How to cancel a Microsoft subscription

You can cancel most Microsoft subscriptions through your account settings on Microsoft.com, and the process takes about five minutes. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you have Microsoft 365 (the monthly or yearly subscription), Xbox Game Pass, or a one-time purchase like Microsoft Office. Cancellation is when ready — you lose access to the service right away, though you keep any files you created until your current billing period ends.

The key thing to know upfront: Microsoft will not refund money for the current billing period, even if you cancel on day one. If you want to avoid the next charge, you must cancel before your renewal date. That date is visible in your account settings and in your confirmation emails.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your Microsoft account, go to Subscriptions, find the service you want to cancel, and select "Manage subscription" to see the cancellation option.
  • You will not receive a refund for the current billing period, so cancel before your next renewal date if you want to stop being charged.
  • After cancellation, you keep access to your files and data until your paid period ends, but you cannot use the service itself after that date.
  • If you cancel by mistake or change your mind within 60 days, Microsoft may restore your subscription — contact support to ask.
  • Subscriptions bought through the Microsoft Store app, Xbox, or a third-party seller require cancellation through that same place, not through Microsoft.com.

Canceling Microsoft 365 through your account

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the email address linked to your subscription. Click "Subscriptions" in the left menu, then find the Microsoft 365 plan you want to cancel. Click "Manage subscription."

On the next page, scroll down and click "Cancel subscription." Microsoft will ask why you are leaving — you can skip this or answer it. Then click "Yes, cancel my subscription" to confirm. You will see a confirmation message when ready. Check your email for a receipt that shows your cancellation date and your final billing date.

If you have multiple Microsoft 365 subscriptions (for example, one for yourself and one for a family member), you must cancel each one separately. Canceling one does not affect the others.

Canceling subscriptions bought through other platforms

If you bought your subscription through the Microsoft Store app on Windows, the Xbox app, or an Xbox console, you cannot cancel it through Microsoft.com. You must cancel it where you bought it.

Microsoft Store app: Open the app, click your profile icon in the top right, select "App settings," then "Subscriptions." Find the subscription and click "Manage." Select "Cancel subscription."

Xbox: On your console, go to Settings, then Account, then Subscriptions. Find the subscription, press the Menu button, and select "Manage subscription," then "Cancel."

Apple or Google: If you subscribed through an iPhone, iPad, or Android device, cancel through Apple's App Store or Google Play Store, not through Microsoft. On Apple devices, go to Settings, tap your name, select Subscriptions, find the Microsoft app, and tap "Cancel Subscription." On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile icon, go to Payments and subscriptions, then Subscriptions, find the app, and tap "Cancel subscription."

What happens after you cancel

Cancellation takes effect when ready, but you keep access to Microsoft 365 features until your current billing period ends. For example, if you pay monthly and cancel on the 15th of the month, you can still use Word, Excel, and OneDrive until the end of that month. After your paid period ends, you lose access to the service.

Your files do not disappear. Documents, photos, and emails stay in OneDrive and Outlook for 90 days after your subscription ends. After 90 days, Microsoft deletes them. If you want to keep your files, read them or move them to another service before your subscription expires.

If you have a Microsoft 365 Family plan, canceling removes the entire subscription for everyone on the plan. Other members lose access on the same date you do. If you want to remove only one person from a Family plan, you can do that without canceling the whole subscription — go to account.microsoft.com, click "Subscriptions," select "Manage subscription," then "Manage family group," and remove the person you want to drop.

Restoring a canceled subscription

If you cancel by mistake or change your mind, you have about 60 days to restore your subscription. Go back to account.microsoft.com, click "Subscriptions," and look for the canceled subscription. You should see a "Restore" or "Reactivate" button. Click it, and your subscription resumes when ready.

If you do not see a restore option, or if more than 60 days have passed, contact Microsoft Support. Explain that you canceled by mistake. Support can sometimes restore subscriptions even after the 60-day window, though there is no may provide. You will need to provide the email address on the account and the date you canceled.

Avoiding unwanted charges before you cancel

Before you cancel, check your renewal date so you know when the next charge will hit. Log into account.microsoft.com, click "Subscriptions," and look at the date next to "Next billing date" or "Renews on." Write that date down or set a phone reminder.

If you want to keep using the service but reduce costs, you can downgrade instead of canceling. For example, you can switch from Microsoft 365 Family to Microsoft 365 Personal, or from a yearly plan to a monthly one. Go to "Manage subscription" and look for a "Change plan" or "Downgrade" option. Downgrades take effect on your next renewal date.

If you are canceling because of a charge you did not recognize, or because you were charged twice, contact Microsoft Support before you cancel. They can sometimes issue a refund or credit if the charge was an error. Canceling does not undo past charges — you have to ask for a refund separately.

Canceling one-time purchases like Microsoft Office

If you bought a one-time license of Microsoft Office (sometimes called "Office 2021" or "Office Home & Student") instead of a subscription, there is nothing to cancel. You own the license permanently and will not be charged again. You can use it on the devices you installed it on for as long as you want.

If you bought Office through a retailer and received a product key, that key is tied to your Microsoft account. You can uninstall the software from your computer, but the license stays on your account. If you want to move the license to a different computer, you can uninstall it from the old one and install it on the new one using the same Microsoft account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I cancel in the middle of my billing period?

No. Microsoft does not refund unused time in your current billing period. If you want to avoid the next charge, cancel before your renewal date. If you were charged twice or charged by mistake, contact Microsoft Support to request a refund — that is separate from cancellation.

What happens to my files if I cancel Microsoft 365?

Your files stay in OneDrive and Outlook for 90 days after your subscription ends. read or move them to another service before that window closes. After 90 days, Microsoft deletes them permanently. Your local files on your computer are not affected.

Can I cancel just one person from a Microsoft 365 Family plan?

Yes. Go to account.microsoft.com, click "Subscriptions," select "Manage subscription," then "Manage family group." Find the person you want to remove and click the X next to their name. The rest of the plan continues for other family members.

Do I have to cancel online, or can I call Microsoft?

You can cancel online through your account settings in about five minutes. If you want to speak to someone, Microsoft Support can help, but they will guide you through the same online process. Calling does not speed it up or change the outcome.

What if I cannot find the Subscriptions page in my account?

Make sure you are signed into the correct Microsoft account — the one you used to buy the subscription. If you have multiple accounts, the subscription might be on a different one. Check your confirmation email to see which email address was used. If you still cannot find it, contact Microsoft Support with that email address and they can locate your subscription.