You can cancel Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live Gold through your Microsoft account settings in about two minutes, and your access stops at the end of your current billing period

Microsoft offers two main subscription types: Xbox Game Pass (which gives you access to a rotating library of games) and Xbox Live Gold (which lets you play online multiplayer and gives you free games each month). Both renew automatically unless you turn off the renewal. You do not need to call anyone or wait for a confirmation — the cancellation takes effect when ready in your account, though you keep access until your paid period ends.

The steps are the same whether you subscribed through an Xbox console, a PC, or the Xbox app. If you subscribed through a third party like Amazon, PlayStation Store, or Apple, you will need to cancel through that service instead, not through Microsoft.

Key Takeaways

  • Sign into your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com, go to Subscriptions, find Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live Gold, and select "Manage subscription" to turn off auto-renewal.
  • Your access continues until the end of your current billing period — cancellation does not cut you off when ready.
  • If you subscribed through Amazon, Apple, PlayStation, or another platform, you must cancel through that platform's settings, not through Microsoft.
  • You can resubscribe at any time; cancelling does not delete your account or your saved games.
  • If you see a charge after cancellation, it likely means the subscription renewed before your cancellation went through, and you can request a refund within 60 days.

Cancelling through your Microsoft account on a computer

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the email and password you use for Xbox. Click "Subscriptions" in the left menu (you may need to scroll down to find it). You will see a list of all active subscriptions tied to that account.

Find "Xbox Game Pass" or "Xbox Live Gold" in the list and click on it. A details panel will open showing your renewal date and payment method. Click "Manage subscription." On the next screen, click the toggle next to "Auto-renew" to turn it off. Microsoft will ask you to confirm — click "Turn off" when prompted. That is all. You will see a message saying auto-renewal is now off, and you will receive a confirmation email within a few minutes.

Cancelling through your Xbox console

On your Xbox, go to Settings (the gear icon), then select "Account" and "Subscriptions." You will see your active subscriptions. Highlight the one you want to cancel and press A. Select "Manage" and then toggle off "Auto-renew." Confirm when prompted.

The process is slightly different on Xbox Series X/S versus older models, but the menu path is the same. If you cannot find Subscriptions in your Settings menu, make sure you are signed in with the account that holds the subscription — subscriptions are tied to individual accounts, not to the console itself.

Cancelling a subscription you bought through a third-party platform

If you bought your subscription through Amazon Prime Gaming, Apple (on iPhone or iPad), PlayStation Store, or another platform, you must cancel through that platform, not through Microsoft. Microsoft cannot turn off a subscription that was sold to you by someone else.

For Amazon Prime Gaming: Go to primegaming.amazon.com, click "Your Games and Subscriptions," find Xbox Game Pass, and click "Cancel Game Pass." For Apple: Open Settings, tap your name, go to Subscriptions, find Xbox Game Pass, and tap "Cancel Subscription." For PlayStation Store: Go to your profile, select Subscriptions, find Xbox Game Pass, and select "Cancel Subscription." Each platform has its own confirmation flow, but none of them will cut off your access before your paid period ends.

What happens after you cancel

Your subscription status changes to "Cancelled" in your account when ready, but you keep full access to Game Pass games or online multiplayer until 11:59 p.m. on your renewal date. On the day after your renewal date passes, you will no longer be able to play Game Pass games or use online multiplayer features (though you can still play games you own outright).

Your Xbox account, your saved games, your achievements, and your friends list all stay exactly as they are. Cancelling a subscription does not delete anything. If you want to resubscribe later, you can do so at any time, and your account will be waiting for you.

If you were charged after cancelling

If you see a charge on your payment method after you cancelled, it usually means the subscription renewed before your cancellation request went through. This can happen if you cancel very close to your renewal date, or if there was a processing delay. You can request a refund for that charge within 60 days.

Go to account.microsoft.com, click "Billing," then "Order history." Find the charge you want to dispute and click on it. Select "Report a problem" and choose "I was charged but didn't authorize this" or "I want a refund." Microsoft will review your request — most refunds for cancelled subscriptions are approved within a few business days. If the refund is denied, you can contact Microsoft Support by phone or chat for a manual review.

Pausing instead of cancelling

If you want to keep your subscription but do not want to be charged for a while, you can pause Game Pass for up to three months instead of cancelling. Go to your subscription details and select "Pause subscription" instead of "Manage subscription." Your renewal date will not move forward while it is paused, and you will not be charged. When you are ready to use it again, you can unpause it in the same menu.

This option is useful if you know you will want to come back but do not want to lose your place in the subscription queue or worry about resubscribing later. Pausing is not available for Xbox Live Gold — you can only cancel that subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my games or achievements if I cancel?

No. Your Xbox account, saved games, and achievements stay with you forever. Game Pass games you were playing will become unplayable once your subscription ends, but any games you own outright will still work. If you resubscribe later, you can play Game Pass games again.

Can I cancel just Game Pass and keep Xbox Live Gold?

Yes. Each subscription is separate in your account. You can cancel one and keep the other active. Go to your subscriptions list and cancel only the one you want to stop paying for.

What if I cancel but my renewal date is tomorrow?

Your cancellation takes effect when ready in your account, but you will still be charged on your renewal date if it is tomorrow. You will then have 60 days to request a refund for that charge. To avoid the charge entirely, you need to cancel before your renewal date arrives.

Do I need to uninstall Game Pass games after I cancel?

You do not have to, but they will not launch once your subscription ends. You can leave them on your console and reinstall them later if you resubscribe, or delete them to free up space. Uninstalling does not affect your saved games.

Can I cancel on my phone?

Yes, through the Xbox app or by going to account.microsoft.com in your phone's browser. The steps are the same as on a computer. You can also cancel through your phone's settings if you subscribed through Apple or another platform.