License tracking scope
The Subscription Center tracks and displays license assignments only for user accounts. Licenses assigned to devices or other non-user objects are not tracked or represented within the Subscription Center or License Pools in the platform. All license calculations and displays are based solely on user assignments.
The “Warning units” column in the “Subscription Center” report indicates license quantities in grace period status following the expiration of a Microsoft 365 service subscription. Tenant Admins should monitor this column when reviewing license allocations for Microsoft 365 SKUs.
What are warning units?
In Microsoft 365 licensing, “warning units” refer to licenses that have entered a grace period following subscription expiration. These units are pending suspension or deactivation unless renewal or adjustment occurs according to organizational policy.
Why warning units matter
Warning units serve as an essential alert for administrators:
- Prevent service disruptions: they provide early notification, enabling action before licenses expire and services are affected.
- Ensure continuity: by addressing warning units promptly, organizations can maintain uninterrupted access to essential services and applications.
Monitoring warning units in the Subscription Center
Step 1: access the Subscription Center
Access the Subscription Center under “Reports > Licenses > Subscription Center” in the app.
Step 2: locate the Warning units column
In the “Active subscriptions” tab, reference the “Warning units” column to identify subscriptions with licenses in their grace period. Any value greater than zero indicates that action is needed.
Step 3: review detailed information
For additional details, use the “Subscription history” tab to review the affected subscriptions and associated orders.
Updating price per unit
Step 1: open Manage Price per Unit
In “License > Subscription Center > Active subscriptions”, click “Manage Price per Unit” to open the SKU price management area.
Step 2: select the SKU
Select the SKU to update, then click “Next”.
Step 3: enter the new price per unit
Enter the new numeric value to use for “Price per Unit”.
Step 4: review and submit the change
Click “Next” to review the update, or click “Submit” to complete the change.
Action steps
- Renew or update subscriptions for service SKUs associated with warning units before the grace period end date to prevent license deactivation.
- Review the Subscription Center report regularly to monitor license status and take necessary actions.
- Review and maintain SKU pricing so that the “Price per Unit” value remains accurate for reporting and cost analysis.
For more details on license unit states, refer to Microsoft Graph API documentation.
Monitoring the “Warning units” column and keeping SKU pricing up to date helps administrators manage subscription status and license cost data more effectively.