Microsoft A1 Plus Is Being Discontinued: What Schools Need to Know

From 1 August 2024, Microsoft officially discontinued the A1 Plus licence for education. This means that free access to the full desktop Office apps (like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) through A1 Plus is no longer available.

If your school or organisation is still using A1 Plus, it’s important to act now to avoid disruption.

Here’s what’s changing:

• A1 Plus licences can no longer be renewed or reassigned.

• Users will lose access to desktop Office apps once their current licence expires.

• The free A1 plan still exists — but it only includes the web-based versions of Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and no longer supports offline desktop use.

To maintain full access to desktop Office apps, schools will need to transition to Office 365 Apps for Students and Faculty, which includes:

• Full desktop versions of Office apps

• Access across multiple devices

• Cloud storage and collaboration through OneDrive and Teams

• Ongoing updates and security support

If your school hasn’t yet moved off A1 Plus, now’s the time to start planning. Contact GDK for support — we’ll help you review your current licences, recommend the right combination of A1 and Office 365 Apps for Students and Faculty, and make sure your transition is seamless.

Just to clarify:

• A1 (free) – web-based apps only

• A1 Plus (discontinued) – no longer available or renewable

• Office 365 Apps for Students and Faculty (paid) – includes full desktop apps and advanced features

These changes are part of Microsoft’s ongoing effort to modernise its education licensing and enhance security and manageability across schools. Don’t get caught unprepared — make sure your students and staff stay connected, supported, and fully licensed.