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Submitted URL: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=2086738
Effective URL: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/microsoft-account-activity-policy-7c0a9fa7-0982-b7c6-fd72-df852b63699f
Submission: On November 07 via manual from CA — Scanned from CA

Form analysis 3 forms found in the DOM

Name: searchForm — GET /en-us/Search/results

<form class="c-search" autocomplete="off" id="searchForm" name="searchForm" role="search" action="/en-us/Search/results" method="GET"
  data-seautosuggest="{&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;market&quot;:&quot;en-us&quot;,&quot;clientId&quot;:&quot;7F27B536-CF6B-4C65-8638-A0F8CBDFCA65&quot;,&quot;sources&quot;:&quot;Microsoft-Terms,Iris-Products,DCatAll-Products&quot;,&quot;filter&quot;:&quot;+ClientType:StoreWeb&quot;,&quot;counts&quot;:&quot;5,1,5&quot;},&quot;familyNames&quot;:{&quot;Apps&quot;:&quot;App&quot;,&quot;Books&quot;:&quot;Book&quot;,&quot;Bundles&quot;:&quot;Bundle&quot;,&quot;Devices&quot;:&quot;Device&quot;,&quot;Fees&quot;:&quot;Fee&quot;,&quot;Games&quot;:&quot;Game&quot;,&quot;MusicAlbums&quot;:&quot;Album&quot;,&quot;MusicTracks&quot;:&quot;Song&quot;,&quot;MusicVideos&quot;:&quot;Video&quot;,&quot;MusicArtists&quot;:&quot;Artist&quot;,&quot;OperatingSystem&quot;:&quot;Operating System&quot;,&quot;Software&quot;:&quot;Software&quot;,&quot;Movies&quot;:&quot;Movie&quot;,&quot;TV&quot;:&quot;TV&quot;,&quot;CSV&quot;:&quot;Gift Card&quot;,&quot;VideoActor&quot;:&quot;Actor&quot;}}"
  data-seautosuggestapi="https://www.microsoft.com/msstoreapiprod/api/autosuggest"
  data-m="{&quot;cN&quot;:&quot;GlobalNav_Search_cont&quot;,&quot;cT&quot;:&quot;Container&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;c3c1c9c3m1r1a1&quot;,&quot;sN&quot;:3,&quot;aN&quot;:&quot;c1c9c3m1r1a1&quot;}" aria-expanded="false" style="overflow-x: visible;">
  <div class="x-screen-reader" aria-live="assertive"></div>
  <input id="cli_shellHeaderSearchInput" aria-label="Search Expanded" aria-autocomplete="list" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="universal-header-search-auto-suggest-transparent" aria-owns="universal-header-search-auto-suggest-ul" type="search"
    name="query" role="combobox" placeholder="Search for help" data-m="{&quot;cN&quot;:&quot;SearchBox_nav&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;n1c3c1c9c3m1r1a1&quot;,&quot;sN&quot;:1,&quot;aN&quot;:&quot;c3c1c9c3m1r1a1&quot;}" data-toggle="tooltip"
    data-placement="right" title="Search for help" style="overflow-x: visible;">
  <button id="search" aria-label="Search for help" class="c-glyph" data-m="{&quot;cN&quot;:&quot;Search_nav&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;n2c3c1c9c3m1r1a1&quot;,&quot;sN&quot;:2,&quot;aN&quot;:&quot;c3c1c9c3m1r1a1&quot;}" data-bi-mto="true"
    aria-expanded="false" style="overflow-x: visible;">
    <span role="presentation" style="overflow-x: visible;">Search</span>
    <span role="tooltip" class="c-uhf-tooltip c-uhf-search-tooltip" style="overflow-x: visible;">Search for help</span>
  </button>
  <div class="m-auto-suggest" id="universal-header-search-auto-suggest-transparent" role="group" style="overflow-x: visible;">
    <ul class="c-menu" id="universal-header-search-auto-suggest-ul" aria-label="Search Suggestions" aria-hidden="true" data-bi-dnt="true" data-bi-mto="true" data-js-auto-suggest-position="default" role="listbox" data-tel="jsll"
      data-m="{&quot;cN&quot;:&quot;search suggestions_cont&quot;,&quot;cT&quot;:&quot;Container&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;c3c3c1c9c3m1r1a1&quot;,&quot;sN&quot;:3,&quot;aN&quot;:&quot;c3c1c9c3m1r1a1&quot;}" style="overflow-x: visible;"></ul>
    <ul class="c-menu f-auto-suggest-no-results" aria-hidden="true" data-js-auto-suggest-postion="default" data-js-auto-suggest-position="default" role="listbox" style="overflow-x: visible;">
      <li class="c-menu-item" style="overflow-x: visible;"> <span tabindex="-1" style="overflow-x: visible;">No results</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>
</form>

