automatic basic subscription renewal email has stopped me using excel on my desktop

Microsoft 365 Basic does not include the desktop Excel and Word apps. It provides 100 GB of cloud storage, ad-free Outlook, and support benefits. Desktop Office apps are included with Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium. That is why a Basic subscription email could still be correct while Excel and Word on the laptop stopped working.

Microsoft 365 Basic and Microsoft 365 Personal are separate consumer subscriptions, so they can exist at the same time. They are not automatically merged.

To check and manage the overlap:

1. Go to the Services & subscriptions page and sign in with the Microsoft account that received the renewal email.
2. Check whether both Microsoft 365 Basic and Microsoft 365 Personal are listed.
3. For the Basic subscription, select Manage.
4. If Cancel is available, use it and follow the prompts.
5. If Turn on recurring billing is shown instead, recurring billing is already off and the subscription is set to expire on the shown date.

For a refund of the £19.99 Basic charge:

1. Start from the Microsoft 365 cancellation flow.
2. Cancel the Basic subscription first.
3. During cancellation, Microsoft shows whether that charge is eligible for a refund.
4. If the Basic subscription was bought through Apple, Google Play, or another retailer, cancellation and refund must be handled with that provider, not Microsoft.

To confirm where the subscription is managed:

1. Sign in to account.microsoft.com/services.
2. If options such as Manage, Cancel, or Change payment appear, it is billed by Microsoft.
3. If those options are limited or missing, it is likely managed by a third party.

References:

• Frequently asked questions about Microsoft 365 Basic | Microsoft Support
• Where can I manage my Microsoft 365 subscription? | Microsoft Support
• [Microsoft 365](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/how-to-get-a-refund-on-a-microsoft-subscription#sign-in-to-cancel-your-microsoft-365-subscription-yourself)
• Microsoft 365 Basic overlapping with Microsoft 365 Personal subscription - Microsoft Q&A
• Microsoft 365 subscription not recognised when I try to open an Excel file - Microsoft Q&A