With over 30 million subscribers in 2023, Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass is undoubtedly one of the most popular subscription services in the gaming world. It offers gamers access to hundreds of games, including Xbox exclusives and titles from iconic third-party developers like Bethesda Softworks, EA Sports, and Ubisoft.

While many gamers enjoy Xbox Game Pass's convenience and variety, others may not be satisfied with the platform’s content offer, have experienced occasional error codes when playing games, or wish to try out another gaming platform.

If you have encountered issues or have another reason for wanting to opt out of your subscription, read this manual on how to cancel your Xbox Game Pass. Besides learning the necessary steps depending on the device you’re using, you’ll also get helpful tips on how to avoid unwelcome subscription charges.

Note that the information in this guide is current as of January 2025. Refer to the official Xbox Game Pass website or get in touch with customer support for updates.

What Is the Xbox Game Pass Cancellation Policy?

According to the Xbox Game Pass cancellation policy, you can discontinue your subscription anytime. The cancellation will take effect at the end of your current billing period, and you’ll retain access to the service until then. 

Once the next billing date rolls around and your subscription ends, you can no longer play games available through Xbox Game Pass or enjoy any other subscription benefits. 

Canceling Game Pass Subscription on the Xbox Console

It’s easy to cancel an Xbox Game Pass subscription through the console by following these steps:

1. Turn on your console and log into your account.
2. Press the Xbox button at the center of your controller to open the guide menu.
3. Go to Profile & System and select Settings.
4. Navigate to the account tab and choose Subscriptions.
5. Select the Xbox Game Pass subscription from the list and click on Cancel Subscription.
6. Ignore the request to Change Plan and select Yes to confirm the cancellation.

After you stop your subscription on Xbox Game Pass, your membership will be terminated, and you won't be charged for the next billing period. Keep in mind that you will still be able to access your favorite games on Xbox until your current payment period ends.

How To Cancel Xbox Game Pass on PC

Alternatively, you can unsubscribe from Xbox Game Pass on PC via the official website. To cancel an Xbox Game Pass subscription on PC:

1. Sign in to your Microsoft account.
2. Select Services & Subscriptions in the top bar menu of your home screen.
3. Select View All Subscriptions under the Subscriptions section.
4. Find Xbox Game Pass from the list of subscriptions and click Manage next to it.
5. Select Cancel Subscription and choose Turn off recurring billing on the popup window that appears.

You'll get a confirmation email from Microsoft upon completing the steps above. The email will contain the end date of your subscription, and your Xbox Game Pass subscription status on Microsoft.com will change to Canceled. 

How To Cancel Xbox Game Pass on Your Phone

You can also cancel your Game Pass subscription on your phone via the Xbox mobile app. The steps to cancel an Xbox subscription on iPhone, iPad, or Android are the same:

1. Launch the Game Pass app on your phone and sign in.
2. Click the Profile icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
3. Tap Settings and select Manage Account.
4. Click My Subscriptions to view your active subscriptions.
5. Select Xbox Game Pass and click on Cancel Subscription. 
6. Confirm the cancellation by clicking Yes.

You should know that uninstalling the app from your Android or iOS device device will not cancel your subscription. It is crucial to unsubscribe from Xbox Game Pass on the app at least 24 hours before your next billing date to prevent future charges.

How to Refund Xbox Game Pass?

Whether you're eligible for an Xbox Game Pass refund depends on your location. If you're in the U.S., you’re not entitled to an Xbox refund following the cancellation of your subscription. However, subscribers in the following countries can receive a prorated refund for the remaining days of their subscription:

• Canada
• Turkey
• Denmark
• Israel
• France
• Korea

Follow the steps below to request a prorated Xbox Game Pass refund:

1. Sign in to your Microsoft account on your computer.
2. Go to the Services & subscriptions section on the left side of your screen.
3. Select Manage next to your Xbox Game Pass subscription.
4. Click Cancel subscription.
5. Confirm your action by following the instructions on your screen. 

