Microsoft 365 Subscription Update

Microsoft has recently made changes to its reseller program that affect HostGator along with many other partners across the industry. As a result, Microsoft 365 subscriptions can no longer be renewed through HostGator at this time.

You may have already received an email directly from Microsoft, letting you know your subscription is impacted. We understand this is unexpected, and we want to make sure you have a clear picture of what this means for you and what your options are.

• What This Means for You ⤵
• Steps to Transition Your Office 365 Service to Microsoft ⤵
• What to do if your Office 365 services have already expired? ⤵
• Frequently Asked Questions ⤵
• Additional Resources ⤵

What This Means for You

Active Microsoft 365 Services- If your subscription is currently in its paid term, your email, Office apps, and Microsoft 365 features will continue to work normally through the end of that term.

• Renewals are paused. Subscriptions coming up for renewal on or after May 13, 2026 cannot be renewed through us right now.
• Your data is safe. Your Microsoft 365 data is stored with Microsoft. This change relates to billing and reseller status, not your data, your mailbox, or your files. We encourage you to backup all your data, here is an article on How to Back up your Outlook email.

Move over to Microsoft Direct. If you would like to continue using Microsoft 365, we encourage you to take action and move your Microsoft Office 365 account over to Microsoft Direct. This can be done by following the instructions below.

Steps to Transition Your Office 365 Service to Microsoft

1. Back up your data.

   Backing up ensures you don't lose your valuable emails, contacts, and calendars during migration. Please know that the following guide.

   Options for backing up your Office 365 data include:

   • Using Microsoft Outlook’s export features to create local backup files.
   • Export emails, contacts, and calendars if you are moving from other webmail platforms.
   • Considering third-party backup solutions for additional security.

   How to export emails from Microsoft 365 to a local backup (.pst) file

   1. Open Microsoft Outlook configured with your Microsoft 365 account.
   2. Click File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
   3. Select Export to a file, then click Next.
   4. Choose Outlook Data File (.pst), then click Next.
   5. Select the account or specific folder to export. Ensure Include subfolders is checked.
   6. Click Browse, choose a save location, name the file, and click Finish.
   7. Outlook will export your emails to a .pst file that you can keep locally.
2. Choose your renewal method.

   To keep your services active, you have the following options:

   • Purchase directly from Microsoft: You can set up your service and renew licenses directly through Microsoft’s official portal.
   • Select a New Authorized CSP Partner: Choose a trusted Microsoft partner for ongoing licensing and support.
3. Import your data into the new service.

   If you back up emails and other data, you can import them into your new Microsoft 365 account.

   Importing data into Microsoft 365:

   • Importing data into Microsoft 365:
     • Import .pst files for emails.
     • Import contacts by converting .vcf (vCard) files to .csv format.
     • Import calendar data from .ics files.

What to do if your Office 365 services have already expired?

If your Microsoft 365 subscription has already expired, please follow these steps to restore your services and avoid further disruption. These steps an others can be found in the Microsoft article: Resolve subscriptions detached from CSP partners.

1. Back up your email and data immediately to prevent loss.
2. Purchase a new subscription.
   • If you want to continue using Microsoft 365, you will need to purchase a new subscription directly from Microsoft or through and authorized Cloud Service Provider.
3. Restore your data
   • If you previously backed up your data, import emails, contacts, and calendars into your new subscription.
4. Recover admin access if needed.
   • If you cannot access the admin portal due to MCA or GDAP restrictions, use the Microsoft 365 Global Admin Recovery Process to regain control of your tenancy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Additional Resources

• Admin Access Recovery:
  • Microsoft 365 Global Admin Access Recovery - Microsoft Q&A
  • Microsoft 365 Global Admin Recovery Process - TUCU Managed IT Services Inc
• Back up your Outlook email - Microsoft Support
• Microsoft Support portal: https://support.microsoft.com/office
• Microsoft Global Administration Policy FAQ