Summary of Terms
Microsoft Services Agreement (effective September 30, 2023)
This page provides an overview of the Microsoft Services Agreement (“MSA”), which is the contract you enter into with Microsoft when you use the Microsoft products, websites and services listed here (“Services). Please read the MSA to learn more, including for definitions of key terms.
- Your Privacy. We process your data and use your content in accordance with the Microsoft Privacy Statement.
- Your Content. When you share content with others, they get the right to use it for free. You also grant Microsoft a worldwide, royalty free license to use your content, including for promotional purposes when you publish content on the Services. You can access your personalized advertising controls at http://choice.live.com.
- Code of Conduct. You agree not to use the service to do anything illegal; exploit, threaten or harm children; generate or send spam or other malware; share inappropriate content; engage in fraud; circumvent Service access restrictions; violate the privacy or rights of others; or engage in any other activity that is harmful to you or others. You can learn more at https://aka.ms/trustandsafety.
- Using the Services and Support. You need a Microsoft account to access many Services, and need to have reached the age of “majority” in your country to do so. You can close or suspend your account by visiting here. You can report content or conduct that you think violates our Code of Conduct here. We may use automated systems and humans to determine violations, and we may block or prohibit such content and take action against violative accounts. For support, contact our customer support team If you live in Europe, you can refer a complaint to the EU’s Online Dispute Resolution platform.
- Using Third-Party Apps and Services. Some Services let you access apps and services from third parties. You should review their terms and privacy policies before using them; as you are responsible for anything that happens with their use, and they do not modify your contract with Microsoft.
- Service Availability. Services may occasionally be unavailable depending on your region or device, or other external factors. You should regularly back up your content and data.
- Updates to the Services or Software, and Changes to These Terms. We may make changes or improvements to the Services or software and change the terms of this MSA (“Terms”) in some situations. We will let you know in advance if this is the case.
- Software License. Microsoft may provide you with a license to use software as part of the Services. This software is also subject to these Terms, unless accompanied by a separate license agreement. You agree not to use the software unlawfully.
- Payment Terms. You agree to Microsoft’s payment terms when you purchase a Service. This includes paying any charges (such as taxes) associated with the Services. If you do not make full payment, Microsoft may suspend or cancel the Services. Please refer to Section 9 for further payment terms on the following topics: (1) the information we require for payment; (2) information about our online billing statements; (3) details of our refund policy (the “Cooling-Off Period”); (4) your ability to cancel the Services and the impact of doing so; (5) information on promotional offers; (6) possible price changes to the Services; (7) what happens when we owe you a payment; (8) what happens if you make a late payment; (9) redemption and use of gift cards; and (10) your ability to register a bank account to use as a payment method.
- Contracting Entity, Choice of Law, and Place to Resolve Disputes. If you live in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, or the UK, you are contracting with Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited when you use the Services. The laws of Ireland will apply, although you also benefit from the consumer protection laws of your own country. In case of a dispute, you can choose to go to the courts in the country where you live.
- Warranties. As a consumer, you have certain rights, including that we will provide the Services using reasonable care and skill. We provide the Services “as is,” and you accept that occasionally the Services will encounter faults and periods of downtime.
- Limitation of Liability. Microsoft is not liable for any of your content or third-party material. We shall only be liable for violating material obligations of these Terms or as required by law. We are liable for indirect damage only where we have acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct. We are not responsible for any failures or delays in performing our obligations under these Terms that are caused by circumstances out of our reasonable control.
- Service-Specific Terms. In addition to these Terms, you agree to additional terms if you use the following services: Xbox; Store; Microsoft Family Features; Group Messaging; Skype, Microsoft Teams, and GroupMe; Bing and Microsoft Start (including MSN); Cortana; Microsoft 365 Apps and Services; Health Bots; Digital Goods; Microsoft Storage; Microsoft Rewards; Azure; Microsoft Soundscape; Power Platform; Dynamics 365; and AI services. Please refer to Section 13 for more information on these additional terms.
- Miscellaneous. A portion of these Terms will continue to apply after their termination or cancellation. We may assign, transfer, or dispose of our rights and obligations under these Terms at any time and without notice, so long as this isn’t to your detriment.
- Waiver of end-user consumer protection provisions. If you are a microenterprise, small enterprise, or a not-for-profit organization, you agree to waive any entitlements under the European Electronic Communications Code (Directive 2018/1972) Article 102 paragraphs 1, 3, and 5; Article 105 paragraph 1; and Article 107 paragraphs 1 and 3.
- Export Laws. You must comply with domestic and international export laws and regulations that apply to the software and/or Services.
- Reservation of Rights and Feedback. Microsoft reserves all rights in relation to its intellectual property, except as expressly provided under these Terms. If you give Microsoft any ideas, proposals, or other forms of feedback, you give Microsoft the right to use and commercialize it in any way and for any purpose, without any obligations to you.
- NOTICES. If you have any claims of intellectual property infringement, we recommend that you contact our designated agent. For details and contact information, see Notice and Procedure for Making Claims of Copyright Infringement.
- STANDARD APPLICATION LICENSE TERMS FOR APPLICATIONS OFFER IN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA. When you download apps from the Microsoft Store on Windows or the Microsoft Store on Xbox, you enter into a software license agreement with the publishers of those apps. If you do not accept the terms of this agreement, you have no right to and must not download or use the app.
AI Experiences. In addition to the Microsoft Services Agreement, the use of AI-powered conversational or generative experiences on Bing, are governed by our AI Experiences Terms, which includes the Codes of Conduct and other terms you must abide by when using Microsoft AI-powered experiences.