GET /en-US/search/results

<form class="searchBoxForm" method="GET" action="/en-US/search/results" autocomplete="off"><input class="searchBoxInput" name="query" type="search" maxlength="100" placeholder="How can we help you?" aria-label="How can we help you?" value=""><input
    type="hidden" name="isEnrichedQuery" value="false"><button class="searchBoxButton" type="submit" title="Search" data-bi-mto="true" aria-hidden="true"><span
      class="searchBoxIconContainer"><i class="searchBoxIcon icon-mdl2 icon-forward"></i></span></button></form>

Name: smartFeedbackForm — javascript:void(0);

<form action="javascript:void(0);" id="extendedFeedbackForm" name="smartFeedbackForm" class="smartFeedbackForm supStickyFeedbackMarginBottom">
  <div class="ocSmartFeedbackBegin extendedFeedbackArticleInfoUseful" role="region" aria-label="Provide feedback about this article">
    <div id="beginFeedbackHeader" class="supStickyFeedbackHeader">
      <h2 class="boldFont">Was this information helpful?</h2>
    </div>
    <div class="feedbackButtons">
      <button class="ocFeedbackButton supStickyFeedbackButton feedbackSelection feedbackButtonBlue" name="buttonYes" type="button" data-bi-id="buttonYes" data-bi-mto="">Yes</button>
      <button class="ocFeedbackButton supStickyFeedbackButton feedbackSelection feedbackButtonBlue" name="buttonNo" type="button" data-bi-id="buttonNo" data-bi-mto="">No</button>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div id="extendedFeedback" class="ocSmartFeedbackReply ocHidden">
    <div id="extendedFeedbackHeader" class="supStickyFeedbackHeader">
      <label for="feedbackText" class="ocFeedbackHeaderIfArticleHelpful ocHidden">
        <span class="boldFont" aria-hidden="true">Thank you! Any more feedback?</span> (The more you tell us the more we can help.) </label>
      <label for="feedbackText" class="ocFeedbackHeaderIfArticleNotHelpful ocHidden">
        <span class="boldFont" aria-hidden="true">Can you help us improve?</span> (The more you tell us the more we can help.) </label>
    </div>
    <fieldset id="extendedFeedbackArticleExperience" class="feedbackGroup">
      <legend class="extendedFeedbackQuestionLabels">What affected your experience?</legend>
      <div class="ocFeedbackHeaderIfArticleHelpful ocHidden">
        <div id="articleExperience_helpful_0">
          <div class="experienceOption">
            <label class="articleExperienceOptionsLabels">
              <input class="articleExperienceOptionsCheckbox" type="checkbox" tabindex="-1" id="helpful_0" name="helpful_0" value="Resolved my issue" data-bi-dnt="">
              <span class="checkboxTick" tabindex="0" role="checkbox" aria-label="Resolved my issue"></span>
              <span class="experienceOptionLabels">Resolved my issue</span>
            </label>
          </div>
          <div class="experienceOption">
            <label class="articleExperienceOptionsLabels">
              <input class="articleExperienceOptionsCheckbox" type="checkbox" tabindex="-1" id="helpful_1" name="helpful_1" value="Clear instructions" data-bi-dnt="">
              <span class="checkboxTick" tabindex="0" role="checkbox" aria-label="Clear instructions"></span>
              <span class="experienceOptionLabels">Clear instructions</span>
            </label>
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="articleExperience_helpful_1">
          <div class="experienceOption">
            <label class="articleExperienceOptionsLabels">
              <input class="articleExperienceOptionsCheckbox" type="checkbox" tabindex="-1" id="helpful_2" name="helpful_2" value="Easy to follow" data-bi-dnt="">
              <span class="checkboxTick" tabindex="0" role="checkbox" aria-label="Easy to follow"></span>
              <span class="experienceOptionLabels">Easy to follow</span>
            </label>
          </div>
          <div class="experienceOption">
            <label class="articleExperienceOptionsLabels">
              <input class="articleExperienceOptionsCheckbox" type="checkbox" tabindex="-1" id="helpful_3" name="helpful_3" value="No jargon" data-bi-dnt="">
              <span class="checkboxTick" tabindex="0" role="checkbox" aria-label="No jargon"></span>
              <span class="experienceOptionLabels">No jargon</span>
            </label>
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="articleExperience_helpful_2">
          <div class="experienceOption">
            <label class="articleExperienceOptionsLabels">
              <input class="articleExperienceOptionsCheckbox" type="checkbox" tabindex="-1" id="helpful_4" name="helpful_4" value="Pictures helped" data-bi-dnt="">
              <span class="checkboxTick" tabindex="0" role="checkbox" aria-label="Pictures helped"></span>
