Cancel Game Pass Through Your Microsoft Account Settings

The fastest way to cancel Game Pass on your PC is through your Microsoft account settings online. Sign in to account.microsoft.com, go to Services & subscriptions, find Xbox Game Pass for PC in the list, and select Manage. From there, you'll see a button to Cancel subscription. Click it, choose your reason (optional), and confirm the cancellation. Your subscription ends on your next billing date—you keep access until then.

This method works whether you signed up through the Microsoft Store, the Xbox app, or a third-party retailer. As long as the subscription is tied to your Microsoft account, you can manage it from this one page. The cancellation takes effect when ready in your account, though your service continues through the end of your current billing cycle.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to account.microsoft.com, select Services & subscriptions, find Xbox Game Pass for PC, and click Manage to reach the cancellation button.
  • Your subscription ends on your next billing date, not when ready—you retain access to Game Pass until that date arrives.
  • If you signed up through the Xbox app on your PC, you can also cancel directly from the app's settings without visiting the website.
  • Cancelling does not delete your game saves or achievements; they remain tied to your Microsoft account if you return later.

Cancel Game Pass From the Xbox App on Your PC

If you prefer to stay in the Xbox app, you can cancel there without leaving your computer. Open the Xbox app, select your profile icon in the top right, and go to Settings. Choose Subscriptions, find Xbox Game Pass for PC, and select Manage. You'll see the same cancellation option as the website method. The process is identical—your subscription runs through your next billing date.

This route is useful if you're already in the app and want to handle it without opening a browser. The Xbox app syncs with your Microsoft account, so cancelling here updates your account settings everywhere. You don't need to do it both places.

What Happens After You Cancel

Once you cancel, your Game Pass subscription continues until your next billing date. If you were charged on the 15th of the month and you cancel on the 20th, you keep full access through the 15th of next month. After that date, you lose access to the Game Pass library—you can no longer read or play games included with the service.

Your game saves, achievements, and account history remain on your Microsoft account. If you decide to resubscribe later, all of that comes back. You won't lose progress in games you were playing. However, any games you downloaded through Game Pass will no longer launch once your subscription ends, even if they're still on your hard drive.

If You Signed Up Through a Third-Party Retailer

Some people buy Game Pass codes from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, or other sellers. If you redeemed a code rather than setting up a recurring subscription, there's nothing to cancel—the subscription straightforward expires when the code's time runs out. You can check when it expires by going to account.microsoft.com, selecting Services & subscriptions, and looking at the expiration date listed under Xbox Game Pass for PC.

If you did set up recurring billing through a retailer's website (rather than Microsoft's), you'll need to cancel through that retailer's account settings, not through Microsoft. Check your email receipt to see which company charged you, then log into that account and look for subscription management. When in doubt, contact that retailer's support team—they can confirm whether the subscription is recurring and walk you through cancellation.

Stopping Automatic Renewal Before It Charges Again

Game Pass renews automatically on your billing date unless you cancel first. If you want to stop the next charge but aren't sure whether you've already cancelled, return to account.microsoft.com and check the Services & subscriptions page. If Xbox Game Pass for PC still appears there with a Manage button, your subscription is still active and will renew. If it's gone from the list, cancellation is complete.

You can also turn off automatic renewal without fully cancelling. On the same Manage page, look for an option to Turn off auto-renew. This stops future charges but lets your current subscription run to its end date. Some people use this option if they want to keep playing through the end of their paid period but don't want to be charged again.

Troubleshooting Cancellation Problems

If the Cancel subscription button doesn't appear or you get an error message, your account may have a pending issue. Check that you're signed in with the correct Microsoft account—the one actually holding the Game Pass subscription. If you have multiple Microsoft accounts, the subscription might be under a different one. Sign out completely and sign back in with the account you used to buy Game Pass.

If you still can't find the cancellation option, the subscription may have already ended or expired. Check the expiration date on the Services & subscriptions page. If Game Pass no longer appears in your subscriptions list at all, it's already cancelled or has run out. In rare cases where the website isn't working, try cancelling through the Xbox app instead, or contact Microsoft Support through account.microsoft.com for help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my games when ready after cancelling?

No. You keep access to all Game Pass games until your billing date arrives. After that date, the games remain on your hard drive but won't launch. You can delete them to free up space, or leave them there in case you resubscribe later.

Can I get a refund if I cancel mid-month?

Microsoft does not refund unused portions of your subscription. Once you cancel, you keep access through your next billing date, but you won't receive money back for the days remaining. If you were charged in error or have a billing dispute, contact Microsoft Support through your account settings.

What if I want to pause instead of cancel?

Game Pass doesn't have a pause feature. Your options are to keep the subscription active or cancel it. If you think you'll return later, cancelling is fine—your saves and achievements stay with your account, and you can resubscribe whenever you want.

Will cancelling affect my Xbox console subscription?

No. Game Pass for PC and Xbox Game Pass for Console are separate subscriptions. Cancelling one does not affect the other. If you have both, you'll need to cancel each one separately through your account settings.

How do I know if my cancellation went through?

Return to account.microsoft.com and check Services & subscriptions. If Xbox Game Pass for PC no longer appears in your active subscriptions list, the cancellation is complete. You should also receive a confirmation email from Microsoft within a few minutes of cancelling.