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 report not being satisfied with the platform’s content offer, having experienced occasional error codes when playing games, or wishing 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 November 2023. Refer to the official Xbox Game Pass website or get in touch with customer support for updates.

Canceling Game Pass Subscription on the Xbox Console

The easiest way to cancel your Game Pass subscription is through the Xbox console. Here are the steps to follow, assuming you are logged in to your Xbox account and have turned on your console:

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

After completing the steps above, your Xbox Game Pass subscription 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

To end your Game Pass subscription on PC, you should complete the steps below:

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 Android or iOS device via the Xbox mobile app by following these steps:

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 phone will not cancel your subscription. It is crucial to discontinue your Xbox Game Pass membership at least 24 hours before your next billing date to prevent future charges.

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. Use any of the following channels to get help:

• Live chat
• Phone, by calling 1-800-469-9269 (Available from Monday to Sunday from 6 a.m to 5 p.m)
• Social media—Twitter and Instagram

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 masks 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 two types of virtual cards—Single-Use and Merchant-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 the Privacy mobile app for Android and iOS, you can create and manage virtual cards on the go and monitor your card activity in real time.

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 three 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.