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

You can stop your subscription at any time by going into your Microsoft account settings. The cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period — you won't lose access mid-month, and you won't be charged again. If you prepaid for multiple months or years, you keep that time; cancellation just stops the automatic renewal.

The fastest way is through a web browser on any device. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in with the email and password you use for Xbox, and look for "Subscriptions" in the left menu. You'll see each active subscription listed with its renewal date. Click the one you want to cancel, then select "Manage" and choose "Cancel subscription." Microsoft will ask why you're leaving — you can skip that question — and then confirm the cancellation.

If you're on Xbox console, you can also cancel directly there. Go to Settings, then Account, then Subscriptions. Find the subscription you want to stop, press the menu button (three lines), and select "Manage subscription." Choose "Cancel subscription" and confirm. The steps are the same whether you're canceling Game Pass, Game Pass Ultimate, or Xbox Live Gold.

Key Takeaways

  • Cancellation stops automatic renewal but doesn't cut off your access until the current billing period ends.
  • You can cancel through your Microsoft account online, through Xbox console settings, or through the Xbox app on Windows.
  • If you prepaid for multiple months or years, that time remains active even after you cancel renewal.
  • Game Pass Ultimate includes both Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold, so canceling it removes both benefits.
  • If you cancel and then change your mind, you can restart the subscription at any time without penalty.

Cancel through the Xbox app on Windows

If you play on PC, you can manage your subscription directly in the Xbox app. Open the app, select your profile icon in the top right, and go to "Settings." Look for "Subscriptions" and find the one you want to cancel. Click "Manage," then "Cancel subscription," and confirm.

This method works the same way as canceling on console — your subscription stays active through the end of the current billing period, then stops renewing. You'll still be able to use the Xbox app and play any games you own outright; you just lose access to the Game Pass library.

What happens after you cancel

Once your billing period ends, you lose access to Game Pass games and online multiplayer through Xbox Live Gold. Any games you purchased outright stay in your library. Your profile, achievements, and save files remain on your account — nothing is deleted.

If you had Game Pass Ultimate, canceling it removes both Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold at the same time. You can't cancel just one part of it; they're bundled together. If you want to keep online multiplayer but drop Game Pass, you'd need to cancel Game Pass Ultimate and then buy Xbox Live Gold separately.

You can restart your subscription whenever you want. There's no penalty for canceling and coming back later. If you restart within a certain window, Microsoft sometimes offers a discounted first month, though this varies.

Cancel a subscription you bought through a retailer or gift card

If you bought your subscription as a physical gift card or code from a store, you can't cancel it directly — the code is already activated on your account. However, you can still prevent renewal by going to your Microsoft account and turning off automatic renewal for that subscription.

Go to account.microsoft.com, find the subscription under "Subscriptions," and select "Manage." Look for "Auto-renew" and toggle it off. This stops the charge when the prepaid time runs out, but you keep the access you already paid for until that period ends.

Cancel a family subscription or shared Game Pass

If you're part of a Game Pass Family Plan, only the person who set up the plan can cancel it. That person goes to their Microsoft account, finds the Family Plan subscription, and selects "Cancel subscription." When the plan cancels, everyone in the family loses access at the end of the billing period.

If you want to leave a family plan but keep your own subscription, you can't do that through cancellation. Instead, ask the plan owner to remove you from the family group, then start your own individual subscription. The plan owner manages this in their account under "Family settings" or "Manage family."

Troubleshooting cancellation problems

If you see "Cancel subscription" but it's grayed out or won't respond, try signing out and signing back in to your Microsoft account. Sometimes a browser cache issue prevents the button from working. If you're using the Xbox app, restart the app and try again.

If you're told you can't cancel because of an outstanding balance or unpaid charge, you'll need to settle that first. Go to your Microsoft account, check "Billing" for any past-due amounts, and update your payment method if needed. Once that's cleared, you can cancel normally.

If you've already been charged after canceling, or if you believe you were charged in error, contact Xbox Support through support.xbox.com. They can review your account and process a refund if the charge shouldn't have gone through. Keep your confirmation email from the cancellation — it helps them verify what happened.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Cancellation stops future charges but doesn't refund the current billing period. You keep your access through the end of that period. If you were charged in error or believe the charge was unauthorized, contact Xbox Support to request a refund review.

Can I cancel Game Pass but keep Xbox Live Gold?

If you have Game Pass Ultimate, canceling it removes both Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold together — they're one subscription. To keep online play, cancel Game Pass Ultimate and buy Xbox Live Gold separately afterward. If you have Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold as separate subscriptions, you can cancel just Game Pass and keep Gold active.

What if I cancel and want to restart later?

You can restart anytime without penalty. Sign into your Microsoft account, go to Subscriptions, find the subscription you canceled, and select "Renew" or "Restart." There's no waiting period or reactivation fee. Microsoft sometimes offers a discounted first month on restart, though this varies.

Does canceling delete my games or achievements?

No. Your profile, achievements, and save files stay on your account permanently. Games you own outright remain in your library. You only lose access to Game Pass games — if you restart Game Pass later, those games become playable again.

Can I cancel a subscription someone else set up on my console?

Only the person who signed up for the subscription can cancel it through their Microsoft account. If it's on a shared console, ask that person to cancel through their account settings. If you don't know who set it up, you can remove the account from the console, but the subscription itself stays active on that person's Microsoft account.