Microsoft Forces Upgrade Ads in Office Applications
Microsoft has begun displaying persistent upgrade prompts within its Office applications, drawing user discontent. Even paying Microsoft 365 subscribers report they cannot close the new advertisement banners.
Microsoft is reportedly implementing continuous upgrade prompts across its Office suite, including applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. These prompts appear as banners in the upper right corner of the applications and direct users to options for upgrading their subscription plans. Notably, users subscribing to Microsoft 365 have stated they are unable to dismiss these advertisements.
The banner, distinguished by a diamond icon, displays the message "Upgrade your (subscription) plan." Clicking on this banner opens a new window detailing the user's current plan and presenting available options for upgrading to personal or business-tier Microsoft 365 subscriptions. These upgraded plans are promoted with benefits such as increased Copilot usage allowances, expanded cloud storage, and enhanced ransomware protection.
The move has generated frustration among some users who are already paying for Microsoft 365. They argue that such prompts are unnecessary for existing subscribers and detract from the software experience. Feedback indicates that users with family plans are being prompted to upgrade to higher tiers, particularly for expanded AI features, citing a monthly cost of $19.99 (or a promotional $9.99 for the first month).
Complaints and feedback regarding the non-closable promotional content have emerged on various platforms, including Office community forums and official feedback channels for Excel and Word. Critics describe the banners as intrusive and a detriment to usability in paid software. Microsoft has not yet issued a statement addressing the user feedback or indicated whether this design will be altered. This approach has drawn comparisons to similar past controversies surrounding promotional prompts within Microsoft Teams.