THE SHORT ANSWER
Start here.
Go to account.microsoft.com/services signed in to the Microsoft account that pays, find the Game Pass subscription, select Manage, then Cancel and follow the instructions. If the page shows Turn on recurring billing instead of Manage, the subscription is already set to expire on the date shown and you will not be charged again.
In this guide
FOLLOW THE RIGHT BILLING ROUTE
Cancel Xbox Game Pass, step by step.
On your Microsoft account services page
This is the single place that controls Game Pass billing, whether you subscribed on a console, a PC or the web.
- Sign in at account.microsoft.com/services with the Microsoft account that is charged.
- Find the Game Pass subscription and check the next charge date.
- Select Manage, then Cancel — the label may read Upgrade or Cancel depending on your subscription type.
- Scroll through and follow the instructions to complete the cancellation, then keep the confirmation.
If you see Turn on recurring billing rather than Manage, recurring billing is already off and the subscription will expire on the date shown.
From an Xbox console
The console mirrors the same subscription settings, but the Microsoft account page is the more complete view.
- On the console, open your profile and go to the subscriptions area of settings.
- Select the Game Pass subscription to see the renewal date and the available options.
- If the console does not offer the option you need, complete the cancellation at account.microsoft.com/services instead.
Bought through an app store or a prepaid code
Game Pass bought inside a mobile app store, or redeemed from a prepaid code, behaves differently from a card-billed subscription.
- If a store bills you, cancel in that store’s subscription settings.
- If you redeemed a prepaid code, there is normally no recurring billing to cancel — the time simply runs out on the date shown.
- Check account.microsoft.com/services to confirm which of the two applies to you.
Before you cancel.
- Check the next charge date on account.microsoft.com/services before you start, so you know how much time you have left.
- Note which games you have installed through Game Pass. They stop being playable when the subscription lapses unless you buy them.
- If your subscription includes online multiplayer, check whether cancelling affects your ability to play online.
What happens next?
- Games installed through Game Pass stop being playable once the subscription ends; the installs remain on the drive but require an active subscription or a purchase.
- Your saved games, achievements and Microsoft account are not deleted, so buying a game or re-subscribing later restores your progress.
- Microsoft and Xbox publish separate subscription refund policies. Cancelling stops the next charge rather than reversing a past one.
GOOD TO KNOW
Questions, answered.
Do I lose my saved games if I cancel Xbox Game Pass?
No. Saves, achievements and your Microsoft account remain. The games themselves become unplayable until you re-subscribe or buy them, but your progress is not deleted.
What does "Turn on recurring billing" mean on my subscription?
Microsoft says that if you see Turn on recurring billing instead of a Manage link, the subscription is already set to expire on the date shown and you will not be charged automatically after that date. There is nothing further to cancel.
Can I get a refund for unused Game Pass time?
Xbox publishes a subscription cancellations and refunds policy that covers what is possible in your situation. Cancelling by itself stops future charges; it does not guarantee a refund of a past one.
Does cancelling Game Pass affect games I bought separately?
No. Games you purchased outright remain in your library and playable. Only titles accessed through the Game Pass catalogue stop working.
I cancelled but I am still being charged.
Check whether more than one subscription is listed at account.microsoft.com/services — a separate Game Pass tier, Xbox online multiplayer, or a Microsoft 365 subscription can all appear as Microsoft charges. Cancel each one you do not want, and confirm each shows as expiring.
Provider resources
- Xbox: subscription cancellations and refunds
- Xbox: view and manage your subscriptions
- Microsoft: cancel your Microsoft subscription
Instructions reviewed .
Subex is independent of Xbox Game Pass. Availability and cancellation terms can vary by plan, billing provider and country.
