Disable "Microsoft Office Subscription Heartbeat" task
- Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
- Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
- Impact: High
System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: High
This action improves privacy with high impact when you run the recommended script.
- Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
- Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
- Fully reversible
You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.
The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.
Overview
This script disables the "Microsoft Office Subscription Heartbeat" scheduled task.
The primary function of the Office Subscription Heartbeat task is to periodically check the subscription status of Microsoft Office products 1 2, verifying their licenses are active and valid 1. This task actively communicates with Microsoft servers, transmitting Microsoft account data 3 for license verification.
Disabling this task improves privacy as it prevents these regular communications and data transmissions, though it may lead to complications regarding license compliance over time.
The task creates and utilizes cache files located at %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files\Microsoft Office 15\root\vfs\Common AppData\microsoft\office\Heartbeat
1
and %PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft\Office\Heartbeat\HeartbeatCache
3 4, in HeartbeatCache.xml
file 1 4. It executes the OLicenseHeartbeat.exe
process
daily 2, also known as "Office Subscription Licensing Heartbeat" 2.
\Microsoft\Office\Office 15 Subscription Heartbeat
(tested since Office version 2208):
OS Version | Default Status |
---|---|
Windows 10 22H2 | 🟡 N/A (missing) |
Windows 11 22H2 | 🟡 N/A (missing) |
Consider that while disabling this task may lead to increased privacy, it could also impact license compliance and the overall functionality of Microsoft Office products in the long run. of Microsoft Office products in the long run.
This script should only be used by advanced users.
This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality.
Consider creating a system restore point before doing any changes.
Sources
- Microsoft 365 subscription automatic license renewal fails when heartbeatcache in wrong location - Microsoft 365. Microsoft Learn. learn.microsoft.com. (2023).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/troubleshoot/licensing/subscription-automatic-license-renew-fails
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20231024130456/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/troubleshoot/licensing/subscription-automatic-license-renew-fails - OLicenseHeartbeat.exe - Should I Block It? (Office Subscription Licensing Heartbeat). shouldiblockit.com. (2023).
Original: https://www.shouldiblockit.com/olicenseheartbeat.exe-9886.aspx
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20231024130510/https://www.shouldiblockit.com/olicenseheartbeat.exe-9886.aspx - About the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant - Microsoft Support. support.microsoft.com. (2023).
Original: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/about-the-microsoft-support-and-recovery-assistant-e90bb691-c2a7-4697-a94f-88836856c72f
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20231024130510/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/about-the-microsoft-support-and-recovery-assistant-e90bb691-c2a7-4697-a94f-88836856c72f#ID0ED6=Office - support.microsoft.com. (2023).
Original: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/-product-key-is-not-valid-error-when-activating-office-4f89be39-26eb-404f-b485-8e2014bd3790
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20231024130503/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/-product-key-is-not-valid-error-when-activating-office-4f89be39-26eb-404f-b485-8e2014bd3790#ID0EBBD=Microsoft_365_subscription
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How to apply or restore "Disable "Microsoft Office Subscription Heartbeat" task" using script
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 5 instructions
- 1
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Download the script file by clicking on thebutton above.
Use button above to restore changes. - 2
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If warned by your browser, keep the file. - 3
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Open the downloaded file. - 4
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Once it's done, press any key to exit the window. - 5
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Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
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How to apply or restore "Disable "Microsoft Office Subscription Heartbeat" task" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the script name: Disable "Microsoft Office Subscription Heartbeat" task
- Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
- 3
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Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.
- Apply
- Revert
:: Disable scheduled task(s): `\Microsoft\Office\Office 15 Subscription Heartbeat`
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$taskPathPattern='\Microsoft\Office\'; $taskNamePattern='Office 15 Subscription Heartbeat'; Write-Output "^""Disabling tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^""."^""; $tasks = @(Get-ScheduledTask -TaskPath $taskPathPattern -TaskName $taskNamePattern -ErrorAction Ignore); if (-Not $tasks) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, no tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^"" found, no action needed."^""; exit 0; }; $operationFailed = $false; foreach ($task in $tasks) { $taskName = $task.TaskName; if ($task.State -eq [Microsoft.PowerShell.Cmdletization.GeneratedTypes.ScheduledTask.StateEnum]::Disabled) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, task `"^""$taskName`"^"" is already disabled, no action needed."^""; continue; }; try { $task | Disable-ScheduledTask -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully disabled task `"^""$taskName`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to disable task `"^""$taskName`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; $operationFailed = $true; }; }; if ($operationFailed) { Write-Output 'Failed to disable some tasks. Check error messages above.'; exit 1; }"
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Help
How to apply or restore "Disable "Microsoft Office Subscription Heartbeat" task" using commands
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Command Prompt
- Difficulty: Medium
- ≈ 3 instructions
- 1
Open Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt as Administrator. - 2
Copy code
Copy the code: - 3
Paste & run
Paste the commands into Command Prompt and press Enter to run.Some changes require a system restart to take effect
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