How to cancel Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live Gold
You can cancel either subscription through your Xbox console, the Xbox app on your computer, or your Microsoft account online. The process takes about five minutes. Your access ends when ready when you cancel, though you keep any games you own outright — you lose only the games included with the subscription service.
If you cancel mid-month, you do not get a refund for the unused portion. Microsoft counts your subscription month from the date you started it, not from the calendar month. So if you signed up on the 15th and cancel on the 20th, you have paid for a full month and will not receive money back.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are canceling on console, computer, or online. All three routes lead to the same result: your subscription stops at the end of your current billing cycle.
Key Takeaways
- You can cancel Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live Gold through your Xbox console, the Xbox app, or your Microsoft account website.
- Cancellation takes effect when ready, but you keep access until your current billing period ends.
- No refunds are issued for the unused portion of your current month.
- After cancellation, you can still play games you purchased outright, but you lose access to subscription-included titles.
- You can restart your subscription at any time without penalty.
Canceling from your Xbox console
On your Xbox Series X, Series S, Xbox One, or older model, go to the home screen and press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide. Navigate to Profile & system, then select Settings. From there, choose Account, then Subscriptions.
You will see a list of your active subscriptions. Select the one you want to cancel — either Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live Gold. The screen will show your next billing date. Select Manage, then Cancel subscription. Confirm the cancellation when prompted. You will see a confirmation message on screen.
After cancellation, your subscription remains active until the end of your current billing period. You can check the exact end date on the same Subscriptions screen.
Canceling through the Xbox app on Windows
Open the Xbox app on your computer and sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your subscription. Select your profile icon in the top right corner, then choose Settings. Click Subscriptions in the left menu.
Find the subscription you want to cancel and select Manage. You will see the option to Cancel subscription. Click it and confirm when the app asks you to verify. The cancellation takes effect when ready in the system, though your service continues through the end of your billing cycle.
Canceling through your Microsoft account online
Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in. Select Subscriptions from the left menu. You will see all subscriptions tied to that account, including Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold.
Click on the subscription you want to cancel. Select Manage subscription, then Cancel. Microsoft will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discount to keep the subscription — you can ignore this and proceed with cancellation. After you confirm, you will receive an email confirming the cancellation.
What happens after you cancel
Your subscription remains active through the end of your current billing period. If you cancel on the 10th of the month but your billing cycle runs from the 15th to the 15th, you keep access until the 15th. After that date, you can no longer read or play games that come with the subscription.
Games you purchased with real money stay on your console and in your library forever. Only the subscription-included titles become unplayable. If you restart your subscription later, those titles become playable again when ready.
You will not be charged again after your current billing period ends. If you have automatic payment set up, Microsoft will not attempt to charge you on the next billing date.
Restarting your subscription later
You can restart Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live Gold at any time using the same steps you used to cancel. Go back to your subscriptions, find the service you want to restart, and select the option to reactivate or renew. There is no penalty for canceling and restarting — you straightforward pay for the time you use.
If you restart within a short time of canceling, Microsoft may offer you a promotional rate for the first month. This varies by account and is not may provide, but it is worth checking when you go to restart.
Troubleshooting cancellation problems
If the Cancel subscription button does not appear, you may have a family plan or a subscription purchased through a third party. Family plan subscriptions can only be canceled by the account owner who set up the plan. If someone else created the plan, contact them to request cancellation.
If you bought your subscription through the PlayStation Store, Apple, Amazon, or another third-party platform, you must cancel through that platform instead of through Microsoft. Check your purchase receipt to see where the subscription came from. The third-party platform will handle the cancellation and any refund decisions.
If you see an error message when trying to cancel, try signing out of your console or app completely, waiting a few minutes, and signing back in. Then attempt cancellation again. If the problem persists, you can contact Xbox Support through the Xbox website for help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get a refund if I cancel mid-month?
No. Microsoft does not issue refunds for unused time on your current subscription month. Your billing cycle runs from your subscription start date, not the calendar month, so canceling early in your cycle means you lose that money.
Can I cancel one subscription but keep the other?
Yes. Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold are separate subscriptions. You can cancel one and keep the other active. Go to your subscriptions list and cancel only the one you want to stop.
What if I cancel but still see charges on my credit card?
Check the date of the charge. If it is dated after your cancellation, it may be a charge from before you canceled that is just now appearing on your statement. If the charge is dated after your billing cycle should have ended, contact Xbox Support with your cancellation confirmation email.
Can I pause my subscription instead of canceling?
Xbox does not offer a pause feature. Your only options are to keep the subscription active or cancel it. You can restart it later without any issue if you change your mind.
Will I lose my game saves if I cancel?
No. Your game saves are stored in your Microsoft account, not in the subscription itself. They remain on your console and in the cloud even after you cancel. If you restart your subscription, your saves will be there waiting for you.