copilot.<ref name="kumar">{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=Sneha|date=2025-10-27|title=Australia sues Microsoft over AI-linked subscription price hikes|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-takes-microsoft-court-says-it-misled-27-million-customers-2025-10-26/|website=Reuters|url-status=live|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/xlhzD|archive-date=2026-03-06|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="video-explanation">{{Cite web|author=Atomic Shrimp|date=2025-01-25|title=Microsoft’s Sneaky Forced-Upsell to 365 Users; If You Don’t Need/Want Copilot, Don’t Pay for It|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYVPThx7yss|website=[[YouTube]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=eYVPThx7yss|archive-date=2025-01-25|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | ||
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<blockquote>The ACCC alleges that since 31 October 2024, Microsoft has told subscribers of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans with auto-renewal enabled that to maintain their subscription they must accept the integration of Copilot and pay higher prices for their plan, or, alternatively, cancel their subscription. The ACCC alleges this information provided to subscribers was false or misleading because there was an undisclosed third option, the Microsoft 365 Personal or Family Classic plans, which allowed subscribers to retain the features of their existing plan, without Copilot, at the previous lower price.<ref name="accc">{{Cite web|date=2025-10-27|title=Microsoft in court for allegedly misleading millions of Australians over Microsoft 365 subscriptions|url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/microsoft-in-court-for-allegedly-misleading-millions-of-australians-over-microsoft-365-subscriptions|website=Australian Competition and Consumer Commission|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251216025233if_/https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/microsoft-in-court-for-allegedly-misleading-millions-of-australians-over-microsoft-365-subscriptions|archive-date=2025-12-16|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="healy">{{Cite web|last=Healy|first=Jane|date=2025-10-27|title=ACCC V Microsoft Concise Statement|url=https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/accc-v-microsoft-concise-statement-27-october-2025.pdf|format=PDF|website=Australian Competition and Consumer Commission|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114100116if_/https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/accc-v-microsoft-concise-statement-27-october-2025.pdf|archive-date=2025-11-14|archive-format=PDF|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref></blockquote> | <blockquote>The ACCC alleges that since 31 October 2024, Microsoft has told subscribers of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans with auto-renewal enabled that to maintain their subscription they must accept the integration of Copilot and pay higher prices for their plan, or, alternatively, cancel their subscription. The ACCC alleges this information provided to subscribers was false or misleading because there was an undisclosed third option, the Microsoft 365 Personal or Family Classic plans, which allowed subscribers to retain the features of their existing plan, without Copilot, at the previous lower price.<ref name="accc">{{Cite web|date=2025-10-27|title=Microsoft in court for allegedly misleading millions of Australians over Microsoft 365 subscriptions|url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/microsoft-in-court-for-allegedly-misleading-millions-of-australians-over-microsoft-365-subscriptions|website=Australian Competition and Consumer Commission|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251216025233if_/https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/microsoft-in-court-for-allegedly-misleading-millions-of-australians-over-microsoft-365-subscriptions|archive-date=2025-12-16|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="healy">{{Cite web|last=Healy|first=Jane|date=2025-10-27|title=ACCC V Microsoft Concise Statement|url=https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/accc-v-microsoft-concise-statement-27-october-2025.pdf|format=PDF|website=Australian Competition and Consumer Commission|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114100116if_/https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/accc-v-microsoft-concise-statement-27-october-2025.pdf|archive-date=2025-11-14|archive-format=PDF|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref></blockquote> | ||
=== OneDrive === | ===OneDrive=== | ||
==== OneDrive sharing ==== | ====OneDrive sharing==== | ||
