Summary of Changes to Microsoft Services Agreement - August 15, 2022

We are updating the Microsoft Services Agreement, which applies to your use of Microsoft consumer online products and services. This page provides a summary of the most notable changes to the Microsoft Services Agreement. In addition to these changes, we’ve also made other modifications to make the Microsoft Services Agreement more user-friendly. We’ve added an Introduction that includes helpful information such as a link to the FAQ page and a link to this Summary of Changes page. We will also continue to keep the summary of changes from the previous version of the Microsoft Services Agreement on this Summary of Changes page. We’ve also added a word count and estimated reading time for the Microsoft Services Agreement.

To see all of the changes, please read the full Microsoft Services Agreement here.

1. In the header, we’ve updated the publication date to June 15, 2022 and the effective date to August 15, 2022.
2. In the Code of Conduct section, we’ve clarified that Microsoft Start has guidelines that apply to user conduct and included a link to the Microsoft Start Community Guidelines to help users understand these guidelines.
3. In the Xbox Services section, we’ve made changes to reflect that we’re sharing data with industry partners and not just game developers. This change allows us to enable new features for our customers and clarifies that, when an Xbox user links their Microsoft account to non-Microsoft services, we share certain data with industry partners so they can provide their non-Microsoft services within the Xbox ecosystem. In the Using the Services & Support section, we’ve made changes to align with the Microsoft policy regarding inactive Microsoft accounts.
4. We also added a link to the Xbox Subscriptions Terms & Conditions in the Xbox Services section to make the terms and conditions that are specific to Xbox subscriptions more prominent and easier for users to find. We’ve added the Inactive Xbox Service Subscriptions Policy to reflect the new policy that Microsoft established for Xbox. Under this policy, Microsoft may turn off your recurring billing if you do not use your applicable Xbox Services subscription for a period of time.
5. In the Skype, Microsoft Teams, and GroupMe section, our changes reflect the obligations that Microsoft has to offer access to Emergency Services (such as 911 or 112 emergency calling) through Skype and Microsoft Teams. We’ve clarified that only the Skype to Phone feature of Skype may support calls to Emergency Services in a very limited number of countries. We’ve also clarified that, in some regions, Microsoft Teams uses international numbers that could count as an international text message.
6. In the Service-Specific Terms section, we’ve removed the subsection that covered Microsoft Band because Microsoft Health Dashboard applications and services were discontinued, and web-connected features are no longer available for Microsoft Band.
7. In the Service-Specific Terms section, we’ve added a section for Microsoft Soundscape that clarifies that it is a general-purpose consumer service. We’ve also clarified that the Microsoft Power Platform service is governed by the terms and conditions of the enterprise agreements applicable to Microsoft Power Platform.
8. For customers in the United States, in the Binding Arbitration and Class Action Waiver section, we’ve added procedures if 25 or more customers file coordinated arbitrations. These arbitrations would be resolved in batches of up to 50 individual arbitrations. After each batch of up to 50 is resolved, the next batch of up to 50 individual arbitrations could be filed. We’ve clarified that arbitrators may award injunctions that would affect you and us only. We’ve also clarified that if a court finds part of this section unenforceable, an arbitrator would resolve all arbitrable claims and remedies before any court proceeding begins on remaining ones. We’ve given courts rather than arbitrators authority to decide more issues, including whether this section is enforceable and what it covers, and to enjoin arbitrations that don’t comply with it. We’ve also provided that small claims court cases may be filed in your home county only.
9. In the Notices section, we’ve made edits to update the notice status of certain licenses and patents.
10. Throughout the Terms, we’ve made changes to improve clarity and to address grammar, typos, and other similar issues. We’ve also updated naming and hyperlinks.

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