Cancel Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live Gold through your Microsoft account

You can cancel either subscription directly from your Microsoft account online, and the process takes about two minutes. You do not need to call anyone or wait on hold. The cancellation takes effect when ready, though you keep access to the service through the end of your current billing period.

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the email and password you use for Xbox. Click your name or profile picture in the top right corner, then select View your Microsoft account. From the left menu, click Subscriptions. You will see a list of all active subscriptions tied to that account.

Find the subscription you want to cancel — either Xbox Game Pass (which includes Game Pass for Console, Game Pass for PC, or Game Pass Ultimate depending on what you bought) or Xbox Live Gold. Click on it, then click the button that says Manage or Cancel subscription. Follow the prompts to confirm the cancellation. Microsoft will ask why you are canceling, but you do not have to answer — you can skip that step.

Key Takeaways

  • Cancel through your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com by going to Subscriptions and clicking Manage on the subscription you want to stop.
  • Cancellation takes effect when ready, but you keep access through the end of your current billing period — you do not lose access mid-month.
  • If you cancel Game Pass Ultimate, you lose access to both Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold at the same time, since Ultimate bundles both services.
  • You can reactivate the same subscription later from the same Subscriptions page if you change your mind within a certain window.
  • If you subscribed through the Xbox app on your console, you can also cancel directly from the console's settings menu under Subscriptions.

Cancel from your Xbox console instead of online

If you do not want to use a web browser, you can cancel directly from your Xbox Series X, Series S, Xbox One, or Xbox 360 console. Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide menu. Go to Profile & system, then Settings. Select Account, then Subscriptions. You will see your active subscriptions listed.

Highlight the subscription you want to cancel and press the A button. Select Manage subscription or Cancel subscription depending on what option appears. Confirm the cancellation. The process is the same as canceling online — you keep access through the end of your billing period, and the cancellation is when ready.

What happens to your games and saves after cancellation

If you cancel Game Pass, you lose the ability to play any games you downloaded through Game Pass. Your save files stay on your console, but you cannot launch the games themselves. If you reactivate Game Pass later, your saves are still there and you can pick up where you left off.

If you cancel Xbox Live Gold, you lose access to online multiplayer on your console. You can still play single-player games and use apps like Netflix or YouTube. Your game saves and achievements do not disappear — they stay tied to your account. You can go back online anytime by reactivating Xbox Live Gold.

Game Pass Ultimate includes both Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold in one subscription. If you cancel Ultimate, you lose both at the same time. If you want to keep playing online multiplayer but do not want Game Pass games, you would need to cancel Ultimate and buy Xbox Live Gold separately instead.

Reactivate a subscription you canceled

You can turn a canceled subscription back on from the same Subscriptions page where you canceled it. Go back to account.microsoft.com, sign in, click Subscriptions, and find the subscription you want to restart. Click Manage, then look for a button that says Reactivate or Resume subscription. You will be charged again on your next billing date.

Microsoft usually holds your reactivation option open for a limited time after cancellation, though the exact window varies. If you wait too long, the subscription may no longer be available to reactivate from that page. In that case, you can always buy a new subscription the same way you bought the original one — either through the Microsoft Store online or through your console's Store app.

If you subscribed through a third-party store or retailer

Some people buy Xbox subscriptions through the PlayStation Store, Amazon, Apple, Google Play, or other third-party platforms instead of directly from Microsoft. If that is how you subscribed, you must cancel through that same store, not through Microsoft's website.

For Amazon: Go to your Amazon account, click Your Account, then Subscriptions. Find the Xbox subscription and click Cancel subscription. For Apple: Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap your name, select Subscriptions, find Xbox Game Pass, and tap Cancel Subscription. For Google Play: Open the Google Play app, go to Account, tap Subscriptions, select the Xbox subscription, and tap Cancel subscription. The exact steps vary slightly by platform, but the principle is the same — cancel where you bought it.

Troubleshooting: subscription won't cancel or keeps charging

If you canceled the subscription but it still appears as active, or if you were charged after canceling, the most common cause is that you canceled one subscription when you meant to cancel another. Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass for Console, and Game Pass for PC are three separate subscriptions. If you have more than one, make sure you canceled the right one.

Check your Subscriptions page again and look for any subscription with a status that says Active. If you see multiple Game Pass subscriptions, you may have accidentally bought a second one at some point. Cancel any you do not want. If you were charged after canceling, contact Microsoft Support through account.microsoft.com — click Help & support at the bottom of the page and describe the issue. Microsoft can refund charges if you canceled in time but were billed by mistake.

If you subscribed through a third-party store and the subscription keeps charging, contact that store's customer support instead of Microsoft. Amazon, Apple, and Google all have their own refund and cancellation policies, and Microsoft cannot override charges made through those platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my games when ready after I cancel Game Pass?

No. You keep access to all your Game Pass games through the end of your current billing period. If you pay monthly and cancel on the 15th, you can still play until the end of that month. Once the period ends, the games become unplayable, but your saves stay on your console.

Can I cancel Game Pass Ultimate without losing Xbox Live Gold?

Not directly. Game Pass Ultimate is a single subscription that includes both services. If you cancel it, you lose both. If you want to keep Xbox Live Gold but drop Game Pass, you would need to cancel Ultimate and then buy Xbox Live Gold as a separate subscription.

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

No. Most subscriptions charge upfront for the full month or year, and canceling does not trigger a refund for unused time. You keep access through the end of the period you already paid for, but you do not get money back. If you were charged twice by mistake, contact Microsoft Support to request a refund.

What if I forgot which email I used for my Xbox account?

Go to xbox.com and click Sign in. If you do not remember your email, click Can't sign in? and follow the recovery steps. Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity using a phone number or backup email. Once you recover your account, you can cancel the subscription from there.

Can I cancel an Xbox subscription bought with a gift card?

Yes. The payment method does not matter — whether you used a credit card, gift card, or Microsoft Store credit, the cancellation process is the same. You cancel through your account, and no refund is issued for the unused portion of the subscription.