Cancel through your Battle.net account settings

The fastest way to cancel World of Warcraft is through your Battle.net account, which is Blizzard's login system for all their games. You do not need to contact customer support or wait on hold — you can stop your subscription in about two minutes from your computer or phone.

Go to account.battle.net and sign in with your username and password. Once you are logged in, look for the section labeled "Subscriptions" or "World of Warcraft" in the left menu. Click on your active WoW subscription and you will see a button that says "Cancel Subscription" or "Manage Subscription". Click it, and the system will ask you to confirm. After you confirm, your subscription ends on the date you paid through — you keep playing until that date, then your account converts to a free trial.

If you cannot find the subscription section, try going directly to account.battle.net/management. This page shows all active subscriptions tied to your account. WoW subscriptions appear here even if you have multiple Blizzard games.

Key Takeaways

  • You cancel through Battle.net account settings, not through the WoW game client itself.
  • Your subscription remains active until the end of your current billing cycle — cancelling does not cut off access immediately.
  • After cancellation, your account becomes a free trial account and you can still log in to see your characters.
  • If you want to pause instead of fully cancel, WoW does not offer a pause feature, but you can let your subscription lapse and return later without losing your characters.

What happens to your characters and items after you cancel

Your characters do not disappear when your subscription ends. They stay on the server permanently, and you can log back in and play them again whenever you resubscribe. Your gold, items, and gear all remain exactly as you left them.

While your account is on the free trial, you can still log in and see your characters, but you cannot play them past level 20 and cannot access most of the game's content. You also cannot trade items, join guilds, or use the auction house. These restrictions lift the moment you resubscribe.

Cancelling on console or mobile

If you play WoW on Mac or PC through the Battle.net launcher, the steps above work exactly the same. However, World of Warcraft is not available on console or mobile devices, so there is no other platform to cancel from.

If you subscribed through a third-party service like Amazon Prime Gaming or a gift card, you still cancel through Battle.net the same way. The payment method does not change the cancellation process.

If you cannot find the cancel button

Sometimes the subscription section does not load properly, especially on older browsers or mobile devices. Try these steps: clear your browser cache and cookies, then log back into account.battle.net. If you are on a phone, try opening the page in a desktop browser instead.

If the button still does not appear, your subscription may have already ended or your account may have a hold on it. Check the subscription page to see what status it shows. If it says "Inactive" or "Expired", your subscription has already cancelled and you are on the free trial.

If you see an error message or the page will not load at all, Blizzard's account support team can cancel it for you. Visit battle.net/support and select "Manage My Account" to start a chat or submit a ticket. Have your account email and the phone number on file ready.

Resubscribing after you cancel

To start playing again after your subscription ends, log into Battle.net and go back to the subscription section. You will see a button to "Resume Subscription" or "Buy Game Time". Click it, choose your subscription length (one month, three months, or six months), and enter your payment method. Your subscription starts immediately and you can log into the game right away.

WoW also offers a "Starter Edition" free trial that lets you play up to level 20 with some restrictions. If you want to try the game again before committing to a paid subscription, you can create a new character on the free trial first.

Avoiding accidental resubscription

After you cancel, make sure you do not have any recurring charges set up. Check your Battle.net payment methods page to see if any cards or accounts are still linked. You can remove old payment methods so the system cannot charge them by accident.

Some players set a calendar reminder for the day their subscription ends, just to confirm they cancelled successfully. You will receive an email from Blizzard when your subscription is about to expire, so check your inbox (including spam folders) a few days before your billing date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does cancelling WoW cancel my entire Battle.net account?

No. Cancelling your WoW subscription only stops the monthly charge for that game. Your Battle.net account stays active, and any other Blizzard games you own (like Diablo or Overwatch) remain unaffected. You can manage each subscription separately.

Can I get a refund if I just subscribed?

Blizzard does not refund subscription fees once the billing cycle has started. However, if you subscribed by mistake or within a very short window, contact their support team at battle.net/support and explain the situation. They sometimes make exceptions, but there is no may provide.

What if I want to cancel but keep playing until my paid time runs out?

That is exactly how it works. When you cancel, your subscription stays active until the end of your current billing period. You keep full access to the game the entire time. After that date passes, your account converts to the free trial.

Can I cancel and then resubscribe to the same character?

Yes. Your character is tied to your account, not to your subscription status. You can cancel, let your account sit on the free trial for months or years, and then resubscribe whenever you want. Your character, items, and gold will all be waiting for you.

Is there a way to pause my subscription instead of cancelling?

WoW does not have a pause feature. Your only options are to keep paying or to cancel and let your account become a free trial. If you think you might return later, cancelling is better than letting the charges continue — your character will not go anywhere.