Paying for microsoft 365, but can't find the account.

Cancelling the PayPal payment authorization is not sufficient confirmation that Microsoft 365 itself is cancelled; identify the account or seller, cancel with that billing provider, and verify that recurring billing is off.

1. Identify who is charging you

Check the latest PayPal transaction:

• Note the merchant name, payment date, amount, and transaction/reference number.
• Search all email accounts—including spam and archived folders—for the amount or terms such as “Microsoft,” “Microsoft 365,” “Office,” “PayPal receipt,” or “subscription.”
• Do not post payment details publicly.

If PayPal identifies Microsoft as the seller, proceed to the account steps below. If it identifies Apple, Google, Amazon, or another retailer, cancellation must be completed with that provider; Microsoft cannot cancel a third-party-billed subscription.[^1^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Where can I manage my Microsoft 365 subscription? | Microsoft Support")

If the subscription was acquired in Germany: Microsoft provides a cancellation route that does not require signing in. Use https://aka.ms/germancancel and supply the requested purchase information.[^2^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription | Microsoft Support")

2. Find the Microsoft account

Because neither known email address shows the subscription, recover the forgotten username using the phone number or alternate email address previously registered as security information:

1. Open Microsoft’s forgotten-username page.
2. Enter the security phone number or recovery email.
3. Request and enter the security code.
4. Microsoft will display a masked hint for each associated username, such as j*******@outlook.com.^3^

Microsoft’s dedicated Microsoft 365 account-recovery page also covers forgotten usernames, multiple accounts, and access to the sign-in helper.[^4^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Microsoft 365 for home")

For every account discovered:

1. Sign in at https://account.microsoft.com/services using a private/incognito browser window so that another account is not reused automatically.
2. Check Services & subscriptions.
3. Also check https://account.microsoft.com/billing/orders and extend the date range far enough to include previous monthly payments. Purchases appear only under the account currently signed in.^5^

3. Cancel once the subscription appears

On the account that owns Microsoft 365:

1. Open https://account.microsoft.com/services/microsoft365.
2. Select Cancel subscription; it may be labelled Upgrade or Cancel.
3. Review the cancellation page and select I don’t want my subscription.
4. Confirm that the page shows an expiration date or that recurring billing is disabled.

If the page shows Turn on recurring billing, renewal is already off and Microsoft says no further charge will occur after the displayed expiration date.[^2^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription | Microsoft Support")

Before cancellation, check whether OneDrive or Outlook storage exceeds the free allowance. Cancellation reduces the allowance, which can eventually affect file synchronization and Outlook.com email.[^2^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription | Microsoft Support")

4. If no account contains the charge

Use Microsoft’s Manage your payments page and select Investigate:

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2246882

If it still cannot identify the subscription, contact Microsoft Support through:

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2258619

Select Get Help, then Contact Support. Provide the payment date, amount, PayPal transaction/reference number, and receipt privately. Microsoft Support can investigate a Microsoft billing record that cannot be located under the known accounts.^6^

Keep PayPal’s recurring-payment authorization cancelled while investigating, but retain the receipt and transaction details until Microsoft or the actual seller confirms that the subscription has ended.

References

1. [Where can I manage my Microsoft 365 subscription? | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
2. [Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
3. Forgotten your Microsoft account username | Microsoft Support
4. [Microsoft 365 for home](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
5. Microsoft Account not showing - Microsoft Q&A
6. How to investigate a billing charge from Microsoft | Microsoft Support