Guest access, a common collaboration feature in other cloud storage providers' ''free'' plans that allows users to invite others to anonymously upload files to a designated folder in their account (e.g. group vacation photos) is now restricted for subscribers to the Personal tier to other logged-in Microsoft account holders, completely eliminating the anonymity aspect. Users that wish to continue being able to invite others to contribute files to their OneDrive storage without logging in from a Microsoft account must now upgrade to the more expensive OneDrive for Business product. The ubiquity of the anonymous form of guest access among other major cloud storage services, particularly established providers such as Dropbox, Google and Proton, has proved an unwelcome surprise to both new and existing subscribers and made OneDrive a less-attractive option in that sector by comparison. | Guest access, a common collaboration feature in other cloud storage providers' ''free'' plans that allows users to invite others to anonymously upload files to a designated folder in their account (e.g. group vacation photos) is now restricted for subscribers to the Personal tier to other logged-in Microsoft account holders, completely eliminating the anonymity aspect. Users that wish to continue being able to invite others to contribute files to their OneDrive storage without logging in from a Microsoft account must now upgrade to the more expensive OneDrive for Business product. The ubiquity of the anonymous form of guest access among other major cloud storage services, particularly established providers such as Dropbox, Google and Proton, has proved an unwelcome surprise to both new and existing subscribers and made OneDrive a less-attractive option in that sector by comparison. | ||
==== Obfuscation of local storage in favor of OneDrive ==== | ====Obfuscation of local storage in favor of OneDrive==== | ||
Since the introduction of Office 365, saving files locally has been made more difficult due to Microsoft's favoring of [[OneDrive]], its cloud-based storage service. When saving a file previously, the user would encounter the save dialog with a pop-up to browse their computer and choose a file-storage location. This is now multiple clicks away, making it harder to avoid saving the file on OneDrive. | Since the introduction of Office 365, saving files locally has been made more difficult due to Microsoft's favoring of [[OneDrive]], its cloud-based storage service. When saving a file previously, the user would encounter the save dialog with a pop-up to browse their computer and choose a file-storage location. This is now multiple clicks away, making it harder to avoid saving the file on OneDrive. | ||
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The user can go into Options → Save → Set the check mark on "save locally as default". This still requires multiple clicks to save a file, but the cloud options are marginally less intrusive. | The user can go into Options → Save → Set the check mark on "save locally as default". This still requires multiple clicks to save a file, but the cloud options are marginally less intrusive. | ||
=== Automatically saving Word documents to the cloud ''(2025)'' === | ===Automatically saving Word documents to the cloud ''(2025)''=== | ||
In its company blog, Microsoft announced that Word would from now on create documents and save their auto-save information to Microsoft servers by default. This setting can be manually reconfigured to use the local computer.<ref name="munoz">{{Cite web|last=Munoz|first=Raoul|date=2025-08-26|title=Save new files automatically to the cloud in Word for Windows|url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/save-new-files-automatically-to-the-cloud-in-word-for-windows/4445216|website=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=live|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131230010/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/save-new-files-automatically-to-the-cloud-in-word-for-windows/4445216|archive-date=2026-01-31|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | In its company blog, Microsoft announced that Word would from now on create documents and save their auto-save information to Microsoft servers by default. This setting can be manually reconfigured to use the local computer.<ref name="munoz">{{Cite web|last=Munoz|first=Raoul|date=2025-08-26|title=Save new files automatically to the cloud in Word for Windows|url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/save-new-files-automatically-to-the-cloud-in-word-for-windows/4445216|website=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=live|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260131230010/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/save-new-files-automatically-to-the-cloud-in-word-for-windows/4445216|archive-date=2026-01-31|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | ||
This leads to all information in the document being uploaded to Microsoft servers even before a user has the chance to select local storage when first saving the document. | This leads to all information in the document being uploaded to Microsoft servers even before a user has the chance to select local storage when first saving the document. | ||
=== Publisher === | ===Publisher=== | ||
==== Microsoft Publisher removal from Microsoft 365 computers ''(2026)'' ==== | ====Microsoft Publisher removal from Microsoft 365 computers ''(2026)''==== | ||
