Here’s how to cancel your Xbox Game Pass subscription, detailing the process via the Microsoft website and Xbox console.
Update24/04/2024, 14:25
Xbox Game Pass can be a gamer’s delight, offering a huge selection of games and in the short time it has been around, it has possibly become Xbox’s main breadwinner.
However, there might come a time when you wish to cancel your subscription. You might be sick of the games on there, or want to diversify and go over to the dark side that is PlayStation Plus.
Here’s your complete guide on how to cancel your Xbox Game Pass, Game Pass Ultimate, or Game Pass Core (formerly Xbox Live Gold) subscriptions by accessing both the Microsoft website and your Xbox console.
Firstly though, is it advisable to cancel your Xbox Game Pass? Let’s consider some pros and cons.
Pros and Cons of Xbox Game Pass
Pros
- Wide Game Selection: The Game Pass includes hundreds of games across genres, offering ample choice to users.
- New Releases: New games are frequently added to the library. The Game Pass Ultimate even introduces new game releases on the day of launch.
- Xbox Exclusives, like the upcoming Starfield will be on Game Pass from launch — that might be enough for some people!
- Discounts: Users benefit from discounts on games and DLCs.
- Cloud Gaming: Cloud gaming is available with the Game Pass Ultimate.
Cons
- Expense: The subscription fee may be too steep for users, especially when underused. At £12.99 a month, this is one of the more expensive gaming subscriptions.
- Game Availability: Sometimes games are removed periodically from the catalogue which can be disheartening if you are only half way through!
How to cancel Xbox Game Pass?
Let’s kick off proceedings with the website cancellation procedure…
How to cancel Game Pass via the Microsoft Site
- Sign Into Account: Begin the process by visiting account.microsoft.com. Navigate to the Services and Subscriptions tab at the top of the page and sign into your Microsoft account.
- Find Xbox Game Pass: In this section, you’ll find all the services linked with your account. Scroll down until you find the Xbox Game Pass. Next to it, click Manage.
- Cancellation process: Now, opt for Cancel subscription. Do read the information Microsoft displays, so you understand the implications. If you’ve paid for the forthcoming cycle that won’t be used, Microsoft regularly offers a refund.
- Confirmation: Finally, Microsoft will send a confirmation email to the registered account once you have cancelled.
Note that you can cancel all your subscriptions from this page, so if you are looking to cancel Game Pass PC, Game Pass Ultimate, or even just Game Pass Core.
How to cancel Game Pass via Xbox Console
To cancel the subscription directly on your Xbox console, adhere to these steps:
- Account Sign in: From your Xbox dashboard, press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide and navigate to Profile & system.
- Setting: Navigate to Settings, then Account, and lastly Subscriptions.
- Subscriptions: You’ll see a list of subscriptions linked with the account. Identify the Xbox Game Pass and select it.
- Cancellation Process: Press on Cancel subscription. Do pay attention to the on-screen messages to understand the cancellation’s impact.
There you have it — cancelling your Xbox Game Pass subscription should now be straightforward!
Remember, you can always reactivate your subscription if you decide to dive back into the world of Xbox gaming, and you will have access to all the games you downloaded previously. Unless of course, they have been removed from the service.
Cancelling your Xbox Game Pass subscription: FAQs
You can cancel your Game Pass Core (formerly Xbox Live Gold) subscription without an Xbox by accessing your Microsoft account. Here’s how: visit the Microsoft Services & Subscriptions page, sign in if necessary, and look for the subscription in the list. Click on ‘Manage,’ then choose ‘Cancel Subscription’.
If you decide to cancel your Game Pass subscription, you’ll lose access to all the games provided through the service. This includes any games you’ve downloaded during your subscription period. However, you’ll still have access to your purchased games, and any remaining subscription time will still be honoured, up until the end of your pre-paid period.
To cancel your Xbox Game Pass using your Android phone, go to the ‘Play Store’ app and then head to the ‘Subscriptions’ section. You can locate this through your Google Play Account. Here you should see your Xbox Game Pass subscription, which you can cancel.
Yes, you can cancel your Xbox Game Pass subscription after one month. Doing so will end your subscription after the current billing cycle, meaning you will not be automatically charged for the next month.
Microsoft does not generally offer refunds for Xbox subscriptions. However, exceptional situations are considered on a case-by-case basis. If you believe you have a valid reason for a refund, it’s best to contact Microsoft support directly.
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