check before: 2026-01-15
Product:
Copilot, Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 admin center, Microsoft 365 Copilot, SharePoint
Platform:
Online, US Instances, World tenant
Status:
Change type:
Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact
Links:
Details:
Summary:
Microsoft 365 Admin Center introduces a new pay-as-you-go experience for managing Backup and Copilot billing starting January 15, 2026. Admins can create billing policies, set budgets, and view usage under the Billing node. Migration details for existing Backup customers will be announced later. No immediate action required.
Details:
Updated December 17, 2025: We have updated the document link. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction]
We're introducing a new pay-as-you-go (PAYG) experience in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center (MAC). This update provides a centralized way to manage metered services such as Microsoft 365 Backup and Copilot under the Billing node.
[When this will happen:]
General Availability:
Available to new Microsoft 365 Backup and all Copilot customers starting January 15, 2026 (previously December 15, 2025).
Migration path for existing Backup customers will be announced later.
Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
Created:
2025-11-15
updated:
2025-12-18
Task Type
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Docu to Check
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MS How does it affect me
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MS Preperations
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MS Urgency
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MS workload name
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summary for non-techies**
Starting January 15, 2026, Microsoft will introduce a pay-as-you-go billing system in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, allowing admins to manage billing for services like Microsoft 365 Backup and Copilot with features such as departmental billing, budget setting, and notifications, while also enabling the creation of subscriptions and resource groups directly within the Admin Center.
Direct effects for Operations**
User Experience Disruption
If the new PAYG experience is implemented without proper preparation, users may face confusion regarding billing policies and usage tracking, leading to potential overages or unexpected charges.
- roles: Admins, Finance Team
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/services/update-pay-as-you-go-setup-billing-node?view=o365-worldwide
Operational Inefficiency
Lack of preparation for the new billing policies may result in inefficient resource allocation and budgeting, causing delays in project funding and resource management.
- roles: Admins, Project Managers
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/services/update-pay-as-you-go-setup-billing-node?view=o365-worldwide
Configutation Options**
XXXXXXX ... paid membership only
Data Protection**
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explanation for non-techies**
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** AI generated content. This information must be reviewed before use.
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change history
| Date | Property | old | new |
| 2025-12-18 | MC Last Updated | 12/10/2025 21:56:43 | 2025-12-17T21:50:44Z |
| 2025-12-18 | MC Messages | Updated December 10, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction] We're introducing a new pay-as-you-go (PAYG) experience in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center (MAC). This update provides a centralized way to manage metered services such as Microsoft 365 Backup and Copilot under the Billing node. [When this will happen:] General Availability: Available to new Microsoft 365 Backup and all Copilot customers starting December 15, 2025 (previously early December). Migration path for existing Backup customers will be announced later. | Updated December 17, 2025: We have updated the document link. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction] We're introducing a new pay-as-you-go (PAYG) experience in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center (MAC). This update provides a centralized way to manage metered services such as Microsoft 365 Backup and Copilot under the Billing node. [When this will happen:] General Availability: Available to new Microsoft 365 Backup and all Copilot customers starting January 15, 2026 (previously December 15, 2025). Migration path for existing Backup customers will be announced later. |
| 2025-12-18 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 introduces a new pay-as-you-go experience in the Admin Center starting December 15, 2025, for Backup and Copilot customers. It centralizes billing management, policy creation, budgeting, and usage tracking under the Billing node, with additional services to be added over time. No immediate action required. | Microsoft 365 Admin Center introduces a new pay-as-you-go experience for managing Backup and Copilot billing starting January 15, 2026. Admins can create billing policies, set budgets, and view usage under the Billing node. Migration details for existing Backup customers will be announced later. No immediate action required. |
| 2025-12-18 | MC End Time | 01/19/2026 09:00:00 | 2026-02-16T09:00:00Z |
| 2025-12-18 | MC prepare | No action is required.
Admins may decide to: Review the new PAYG page under Billing in MAC. Monitor announcements for migration timelines for existing Backup customers. Refer to Microsoft documentation for guidance on billing policies and budget notifications. Learn more: Microsoft 365 pay-as-you-go services documentation | Microsoft Learn (will be updated before rollout) [Compliance considerations:] No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization. https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/services/?view=o365-worldwide | No action is required.
Admins may decide to: Review the new PAYG page under Billing in MAC. Monitor announcements for migration timelines for existing Backup customers. Refer to Microsoft documentation for guidance on billing policies and budget notifications. Learn more: Set up or disconnect pay-as-you-go billing for services in new billing node | Microsoft Learn (will be updated before rollout) [Compliance considerations:] No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization. https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/services/update-pay-as-you-go-setup-billing-node?view=o365-worldwide |
| 2025-12-11 | MC MessageTagNames | New feature, User impact, Admin impact | Updated message, New feature, User impact, Admin impact |
| 2025-12-11 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 Admin Center introduces a new pay-as-you-go experience under the Billing node for managing Backup and Copilot services starting December 2025. Admins can create billing policies, set budgets, and view usage. Existing Backup customer migration details will be announced later. No immediate action required. | Microsoft 365 introduces a new pay-as-you-go experience in the Admin Center starting December 15, 2025, for Backup and Copilot customers. It centralizes billing management, policy creation, budgeting, and usage tracking under the Billing node, with additional services to be added over time. No immediate action required. |
| 2025-12-11 | MC Last Updated | 11/15/2025 00:58:30 | 2025-12-10T21:56:43Z |
| 2025-12-11 | MC Messages | [Introduction]
We're introducing a new pay-as-you-go (PAYG) experience in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center (MAC). This update provides a centralized way to manage metered services such as Microsoft 365 Backup and Copilot under the Billing node. [When this will happen:] General Availability: Available to new Microsoft 365 Backup and all Copilot customers starting early December 2025. Migration path for existing Backup customers will be announced later. | Updated December 10, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction] We're introducing a new pay-as-you-go (PAYG) experience in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center (MAC). This update provides a centralized way to manage metered services such as Microsoft 365 Backup and Copilot under the Billing node. [When this will happen:] General Availability: Available to new Microsoft 365 Backup and all Copilot customers starting December 15, 2025 (previously early December). Migration path for existing Backup customers will be announced later. |
| 2025-12-11 | MC Title | Announcing the new pay-as-you-go experience in Microsoft 365 Admin Center | (Updated) Announcing the new pay-as-you-go experience in Microsoft 365 Admin Center |
| 2025-12-11 | MC End Time | 01/12/2026 09:00:00 | 2026-01-19T09:00:00Z |
Last updated 5 days ago ago
