How to cancel your Microsoft subscription

You can cancel most Microsoft subscriptions through your account settings on the Microsoft website or through the Microsoft Store app. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you have Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), Game Pass, OneDrive, or another Microsoft service. Cancellation takes effect when ready, though you keep access to your service through the end of your current billing period.

If you subscribed through a third-party platform — like Apple's App Store, Google Play, or Amazon — you must cancel through that platform instead, not through Microsoft directly. Microsoft cannot process cancellations for subscriptions purchased elsewhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Most Microsoft subscriptions cancel through your Microsoft account settings at account.microsoft.com, and you retain access until your billing period ends.
  • Subscriptions bought through Apple, Google, Amazon, or other third parties must be canceled in that app or account, not on the Microsoft website.
  • Cancellation is permanent — if you want to resubscribe later, you will need to set up a new subscription and may lose saved data depending on the service.
  • You can pause some subscriptions like Game Pass for up to three months instead of canceling outright.

Canceling Microsoft 365 on the web

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the email and password you use for your Microsoft account. Click "Subscriptions" in the left menu, then find the Microsoft 365 subscription you want to cancel and click on it.

On the subscription details page, click "Manage subscription" and then select "Cancel subscription." Microsoft will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discount to keep the subscription active — you can decline this offer. After you confirm cancellation, you will receive an email confirming the cancellation, and your subscription will end on your next billing date.

Canceling through the Microsoft Store app

Open the Microsoft Store app on your Windows computer and click your profile icon in the top right corner. Select "App settings" and then "Subscriptions." Find the subscription you want to cancel and click on it, then click "Manage."

Click "Cancel subscription," confirm your choice, and the cancellation will process when ready. You will keep access to the service through the end of your current billing cycle. If you are on a free trial, cancellation takes effect right away and you lose access when ready.

Canceling Game Pass or Xbox subscriptions

Sign in to your Xbox account at xbox.com or open the Xbox app on your console. Go to "Settings" and select "Subscriptions." Find Game Pass or your Xbox Game Pass subscription and click "Manage."

Click "Cancel subscription," review the cancellation details, and confirm. You will keep playing games in Game Pass until your current billing period ends. If you want to pause your subscription instead of canceling — which you can do for up to three months — select "Pause subscription" instead and choose your pause length.

Canceling subscriptions bought through third-party stores

If you subscribed to a Microsoft service through Apple's App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, or another platform, you must cancel through that service's account settings, not through Microsoft.

For Apple: Open Settings, tap your name, select "Subscriptions," find the Microsoft app, and tap "Cancel Subscription." For Google Play: Open the Play Store app, tap your profile icon, go to "Manage subscriptions," select the Microsoft service, and tap "Cancel subscription." For Amazon: Go to "Your Account," select "Memberships and Subscriptions," find the Microsoft subscription, and click "Cancel subscription." Each platform processes cancellations on its own schedule, so check your confirmation email for your final access date.

What happens after you cancel

You keep full access to your subscription through the end of your current billing period. If you cancel mid-cycle, you do not receive a refund for the unused portion — your service straightforward ends on your next billing date. After that date, you lose access to the service and any cloud storage associated with it (like OneDrive files or Game Pass games).

If you change your mind before your billing period ends, you can resubscribe at any time. However, if you had OneDrive storage, Outlook email, or other cloud services tied to the subscription, those may not be recoverable after cancellation. read or back up any files you need before your access ends.

If you cannot find your subscription to cancel

Check whether you subscribed through a third-party platform by looking at your credit card or bank statement for the charge. If the charge shows Apple, Google, Amazon, or another company name instead of Microsoft, cancel through that platform. If the charge shows Microsoft directly, sign in to account.microsoft.com and look under "Subscriptions" again — sometimes subscriptions appear under a different name than you remember.

If you still cannot locate the subscription, contact Microsoft Support through the help section at support.microsoft.com. Have your email address and the last four digits of the payment method ready. Support can locate inactive or hidden subscriptions and help you cancel them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get a refund when I cancel?

No. Microsoft does not refund unused portions of your subscription. Your service continues through the end of your current billing period, and then access stops. If you cancel mid-month, you still pay for the full month.

Can I pause my subscription instead of canceling?

Some subscriptions, like Xbox Game Pass, allow you to pause for up to three months. During a pause, you are not charged and your subscription does not advance. Microsoft 365 and most other services do not have a pause option — you must cancel and resubscribe if you want to stop temporarily.

What happens to my files and data after I cancel?

You lose access to OneDrive storage, Outlook email, and other cloud services tied to your subscription. read or back up any files before your access ends. Some data may be recoverable for a limited time after cancellation — contact Microsoft Support if you need to retrieve something.

Can I cancel a free trial without being charged?

Yes. If you cancel during a free trial, you lose access when ready and are not charged. Make sure to cancel before the trial period ends, or your payment method will be charged for the first billing cycle.

Why does my subscription still show as active after I canceled?

Cancellation takes effect on your next billing date, not when ready. You will see "Canceled" or "Ends on [date]" in your subscription details, and access stops on that date. If the date has already passed and you still have access, sign out and back in, or contact Microsoft Support.