Cancel Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live through your Microsoft account
You can stop your subscription at any time by going into your Microsoft account settings online or through your Xbox console. The process takes about two minutes. Your access ends on your next billing date — you keep playing until then, even after you cancel.
If you cancel before your billing date, you will not be charged again. If you have already paid for the current month or year, you keep that access through the end of the paid period. Cancelling does not delete your account or your saved games.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use a web browser or your console, but both routes lead to the same result: your subscription stops renewing.
Key Takeaways
- You can cancel through your Microsoft account online, your Xbox console settings, or the Xbox app on Windows — all three methods stop the same subscription.
- Your subscription ends on your next billing date, and you keep full access until that date arrives.
- Cancelling does not delete your account, your games, or your saved progress — you can restart the subscription later and pick up where you left off.
- If you have a Game Pass Ultimate subscription bundled with Xbox Live, cancelling Game Pass does not affect Xbox Live, and vice versa.
- If you cancel through a third-party seller like Amazon or a mobile carrier, you must cancel through that seller, not through Microsoft.
Cancel through the Xbox website or Microsoft account
Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the email and password you use for Xbox. Select Subscriptions from the left menu, then find the subscription you want to cancel — it will show as Active.
Click on the subscription name. You will see a button that says Manage or Cancel subscription. Click it. Microsoft will show you the cancellation date (your next billing date) and ask you to confirm. Select Turn off recurring billing or Cancel, depending on what the page displays. You will receive a confirmation email within a few minutes.
If you have multiple subscriptions — for example, Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold — they appear as separate items. Cancel only the one you want to stop. The others will keep renewing.
Cancel through your Xbox console
On your Xbox, go to Settings (the gear icon). Select Account, then Subscriptions. Find the subscription you want to cancel and select it. You will see an option to Manage subscription or Cancel subscription. Select that option and confirm.
The console will show you the same cancellation date and ask you to confirm the action. Once you confirm, the subscription stops renewing. You will see a confirmation message on your screen.
This method works the same way on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One consoles.
Cancel through the Xbox app on Windows
Open the Xbox app on your Windows computer. Select your profile icon in the top right corner, then choose Settings. Go to Account and then Subscriptions. Find the subscription you want to cancel, select it, and choose Manage or Cancel. Confirm the cancellation when prompted.
The process is identical to the console method. Your subscription will stop renewing on your next billing date.
What happens after you cancel
You keep your Xbox account and all your saved games. Your profile, achievements, and game library remain in your account. If you restart the subscription later, you can read and play the same games again.
Your access to Game Pass games ends on your billing date. After that date, you cannot play Game Pass titles unless you restart the subscription or own them outright. Games you purchased with money (not through Game Pass) remain yours to play.
If you cancel Xbox Live Gold, you lose access to online multiplayer and free monthly games. You can still play offline games and use apps like Netflix or YouTube.
Cancel a subscription you bought through a third party
If you bought your subscription through Amazon, Apple, Google Play, or a mobile carrier, you must cancel through that seller, not through Microsoft. Microsoft cannot cancel subscriptions purchased elsewhere.
For Amazon: Go to your Amazon account, select Your Account, then Subscriptions. Find Xbox and select Cancel subscription.
For Apple: On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name, select Subscriptions, find Xbox, and tap Cancel Subscription.
For Google Play: Open the Google Play app, select your profile icon, go to Subscriptions, find Xbox, and tap Cancel.
For mobile carriers: Contact your carrier's customer service or log into your carrier account online to cancel.
Restart your subscription later
You can restart your subscription at any time by going back to your Microsoft account or Xbox console and selecting the subscription again. You will be charged on the date you restart. Your account, games, and progress will be waiting for you.
If you want to pause your subscription temporarily instead of cancelling, Microsoft does not offer a pause feature. You must cancel and restart when you are ready to play again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my games and saved progress if I cancel?
No. Your account, achievements, and saved games stay in your account. Games you purchased with money remain yours. Game Pass titles become unplayable after your billing date, but if you restart the subscription later, you can read and play them again.
Can I cancel just Game Pass and keep Xbox Live Gold?
Yes. If you have both subscriptions, they are separate in your account. You can cancel one without affecting the other. Go to your subscriptions list and cancel only the one you want to stop.
Will I be charged after I cancel?
No. Once you cancel, you will not be charged again. You keep access through your current billing date, then the subscription stops. If you have already paid for a full year, you keep that access for the full year.
What if I cancel by mistake?
You can restart your subscription when ready by going back to your Microsoft account or Xbox console and selecting the subscription again. You will be charged right away, and your access will resume. There is no waiting period.
Why can't I cancel a subscription I bought through Amazon or Apple?
When you buy through a third-party seller, that seller manages the billing and renewal. Microsoft does not have access to cancel it. You must go back to the seller where you bought it and cancel there.