Delete an Azure billing payment method

This document provides instructions to help you delete a payment method, like a credit card, from different types of Azure subscriptions. You can delete a payment method for:

• Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA)
• Microsoft Online Services Program (MOSP) also referred to as pay-as-you-go

Whatever your Azure subscription type, you must cancel it so that you can delete its associated payment method.

Removing a payment method for other Azure subscription types like Microsoft Partner Agreement and Enterprise Agreement isn't supported.

Delete an MCA payment method

Only the user who created the Microsoft Customer Agreement account can delete a payment method.

To delete a payment method for a Microsoft Customer Agreement, do the following steps.

1. Sign in to the Azure portal at https://portal.azure.com/.
2. Navigate to Cost Management + Billing.
3. If necessary, select a billing scope.
4. In the left menu list under Billing, select Billing profiles.
   
5. In the list of billing profiles, select the one where the payment method is being used.
   
6. In the left menu list, under Settings, select Payment methods.
7. On the payment methods page for your billing profile, a table of payment methods is shown under the Your credit cards section. Find the credit card that you want to delete, select the ellipsis (…), and then select Delete.
   
8. The Delete a payment method page appears. Azure checks if the payment method is in use.
   • When the payment method isn't being used, the Delete option is enabled. Select it to delete the credit card information.
   • If the payment method is being used, it must be replaced or detached. Continue reading the following sections. They explain how to detach the payment method that's in use by your subscription.

Detach payment method used by an MCA billing profile

If your payment method is being used by an MCA billing profile, you'll see a message similar to the following example.

To detach a payment method, a list of conditions must be met. If any conditions aren't met, instructions appear explaining how to meet the condition. A link also appears that takes you to the location where you can resolve the condition.

When all the conditions are all satisfied, you can detach the payment method from the billing profile.

Note

When the default payment method is detached, the billing profile is put into an inactive state. Anything deleted in this process will not be able to be recovered. After a billing profile is set to inactive, you must sign up for a new Azure subscription to create new resources.

To detach a payment method

1. In the Delete a payment method area, select the Detach the current payment method link.
2. If all conditions are met, select Detach. Otherwise, continue to the next step.
3. If Detach is unavailable, a list of conditions is shown. Take the actions listed. Select the link shown in the Detach the default payment method area. Here's an example of a corrective action that explains the actions you need to take.
   
4. When you select the corrective action link, you're redirected to the Azure page where you take action. Take whatever correction action is needed.
5. If necessary, complete all other corrective actions.
6. Navigate back to Cost Management + Billing > Billing profiles > Payment methods. Select Detach. At the bottom of the Detach the default payment method page, select Detach.

Note

• After you cancel a subscription, it can take up to 90 days for the subscription to be deleted.
• You can only delete a payment method after all previous charges for a billing profile are settled. If you are in an active billing period, you must wait until the end of the billing period to delete your payment method. Ensure all other detach conditions are met while waiting for your billing period to end.

Delete a pay-as-you-go (MOSP) payment method

You must be an account administrator to delete a payment method.

If your payment method is in use by a subscription, do the following steps.

1. Sign in to the Azure portal at https://portal.azure.com/.
2. Navigate to Cost Management + Billing.
3. If necessary, select a billing scope.
4. In the left menu list under Billing, select Payment methods.
5. In the Payment methods area, on the row that the payment method is on, select the ellipsis (...) symbol and then select Delete.
6. In the Delete a payment method area, select Delete if all conditions are met. If Delete is unavailable, continue to the next step.
7. A list of conditions is shown. Take the actions listed. Select the link shown in the Delete a payment method area.
   
8. When you select the corrective action link, you're redirected to the Azure page where you take action. Take whatever correction action is needed.
9. If necessary, complete all other corrective actions.
10. Navigate back to Cost Management + Billing > Billing profiles > Payment methods and delete the payment method.

Note

After you cancel a subscription, it can take up to 90 days for the subscription to be deleted.

Next steps

• If you need more information about canceling your Azure subscription, see Cancel you Azure subscription.
• For more information about adding or updating a credit card, see Add or update a credit card for Azure.