How to cancel Game Pass on your device

You can cancel Game Pass through your Xbox account settings, the Microsoft Store, or your account page on Microsoft.com. The method depends on which device you use and how you signed up. Cancellation takes effect immediately — you lose access to the Game Pass library right away, though you keep any games you own outright.

If you subscribed through Xbox console, go to Settings, then Account, then Subscriptions. Select Game Pass and choose Cancel Subscription. If you subscribed through the Microsoft Store on PC or phone, open the Store app, go to your account menu, select Subscriptions, find Game Pass, and select Manage. Then choose Cancel Subscription. Both routes ask you to confirm before the cancellation goes through.

You can also cancel at account.microsoft.com. Sign in, go to Services & Subscriptions, find Game Pass, and select Manage Subscription. Then select Cancel. This method works regardless of which device you use to play.

Key Takeaways

  • Game Pass cancels immediately through your Xbox settings, the Microsoft Store app, or Microsoft.com — you lose access to the library the same day.
  • You do not get a refund for the current billing period, even if you cancel mid-month.
  • Any games you purchased separately stay in your library after cancellation; only the Game Pass catalog disappears.
  • If you subscribed through a third party like Amazon Prime Gaming or a mobile carrier, you must cancel through that service instead of Microsoft.

What happens to your games after you cancel

Games you own outright — either purchased individually or claimed through Games with Gold or PlayStation Plus — remain in your library. You can still play them after Game Pass ends. Games you only accessed through the Game Pass subscription become unplayable once your subscription ends, though your save files stay on your device.

If you want to keep playing a Game Pass game after cancellation, you can buy it at a discount. Game Pass members usually get 10 to 20 percent off the purchase price of any game in the catalog. That discount stays active for 30 days after your subscription ends, so you have a window to buy before the price returns to full.

Canceling a Game Pass subscription you bought through a third party

If you subscribed through Amazon Prime Gaming, a mobile carrier, or another bundled service, you must cancel through that provider, not through Microsoft. Microsoft cannot cancel a subscription you did not pay Microsoft directly for.

Check your credit card or bank statement to see who charged you. If Amazon Prime Gaming appears, cancel through your Prime account settings. If your mobile carrier charged you, contact their customer service or log into your carrier account online. If you cancel through Microsoft instead of the original provider, the charges will keep coming.

Refunds and billing after cancellation

Microsoft does not refund the current billing period, even if you cancel on day one of a monthly subscription. Your access ends on the date your current period expires, not the date you request cancellation. If you paid for three months upfront and cancel after one month, you do not get money back for the remaining two months.

After you cancel, you will not be charged again. If you see a charge after cancellation, contact Microsoft Support with your receipt or bank statement. Charges sometimes take a few days to stop processing, so wait at least one billing cycle before reporting it as an error.

Pausing instead of canceling

If you want to keep your subscription but do not plan to use Game Pass for a while, you can pause it instead of canceling. Pausing stops charges for up to three months without losing your subscription or your save files. When you are ready to play again, you unpause and resume paying.

To pause, go to your subscription settings through the same route you would use to cancel — Xbox settings, Microsoft Store, or account.microsoft.com. Select Manage Subscription, then choose Pause instead of Cancel. You can pause up to three times per year, and each pause lasts up to three months.

Reactivating Game Pass after cancellation

You can reactivate Game Pass at any time by signing into your Microsoft account and purchasing a new subscription. There is no penalty for canceling and restarting. If you canceled mid-month, you can restart immediately and pay for a fresh billing period — you do not get credit for unused time from before.

When you reactivate, your save files and achievements come back with you. Any games you own outright are still there. The Game Pass catalog may have changed since you left, so some games you played before might no longer be available, while new ones have been added.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get a refund if I cancel Game Pass mid-month?

No. Microsoft does not refund unused time in the current billing period. If you cancel on day 15 of a 30-day month, you lose access immediately but are not refunded for the remaining 15 days. Your access ends on the date your current period was set to expire.

What happens to my Game Pass games if I cancel?

Games you accessed only through Game Pass become unplayable. Games you purchased separately stay in your library. Your save files remain on your device, so if you buy a Game Pass game later, you can pick up where you left off.

Can I cancel Game Pass on my phone?

Yes, through the Microsoft Store app on Android or iPhone. Open the Store, go to your account menu, select Subscriptions, find Game Pass, and choose Manage. Then select Cancel Subscription. You can also cancel through account.microsoft.com from any browser.

Will I be charged again after I cancel?

No. Once you cancel, no further charges occur. If you see a charge after cancellation, contact Microsoft Support. Charges sometimes take a few days to stop processing, so wait one full billing cycle before reporting it.

Can I pause Game Pass instead of canceling it?

Yes. Pausing stops charges for up to three months without losing your subscription or save files. Go to your subscription settings and select Pause instead of Cancel. You can pause up to three times per year, and each pause lasts up to three months.