Cancel Xbox Game Pass through your Microsoft account settings

The fastest way to stop your Xbox Game Pass subscription is to go to your Microsoft account online, find the active subscription, and turn off the automatic renewal. Microsoft will let you keep playing until your current billing period ends, then stop charging you. You do not need to call anyone or wait for confirmation — the change takes effect immediately in your account.

You can cancel from any device with a web browser. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in with the email and password you use for Xbox, and look for "Subscriptions" or "Services & subscriptions" in the left menu. Find Xbox Game Pass in the list, select it, and choose "Manage" or "Turn off recurring billing." Confirm the cancellation when prompted.

If you subscribed through Xbox console instead of the website, the process is similar but happens on the device itself. On Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One, go to Settings, select Account, then Subscriptions. Find Game Pass, select it, and choose "Manage subscription" followed by "Turn off recurring billing."

Key Takeaways

  • You can cancel Xbox Game Pass online at account.microsoft.com by finding the subscription and turning off automatic renewal.
  • Cancellation takes effect immediately, but you keep access to Game Pass until the end of your current billing period.
  • If you subscribed through an Xbox console, you can cancel directly from the device's Settings menu under Account and Subscriptions.
  • You will not receive a refund for the current billing period, but you will not be charged again after cancellation.
  • Restarting Game Pass later is straightforward — you can turn the subscription back on in the same account settings at any time.

What happens to your games and saves after cancellation

When your Game Pass subscription ends, you lose access to all games included with the service. This means you cannot launch or play any Game Pass titles, even ones you downloaded to your console or PC. Your game saves are preserved in Microsoft's cloud storage, so if you restart Game Pass later or buy one of those games outright, your progress is still there.

Games you own separately — ones you purchased outside of Game Pass — remain playable after cancellation. Only the subscription titles disappear from your library. If you want to keep playing a specific Game Pass game after your subscription ends, you can buy it at a discount; Microsoft often offers discounts to former subscribers on games they played.

Canceling Game Pass for PC or Game Pass Ultimate

Game Pass for PC (the version for Windows computers) and Game Pass Ultimate (which includes console, PC, and cloud gaming) cancel through the same Microsoft account page. The steps are identical: go to account.microsoft.com, find the subscription type you have, and turn off automatic renewal.

Game Pass Ultimate is the premium tier that bundles console Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming into one subscription. If you cancel Ultimate, you lose all three services at once. If you only want to stop one part — for example, keep console but drop PC — you cannot do that through cancellation. Instead, you would need to downgrade to a lower tier if Microsoft offers that option in your region, or cancel entirely and restart with just the service you want.

Canceling a Game Pass subscription bought through a third party

If you bought Game Pass through a retailer, mobile app store, or another platform instead of directly from Microsoft, you cancel through that platform, not through Microsoft's account page. The method depends on where you made the purchase.

For subscriptions bought through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, open the app store on your device, go to your account or subscription settings, find the Game Pass subscription, and select "Cancel subscription." For Game Pass bought through Amazon, Best Buy, or another retailer as a gift card or code, you cancel the underlying Microsoft subscription through account.microsoft.com as usual — the retailer does not manage the cancellation. If you are unsure where your subscription came from, check your email for the most recent receipt; it will show the seller.

Pausing your subscription instead of canceling

Microsoft does not offer an official pause feature for Game Pass. Your only options are to keep the subscription active or cancel it entirely. However, if you want a break without losing your subscription, you can cancel and restart it later without penalty. When you restart, your saves and achievements are still there, and you can often find promotional pricing for returning subscribers.

Some regions occasionally see temporary pause options during promotions, but these are not standard. Check your account settings to see if a pause option appears, but do not count on it being there. If you need a break, canceling and restarting is the normal path.

Refunds and billing after cancellation

Microsoft does not refund the current billing period when you cancel Game Pass. If you cancel mid-month, you keep access until the end of that month, but you do not get money back for the unused days. You will not be charged again after the current period ends.

Check your cancellation confirmation email to confirm the exact date your access ends. This date appears in your account settings as well. If you were charged after the cancellation date or if you see unexpected charges, contact Microsoft Support with your confirmation email and receipt. Billing disputes can usually be resolved, but you need documentation of when you canceled.

Restarting Game Pass after cancellation

You can restart your Game Pass subscription at any time by going back to account.microsoft.com, finding the subscription option, and turning automatic renewal back on. Your account history, saves, and achievements remain tied to your Microsoft account, so everything picks up where you left off.

New or returning subscribers sometimes see promotional pricing — for example, one month at a reduced rate or a free trial period. These offers vary by region and change frequently. When you restart, check the subscription page to see if a promotion is available before you confirm the purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my games and saves if I cancel Game Pass?

You lose access to Game Pass titles, but your saves are stored in the cloud and will be there if you restart the subscription or buy the games later. Games you own outside of Game Pass remain playable.

Can I cancel Game Pass without going online?

You can cancel from your Xbox console through Settings, Account, and Subscriptions without using a web browser. The process is the same as canceling online, just done on the device itself.

What if I cancel but still see a charge on my credit card?

Check the date of the charge against your cancellation date. If the charge is after your subscription ended, contact Microsoft Support with your cancellation confirmation and billing receipt. Charges after the end date are usually refundable.

Can I cancel just one part of Game Pass Ultimate?

No. Game Pass Ultimate is a single subscription that includes console, PC, and cloud gaming. You cancel the whole thing or keep it all. If you want only one service, you would need to cancel and restart with a lower tier if available in your region.

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

No. You keep access until the end of your current billing period, but Microsoft does not refund unused days. You will not be charged after that date ends.