In October 2026, Microsoft will be removing Publisher from computers with Microsoft 365 as part of their "end of support" of the application.<ref name="poremsky">{{Cite web|last=Poremsky|first=Diane|date=2025-03-31|title=Can people keep using Microsoft Publisher unsupported after the end of support date in October 2026|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5389573/can-people-keep-using-microsoft-publisher-unsuppor|website=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=live|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251124135927if_/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5389573/can-people-keep-using-microsoft-publisher-unsuppor|archive-date=2025-11-24|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Those with a perpetual license of Publisher, such as the Long-Term Service Channel (LTSC) edition, will still be able to install and use the application despite it being no longer supported.<ref name="publisher-eol">{{Cite web|year=2025|title=Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026-ee6302a2-4bc7-4841-babf-8e9be3acbfd7|website=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307165545if_/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026-ee6302a2-4bc7-4841-babf-8e9be3acbfd7|archive-date=2025-03-07|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | In October 2026, Microsoft will be removing Publisher from computers with Microsoft 365 as part of their "end of support" of the application.<ref name="poremsky">{{Cite web|last=Poremsky|first=Diane|date=2025-03-31|title=Can people keep using Microsoft Publisher unsupported after the end of support date in October 2026|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5389573/can-people-keep-using-microsoft-publisher-unsuppor|website=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=live|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251124135927if_/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5389573/can-people-keep-using-microsoft-publisher-unsuppor|archive-date=2025-11-24|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Those with a perpetual license of Publisher, such as the Long-Term Service Channel (LTSC) edition, will still be able to install and use the application despite it being no longer supported.<ref name="publisher-eol">{{Cite web|year=2025|title=Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026-ee6302a2-4bc7-4841-babf-8e9be3acbfd7|website=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307165545if_/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026-ee6302a2-4bc7-4841-babf-8e9be3acbfd7|archive-date=2025-03-07|access-date=2026-03-06|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | ||
== Avoiding price increases on Microsoft 365 Personal subscriptions == | ==Avoiding price increases on Microsoft 365 Personal subscriptions== | ||
[[File:Microsoft 365 Personal Classic how-to.jpg|thumb|right|440px|Screenshot of the cancellation page for Microsoft 365 Personal plan subscribers, showing the reduced price offer]] | [[File:Microsoft 365 Personal Classic how-to.jpg|thumb|right|440px|Screenshot of the cancellation page for Microsoft 365 Personal plan subscribers, showing the reduced price offer]] | ||
On February 14, 2025, Microsoft increased the cost of their entry-level subscription plan, Microsoft 365 Personal, from US$69.99/year to $99.99/year as part of an announcement that they were adding access to their Copilot AI tool to the tier, which had previously been an optional add-on. In the same announcement was information about a new Classic plan which would be the spiritual successor to the former Personal plan, offering the same features at the old price, but it lacked details on how existing subscribers could switch to it and avoid the forced upgrade. Since March 2025, a mechanism has been place on the Microsoft website to intercept subscribers on that tier who attempt to cancel their subscription, presenting them instead with an option to switch to | On February 14, 2025, Microsoft increased the cost of their entry-level subscription plan, Microsoft 365 Personal, from US$69.99/year to $99.99/year as part of an announcement that they were adding access to their Copilot AI tool to the tier, which had previously been an optional add-on. In the same announcement was information about a new Classic plan which would be the spiritual successor to the former Personal plan, offering the same features at the old price, but it lacked details on how existing subscribers could switch to it and avoid the forced upgrade. Since March 2025, a mechanism has been in place on the Microsoft website to intercept subscribers on that tier who attempt to cancel their subscription, presenting them instead with an option to switch to a hardly-publicized "Personal Classic" plan instead which is priced at the former rate of US$69.99/year (see image at right). The Classic plan provides an identical feature set, save for the monthly allotment of Copilot AI access tokens, making it a drop-in replacement for those who aren't interested in the new features and simply wish for an option to continue at the original price. Microsoft has stated that the Personal Classic plan is not an official tier on their product roadmap but rather a user retention tool. Some users who switched to the Classic plan shortly after the price increase have already reported an inability to renew it for a second year at the reduced price. | ||
== See also == | ==See also== | ||
* [[Dark pattern]] | *[[Dark pattern]] | ||
* [[Microsoft]] | *[[Microsoft]] | ||
* [[Software as a service]] | *[[Software as a service]] | ||
== References == | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Microsoft]] | [[Category:Microsoft]] | ||
[[Category:Microsoft Office]] | [[Category:Microsoft Office]] | ||
[[Category:Subscription-based services]] | [[Category:Subscription-based services]] | ||