Stop an Xbox subscription in Settings on your console or through your Microsoft account online

You can cancel most Xbox subscriptions — Game Pass, Xbox Live Gold, or any third-party service you added through the Xbox store — directly from your console's Settings menu or from your Microsoft account page. The process takes about two minutes and stops the charge when ready, though your access continues until the current billing period ends. If you subscribed through the Xbox app on PC or mobile, you'll manage the cancellation from that device instead.

The reason Xbox subscriptions are tied to your Microsoft account rather than the console itself is that your account works across multiple devices. Cancelling from one place stops the charge everywhere you use that account.

Key Takeaways

  • You can cancel Xbox subscriptions from your console's Settings menu under "Account" or from your Microsoft account page online.
  • Cancelling stops future charges but does not remove your access until the current billing period ends.
  • If you subscribed through a third-party app like Discord or Amazon Prime Gaming, you may need to cancel through that service instead.
  • Turning off auto-renewal is the fastest method; you can also delete the payment method entirely if you want to prevent accidental recharges.
  • If a charge went through after you cancelled, contact Xbox Support with your receipt to request a refund.

Cancel from your Xbox console

Open the Settings app on your Xbox console. Navigate to Account, then select Subscriptions. You'll see a list of all active subscriptions tied to your account. Select the subscription you want to stop — for example, "Xbox Game Pass" or "Xbox Live Gold" — and choose Manage.

On the next screen, select Turn off auto-renewal. The system will ask you to confirm. After you confirm, the subscription will no longer renew when the current period ends. You'll remain a member until that date passes, then your access stops automatically.

If you want to remove the subscription when ready rather than wait for the period to end, you can select Cancel subscription instead of turning off auto-renewal. This removes your access right away, but you won't receive a refund for the unused portion of the current period.

Cancel from your Microsoft account online

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the email and password you use for Xbox. Select Subscriptions from the left menu. You'll see all subscriptions linked to your account across Microsoft services, not just Xbox.

Find the Xbox subscription you want to stop and select Manage. Choose Turn off auto-renewal and confirm. Just as with the console method, your access continues through the end of the current billing period, then stops.

This method is useful if you're away from your console or prefer managing subscriptions from a computer. The result is identical whether you cancel from the console or online.

What happens after you cancel

Once you turn off auto-renewal, you'll see a message showing the date your subscription ends. You can still use the service until that date arrives. For example, if you cancel Game Pass on the 15th of the month but your billing date is the 30th, you have access to Game Pass until the 30th.

After the subscription ends, you lose access to the service. If you subscribed to Game Pass, you can no longer play the games in the library. If you subscribed to Xbox Live Gold, you can no longer play online multiplayer games, though you can still use streaming apps like Netflix.

If you change your mind before the subscription ends, you can reactivate it by going back to the Subscriptions menu and selecting Turn on auto-renewal. You won't be charged again until the current period ends and the next one begins.

Cancel subscriptions added through third-party services

Some subscriptions are sold through Xbox but managed by a different company. For example, if you subscribed to a game through Discord or added Discord Nitro through Xbox, you may need to cancel through Discord's website instead of Xbox Settings.

Check the subscription details in Xbox Settings. If it shows the name of another company — Discord, Amazon Prime Gaming, Twitch, or another service — visit that company's website and look for their subscription or billing settings. You'll cancel there using the same email address you used to sign up.

If you're unsure whether a subscription is managed by Xbox or another company, select it in Settings and look for a link that says "Manage on [Company Name]'s website" or similar. That link will take you to the right place to cancel.

Remove a payment method to prevent future charges

If you want to make sure you're never charged again, you can delete the payment method from your Microsoft account entirely. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and select Payment & billing from the left menu. Choose Payment methods.

Select the credit card or payment method you used for Xbox subscriptions and choose Delete. Confirm the deletion. Without a payment method on file, Xbox cannot charge you even if auto-renewal is still turned on.

This approach is more aggressive than straightforward turning off auto-renewal, and it affects all Microsoft services, not just Xbox. If you use Microsoft 365, OneDrive, or other Microsoft products that charge monthly, removing your payment method will block those charges too. Use this method only if you're certain you won't need any Microsoft subscriptions for a while.

Request a refund if you were charged after cancelling

Occasionally a charge goes through after you've cancelled, usually because the cancellation didn't process before the billing date. If this happens, contact Xbox Support through support.xbox.com. Select Contact us and choose the subscription issue that matches your situation.

Have your receipt or order number ready. You can find this in your Microsoft account under Payment & billing, then Order history. Explain that you cancelled the subscription before the charge date and were charged in error. Xbox Support can review the timing and issue a refund if the charge was indeed made after cancellation.

Refunds typically take 3 to 5 business days to appear in your account. If you don't see it within a week, follow up with Xbox Support again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my games if I cancel Game Pass?

Yes. When your Game Pass subscription ends, you can no longer play any games in the Game Pass library. Games you own outright remain playable. If you want to keep playing a Game Pass game after your subscription ends, you must purchase it separately.

Can I cancel Game Pass and still play online multiplayer?

No. Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold are separate subscriptions. Cancelling Game Pass removes access to the Game Pass library, but you still need Xbox Live Gold to play online multiplayer games. You can cancel one without cancelling the other.

What if I cancel mid-month — do I get a refund?

No. Xbox subscriptions are not refundable if you cancel before the billing period ends. You keep access until the period ends, but you won't receive money back for the unused time. If you were charged in error or after you cancelled, contact Xbox Support with your receipt.

Will cancelling my subscription delete my Xbox profile or saved games?

No. Cancelling a subscription does not affect your profile, achievements, or saved games. Your account and all your data remain on Xbox's servers. You can reactivate the subscription anytime and pick up where you left off.

Can I cancel from the Xbox app on my phone?

Yes. Open the Xbox app, go to your profile, select Settings, then Subscriptions. The steps are the same as on console. You can also cancel through your Microsoft account on any web browser.