              <span class="experienceOptionLabels">Pictures helped</span>
            </label>
          </div>
          <div class="experienceOption">
            <label class="articleExperienceOptionsLabels">
              <input class="articleExperienceOptionsCheckbox" type="checkbox" tabindex="-1" id="helpful_5" name="helpful_5" value="Other" data-bi-dnt="">
              <span class="checkboxTick" tabindex="0" role="checkbox" aria-label="Other"></span>
              <span class="experienceOptionLabels">Other</span>
            </label>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
      <div class="ocFeedbackHeaderIfArticleNotHelpful ocHidden">
        <div id="articleExperience_notHelpful_0">
          <div class="experienceOption">
            <label class="articleExperienceOptionsLabels">
              <input class="articleExperienceOptionsCheckbox" type="checkbox" tabindex="-1" id="notHelpful_0" name="notHelpful_0" value="Didn't match my screen" data-bi-dnt="">
              <span class="checkboxTick" tabindex="0" role="checkbox" aria-label="Didn't match my screen"></span>
              <span class="experienceOptionLabels">Didn't match my screen</span>
            </label>
          </div>
          <div class="experienceOption">
            <label class="articleExperienceOptionsLabels">
              <input class="articleExperienceOptionsCheckbox" type="checkbox" tabindex="-1" id="notHelpful_1" name="notHelpful_1" value="Incorrect instructions" data-bi-dnt="">
              <span class="checkboxTick" tabindex="0" role="checkbox" aria-label="Incorrect instructions"></span>
              <span class="experienceOptionLabels">Incorrect instructions</span>
            </label>
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="articleExperience_notHelpful_1">
          <div class="experienceOption">
            <label class="articleExperienceOptionsLabels">
              <input class="articleExperienceOptionsCheckbox" type="checkbox" tabindex="-1" id="notHelpful_2" name="notHelpful_2" value="Too technical" data-bi-dnt="">
              <span class="checkboxTick" tabindex="0" role="checkbox" aria-label="Too technical"></span>
              <span class="experienceOptionLabels">Too technical</span>
            </label>
          </div>
          <div class="experienceOption">
            <label class="articleExperienceOptionsLabels">
              <input class="articleExperienceOptionsCheckbox" type="checkbox" tabindex="-1" id="notHelpful_3" name="notHelpful_3" value="Not enough information" data-bi-dnt="">
              <span class="checkboxTick" tabindex="0" role="checkbox" aria-label="Not enough information"></span>
              <span class="experienceOptionLabels">Not enough information</span>
            </label>
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="articleExperience_notHelpful_2">
          <div class="experienceOption">
            <label class="articleExperienceOptionsLabels">
              <input class="articleExperienceOptionsCheckbox" type="checkbox" tabindex="-1" id="notHelpful_4" name="notHelpful_4" value="Not enough pictures" data-bi-dnt="">
              <span class="checkboxTick" tabindex="0" role="checkbox" aria-label="Not enough pictures"></span>
              <span class="experienceOptionLabels">Not enough pictures</span>
            </label>
          </div>
          <div class="experienceOption">
            <label class="articleExperienceOptionsLabels">
              <input class="articleExperienceOptionsCheckbox" type="checkbox" tabindex="-1" id="notHelpful_5" name="notHelpful_5" value="Other" data-bi-dnt="">
              <span class="checkboxTick" tabindex="0" role="checkbox" aria-label="Other"></span>
              <span class="experienceOptionLabels">Other</span>
            </label>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </fieldset>
    <div id="extendedFeedbackVerbatim" class="verbatimFeedback feedbackGroup">
      <label for="verbatimFeedbackInput" class="extendedFeedbackQuestionLabels">Any additional feedback? (Optional)</label>
      <textarea id="verbatimFeedbackInput" class="ocSmartFeedbackTextArea" name="feedbackText" rows="6" cols="40" maxlength="250"
        placeholder="To protect your privacy, do not provide any personal information such as email address, phone number, product key, password, or credit card number."></textarea>
    </div>
    <div id="extendedFeedbackFormSubmit" class="feedbackButtons">
      <button id="buttonFeedbackVerbatimSubmit" class="ocFeedbackButton supStickyFeedbackButton ocButtonSendComment feedbackButtonBlue" type="submit" data-bi-id="buttonFeedbackVerbatimSubmit" data-bi-mto="" disabled="">Submit feedback</button>
    </div>
  </div>
</form>

