Microsoft plans to remove its free VPN feature from the Microsoft 365 subscription later this month. The change will take effect after Feb. 28, seemingly due to a lack of consumer adoption.

"We routinely evaluate the usage and effectiveness of our features," the company said on its website. "As such, we are removing the privacy protection feature and will invest in new areas that will better align to customer needs."

Identity protection, theft prevention and credit monitoring features will continue. The change was first reported by Windows Central.

A representative for Microsoft didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The tool, which was added to the Defender app in 2023 for Microsoft 365 customers, allowed users to encrypt their internet traffic and hide their IP address when connected to public Wi-Fi or an untrusted network, where data and identity could be at risk. Users could turn it on and off with a single click.

It capped usage at 50GB per month per user, allowing them to browse the web securely and anonymously.

The change comes not long after Microsoft increased the price of its 365 subscription for both personal and family plans by about $3 per month alongside new AI features, marking the first major hike in years.