MS Teams - Changing your Microsoft 365 Phone System Subscription
Overview
If you're currently using Microsoft 365 E3 with an add-on Teams Phone System license, upgrading to Microsoft 365 E5 consolidates licensing and ensures your Phone System service remains active. This guide walks you through the upgrade process to prevent potential service disruptions.
Why Upgrade to E5?
- Phone System is included in E5—no need for a separate add-on.
- Avoids accidental removal or expiration of the Phone System license.
- Unlocks additional features like Microsoft Defender, Power BI Pro, and Advanced Compliance.
Directions
- In Microsoft 365 Admin, navigate to Users > Active Users.
- Select a user currently assigned E3 + Phone System.
- Click Licenses and apps.
- Check Microsoft 365 E5.
- Save changes.
- Uncheck Microsoft 365 E3 and Teams Phone System.
- Save changes.
⚠️ Warning: Avoid Configuration Loss ⚠️
IMPORTANT: If you remove the Teams Phone System license before assigning the Microsoft 365 E5 license, the user's:
- Phone number assignment
- Enterprise Voice configuration
- Calling policies
...may be automatically wiped from Teams. This can result in service disruption and require manual reconfiguration.
To prevent this:
- Always assign the Microsoft 365 E5 license first.
- Only remove the E3 and Phone System licenses after confirming E5 is active and applied.