Microsoft will process your refund within 30 days of your initial purchase or before your first billing date (whichever is nearest).

How To Remove a Credit Card From Xbox Game Pass on a PC

As you’re canceling your Game Pass membership, it’s a good idea to take down the linked credit card to prevent future charges. Still, you can’t remove a payment option on an active subscription until you choose another payment method, so consider linking a card other than your primary one until you stop the subscription.

Here's how to remove your credit card from Xbox Game Pass using your PC: 

1. Sign in to the Microsoft account associated with your subscription.
2. Go to Services & Subscriptions and select Manage next to Xbox Game Pass.
3. Choose Payment & billing, then click Payment options.
4. Select the box with the trash can icon below the payment card you wish to remove.
5. Click Confirm to successfully remove your credit card.

How To Contact Xbox Game Pass Customer Service

To help you with the cancellation process and resolve any issues you may be experiencing, Xbox Game Pass offers the following customer support options:

• Live chat
• Phone, by calling 1-800-469-9269 (available from Monday to Sunday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Virtual agent for fast automated support 24/7
• Social media—X account and Instagram

What To Do if You Have Trouble Canceling Your Xbox Game Pass

While canceling Xbox Game Pass is typically straightforward, you may encounter issues for specific reasons. The table below shows the most common reasons for subscription cancellation issues and ways to resolve them:

If none of these causes apply, you should contact Microsoft customer support for assistance.

While most subscription cancellation difficulties are the result of technical issues or honest errors, some companies make the process challenging on purpose. In such cases, you are typically required to navigate confusing menus or talk to a customer care representative who will attempt to persuade you into keeping your subscription. These tactics can cause delays in the cancellation process and may result in you getting charged for another month or longer for services you don’t want. Sometimes, a company might impose further subscription charges by accident even after you have completed the correct steps to cancel your subscription.

To avoid unexpected subscription charges, you should consider paying with a Privacy Virtual Card when registering for subscriptions, be it streaming platforms like Peacock, Netflix, and Disney Plus or delivery services like HelloFresh and Amazon Prime. A virtual card protects your financial details with random card numbers at checkout, adding an integral layer of security around your online transactions. Some virtual card providers, such as Privacy, also give you control over how much merchants can charge you and help you manage your spending more effectively.

How Privacy Cards Allow Smooth Cancellations and Controlled Payments

You can connect a debit card or bank account to Privacy and generate virtual cards for all your online transactions without worrying about fraud or unwelcome charges from merchants and subscription services. Privacy lets you create three types of virtual cards—Single-Use, Merchant-Locked, and Category-Locked. Learn about them in the following table:

You can also pause or close Privacy Cards without affecting the linked debit card or bank account. This feature is great for avoiding or limiting unwanted charges while you’re going through the cancellation process or after finishing it. 

By setting spending limits on Privacy Cards, you will stop subscription services from charging you more than you initially agreed, whether by sneaking in extra fees or mistakenly billing you twice for the same month. 

Privacy declines all charges on paused or closed cards and those that exceed the preset limit.

Additional Privacy Features and the Signup Process

Privacy also offers additional features to streamline your online shopping experience, such as:

• Browser extension—Privacy's browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and Safari for iOS autofills your card details at checkout, ensuring fast and seamless transactions.
• Mobile app—With Privacy’s mobile app for Android and iOS, you can create and manage virtual cards on the go and monitor your card activity in real time.
• 1Password integration—Upon signup, Privacy offers a free integration with 1Password, which lets you securely store and manage your passwords and virtual cards from a single location.

To become a Privacy user, you only need to:

1. Create your account
2. Fill out the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) information required to verify your identity
3. Connect your debit card or bank account
4. Request and generate virtual cards

Privacy offers four plans, as shown in the table below:

You can use your Privacy Virtual Card at most merchants and subscription services that accept U.S. Visa^® and Mastercard^® card payments, including Apple TV, Philo, and Amazon Music.

‍