Cancel Game Pass through your Microsoft account settings

You cancel Microsoft Game Pass the same way you manage any other Microsoft subscription — through your account page, not through the Xbox app or Game Pass app. The process takes about two minutes and stops your recurring charge when ready, though your access continues until the end of your current billing period.

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your Game Pass subscription. Click your name or profile picture in the top right, then select View account. From there, click Subscriptions on the left side menu.

Find Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate in your subscriptions list — it will show your next billing date. Click on it, then click the button that says Manage. On the next screen, click Cancel subscription. Microsoft will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discount to stay; you can ignore this and proceed with cancellation.

Key Takeaways

  • Cancel Game Pass through account.microsoft.com, not through the Xbox or Game Pass app.
  • Your access continues until the end of your current billing period even after you cancel.
  • If you cancel mid-month, you do not get a refund for the unused portion of that month.
  • You can resubscribe to Game Pass at any time using the same Microsoft account.

What happens to your games and saves after cancellation

When your Game Pass subscription ends, you lose access to all games included with the service. Games you own outright — ones you purchased separately — remain on your console or PC and you can still play them. Game saves for Game Pass games stay on your account, so if you resubscribe later, your progress is still there.

If you have Game Pass for PC, any games you installed through the service will no longer launch. On Xbox, the games remain installed but show as unavailable until you resubscribe or purchase them. Uninstalling them first frees up storage space, though it is not required.

Cancelling Game Pass Ultimate versus Game Pass for console or PC

Game Pass Ultimate includes Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Live Gold all in one subscription. If you cancel Game Pass Ultimate, you lose all three services at once. If you only want to drop one part — for example, keeping PC Game Pass but cancelling console access — you cannot do that through a single subscription; you would need to switch to a separate Game Pass plan instead.

To switch from Ultimate to a cheaper plan, cancel your current subscription and then start a new one for just console or just PC. Microsoft sometimes offers a discounted rate for the first month of a new subscription, though this varies. Your Game Pass Ultimate cancellation takes effect at the end of your billing period, so you can sign up for the cheaper plan when ready after.

Stopping the charge without losing access until your period ends

When you click Cancel subscription, the charge stops right away — Microsoft will not bill you again. However, you keep full access to Game Pass until your current billing period ends. This means if you are billed monthly on the 15th and you cancel on the 20th, you have Game Pass through the 15th of next month at no additional cost.

This is different from pausing a subscription. Game Pass does not have a pause feature; cancellation is the only way to stop the charge. If you think you might want to return within a few months, cancelling at the end of your billing period (rather than mid-period) means you are not paying for time you do not use.

Reactivating Game Pass after you cancel

You can resubscribe to Game Pass at any time using the same Microsoft account. Go back to account.microsoft.com, navigate to Subscriptions, and look for the option to restart Game Pass. Your game saves and achievements remain tied to your account, so you pick up where you left off.

When you resubscribe, you may see a promotional offer — often a discounted first month or a free trial period. These offers are more common if you have been away from the service for a few months. There is no penalty for cancelling and returning later.

If you cannot find the cancel button

If you are signed into the wrong Microsoft account, you will not see Game Pass in your subscriptions list. Make sure you are signed in with the account that is actually paying for the subscription. If you share an Xbox console with family members, each person has their own Microsoft account, and only the account that owns the subscription can cancel it.

If you subscribed through the Xbox app or Game Pass app on your console, the subscription is still managed through your Microsoft account online — not through the app. The app does not have a cancel button. If you subscribed through a third party like Amazon Prime Gaming or a mobile carrier, you cancel through that service instead, not through Microsoft.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get a refund if I cancel mid-month?

No. Game Pass subscriptions are not refundable. If you are billed monthly and cancel on the 10th of the month, you keep access through the end of that month but do not receive money back for the unused days. To avoid paying for unused time, cancel on or near your next billing date.

Will I lose my games and saves forever?

Your game saves stay on your Microsoft account indefinitely. If you resubscribe later, your progress is still there. Games you own outright (purchased separately) remain playable. Only Game Pass games become unavailable until you resubscribe.

Can I cancel Game Pass on my Xbox or phone?

No. You must cancel through account.microsoft.com on a web browser. The Xbox app, Game Pass app, and mobile apps do not have a cancel option — they only let you view your subscription.

What if I subscribed through Xbox Game Pass for PC?

The cancellation process is the same. Go to account.microsoft.com, find Game Pass in your subscriptions, and click Cancel subscription. Your access ends at the end of your current billing period.

Can I cancel just one month and keep the rest of my subscription?

No. Cancelling stops your entire subscription. You cannot skip a single month and resume later. If you want to pause your subscription, you must cancel it and resubscribe when you are ready to return.