How can I join Microsoft 365 Developer Program with a personal account?

Hi Raymond

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Forum. Thank you for reaching out and sharing your concern about the Microsoft 365 Developer Program.

I truly appreciate your enthusiasm for exploring Microsoft 365 and Copilot development.

However, personal Microsoft accounts are no longer supported for joining the Microsoft 365 Developer Program with a sandbox tenant. This change aligns with Microsoft’s increased focus on enterprise-grade development, security, and identity management.

As of February 2024, Microsoft has tightened eligibility requirements for access to the free Microsoft 365 E5 developer sandbox. Currently, only developers with an active Visual Studio Enterprise subscription or those participating in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program are eligible. It's important to note that accounts ending in *.onmicrosoft.com or those registered via phone number only are not eligible for the sandbox environment. 

• You can find the official program details and updated eligibility guidelines here: Microsoft 365 Developer Program

Instead, you may consider using your company-provided Microsoft 365 account to register, provided your organization holds the necessary licenses. Please note:

• Administrative approval may be required for certain permissions. 
• Access to features like global admin or provisioning may be limited by internal policies. 

If restrictions apply, kindly request your IT team for a dedicated test environment or appropriate access. Alternatively, an active Visual Studio Enterprise subscription also grants eligibility for the developer sandbox.

I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. Hope the details provided will assist you effectively.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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Hi Raymond

Good day!

Thank you for getting back with your question and I truly appreciate your interest in Microsoft 365 and Copilot development.

If you want an independent environment for your own development and learning (not tied to your company), you have two main options:

1. If you are looking for a personal, production-grade Microsoft 365 environment with Copilot, the most straightforward option is to purchase a Microsoft 365 Business Premium subscription and add the Copilot for Microsoft 365 add-on. This paid option gives you full admin control, is suitable for business or personal use, and allows you to experience all features as a regular end user. You can use your own domain and manage the environment independently from your company.
2. Alternatively, if the cost of a paid subscription is a concern, or if your primary need is for development, learning, or testing, you may consider the Microsoft 365 Developer Program. To use this program, you must have a work or school account (personal Microsoft accounts are not eligible). If you do not have one, you can create a free Azure Active Directory (AAD) tenant and add a user account. With this account, you can register for the Microsoft 365 Developer Program and receive a free Microsoft 365 E5 developer sandbox, which includes Copilot (currently in preview). Please note that this environment is intended for development and testing purposes only and is renewable based on active use.

I hope these suggestions prove useful and help alleviate the challenges you’re experiencing.

I’d be grateful if you could mark my answer as Accepted. It helps other affected users find this thread more easily and acknowledges the support you received.