Where to cancel depends on which Microsoft service you have

Microsoft subscriptions cancel in different places depending on what you signed up for. If you pay through Microsoft directly — whether that's Microsoft 365, Game Pass, or OneDrive storage — you cancel through your Microsoft account settings. If you subscribed through the Xbox app, PlayStation Store, Apple App Store, or Google Play, you cancel through that platform instead, not through Microsoft. The platform you used to pay is where you go to stop the charges.

Before you cancel, check what date your next charge is scheduled. Most subscriptions charge on the same day each month. If you cancel before that date, you keep access until the end of your current billing period. If you cancel after the charge posts, you've paid for a full month you may not use.

Key Takeaways

  • Subscriptions paid directly to Microsoft cancel through account.microsoft.com, while subscriptions through third-party platforms (Xbox app, Apple App Store, Google Play, PlayStation Store) cancel through those platforms instead.
  • Cancelling stops future charges but you keep access until the end of your current billing period, which runs from your charge date to the same date the following month.
  • You can pause a Microsoft 365 subscription for up to three months instead of cancelling it outright, which keeps your data and settings intact.
  • If you cancel Microsoft 365 for business (Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, or Premium), you must use the Microsoft 365 admin center, not your personal account settings.

Cancel a subscription paid directly to Microsoft

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the email and password you use for Microsoft. Select Subscriptions from the left menu, then find the subscription you want to cancel. Click on it to open the details page.

On the subscription details page, select Manage or Cancel subscription (the button name varies by subscription type). You'll see a reason dropdown asking why you're cancelling — this is optional, but Microsoft uses the answers to improve their services. Select your reason or skip it. Then confirm the cancellation. Your subscription stops renewing, but you keep access through the end of your current billing period.

If you see a pause option instead of cancel, you can pause for up to three months before the subscription resumes. Pausing is useful if you want to stop paying temporarily but don't want to lose your data, settings, or lose your place in any services you're using.

Cancel a subscription through the Xbox app or console

On Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One, go to Settings, then Account, then Subscriptions. Find the subscription you want to cancel and select it. Choose Cancel subscription and confirm.

On Windows PC, open the Xbox app, select your profile icon in the top right, then Settings, then Account, then Subscriptions. Find the subscription and select Manage. Choose Cancel subscription and confirm.

On the web, sign in at xbox.com, go to your profile, select Settings, then Subscriptions, find the subscription, and select Cancel subscription.

Cancel a subscription through Apple, Google, or PlayStation

If you subscribed through Apple App Store, open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, tap your name at the top, select Subscriptions, find the Microsoft subscription, and tap Cancel Subscription. On Mac, open System Settings, select your name, then Subscriptions, find the subscription, and click Edit then Cancel.

If you subscribed through Google Play on Android, open the Play Store app, tap your profile icon, select Subscriptions, find the Microsoft subscription, and tap Cancel subscription. On the web at play.google.com, sign in, go to Subscriptions, find the subscription, and select Cancel subscription.

If you subscribed through PlayStation Store, go to your profile on your PlayStation console or at playstation.com, select Account, then Subscriptions, find the Microsoft subscription, and select Cancel.

Cancel Microsoft 365 for business

Business subscriptions (Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, or Premium) cancel through the Microsoft 365 admin center, not through your personal account. Only the account owner or someone with admin rights can cancel.

Go to admin.microsoft.com and sign in. Select Billing from the left menu, then Your products. Find the subscription you want to cancel and select it. On the subscription details page, select Cancel subscription. You'll see options to keep your data or delete it — choose what you need, then confirm the cancellation.

What happens after you cancel

After you cancel, you keep access to the service through the end of your current billing period. Your next charge will not post. If you have data stored in the service — OneDrive files, Outlook email, Microsoft 365 documents — that data remains accessible during your remaining time. After your access ends, Microsoft typically keeps your data for 90 days before deleting it, though this varies by service.

If you cancel by mistake, you can reactivate your subscription within 90 days in most cases. Sign back into your Microsoft account, go to Subscriptions, find the cancelled subscription, and select Reactivate if the option appears. After 90 days, you'll need to start a new subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund after I cancel?

Microsoft's refund policy depends on how long you've had the subscription and why you're cancelling. If you cancel within 60 days of purchase and haven't used the service much, you may be refunded. Contact Microsoft Support with your order number to request a refund — they review each case individually.

What's the difference between cancelling and pausing?

Pausing stops charges for up to three months but keeps your account active and your data intact. After three months, the subscription resumes automatically. Cancelling stops charges permanently and ends your access at the end of your billing period. Pausing is better if you might return; cancelling is better if you're done.

Do I lose my data if I cancel Microsoft 365?

You keep access to your OneDrive files, Outlook email, and documents through the end of your billing period. After that, Microsoft holds your data for 90 days. If you want to keep your files, read them before your access ends. After 90 days, deleted data cannot be recovered.

Can I cancel one subscription without cancelling others?

Yes. If you have multiple Microsoft subscriptions on the same account, you cancel each one separately. Go to Subscriptions, select the one you want to cancel, and proceed. Your other subscriptions continue unchanged.

Why does my subscription still charge after I cancelled?

If you cancelled after your charge date, you've already paid for that billing period and will keep access through the end of it. Your next charge should not post. If you see another charge after your billing period ends, contact Microsoft Support with your order number and cancellation confirmation.