Text Content

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MICROSOFT ACCOUNT ACTIVITY POLICY

Microsoft account More...Less

Published: July 01, 2019
Effective: August 30, 2019
Updated: November 6, 2020

This Microsoft account activity policy describes when Microsoft may close your
account due to account inactivity. You may choose to close your Microsoft
account at any time on the Microsoft account management website and Microsoft
may close your account for other reasons as permitted under the Microsoft
Services Agreement (“MSA”).

Microsoft account activity policy: Under the MSA, you must use your Microsoft
account to keep it “active.” Microsoft reserves the right to close all
“inactive” Microsoft accounts. 

Except as provided below, you must sign in to your Microsoft account at least
once in a two-year period to keep your account active. If you don’t sign in
during this time, Microsoft will consider your account to be inactive.

Any account that has been locked for more than two years will also be considered
"inactive" and will be closed.

Please see section (4)(a)(iv)(2) of the MSA for the consequences of a closed
Microsoft account.

Exceptions: The activities below are exceptions that will result in Microsoft
extending your account’s active status, even if you have not otherwise signed in
to your Microsoft account within a two-year period.

 * Purchases . If you have used your Microsoft account to purchase, or to redeem
   or access a purchase of, a current Microsoft product or service, your
   Microsoft account will remain active and Microsoft will not close your
   account due to inactivity. Note, this does not apply to gift cards,
   certifications or subscription-based purchases or services.

 * Subscriptions . Your Microsoft account will continue to remain active for so
   long as you have an active Microsoft subscription associated with your
   Microsoft account. Following the expiration or termination of the
   subscription, you must sign in to your Microsoft account at least once in a
   two-year period to keep your account active.

 * Publishing to the Microsoft Store . If you have used your Microsoft account
   to publish applications or games (including game DLCs) to the Microsoft Store
   or to register for a Microsoft Partner Center account, your Microsoft account
   will remain active and Microsoft will not close your account due to
   inactivity.

 * Certifications . If you earn a certification from Microsoft using your
   Microsoft account, your Microsoft account will remain active and Microsoft
   will not close your account due to inactivity.

 * Account Balance . Your Microsoft account will continue to remain active for
   so long as you have an unspent balance in your Microsoft account (e.g. from a
   Microsoft gift card or a credit from Microsoft). If you live in a
   jurisdiction where gift cards are considered “unclaimed property,” Microsoft
   will, pursuant to local law, escheat the unspent balance associated with your
   Microsoft gift card.

 * Accounts Payable . Your Microsoft account will continue to remain active for
   so long as there is an amount owed to you by Microsoft associated with your
   Microsoft account (e.g. amounts due to you from Microsoft Payment Central).

 * Family Accounts.  If you have an inactive Microsoft account that has granted
   consent for an active Microsoft account belonging to a minor, Microsoft will
   not close your Microsoft account due to your inactivity. Your inactive
   Microsoft account will be kept open by Microsoft until the minor’s account
   (i) is deemed inactive and closed by Microsoft, (ii) is closed by you, or
   (iii) transitions into a standard Microsoft account when the minor reaches
   the requisite age of majority in their region.

 * Legal Requirements or as otherwise provided by Microsoft . Notwithstanding
   the foregoing, Microsoft reserves the right to maintain your account status
   as active, or not to close an inactive account, as required by applicable law
   or regulation, or as otherwise provided by Microsoft to you.

Your Current Activity Status: You may always review the activity status of your
Microsoft account by navigating to the Microsoft account management website.
Your activity status will show you how frequently you need to sign in to your
account to prevent your account from being deemed inactive. Please note that it
may take up to thirty (30) days for any recent purchases or other account
activity to be reflected in your activity status.


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WAS THIS INFORMATION HELPFUL?

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Thank you! Any more feedback? (The more you tell us the more we can help.) Can
you help us improve? (The more you tell us the more we can help.)
What affected your experience?
Resolved my issue
Clear instructions
Easy to follow
No jargon
Pictures helped
Other
Didn't match my screen
Incorrect instructions
Too technical
Not enough information
Not enough pictures
Other
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