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Short answer: to cancel Game Pass, sign in at account.microsoft.com/services, find your Game Pass subscription, select Manage and then Turn off recurring billing. On an Xbox, go to Settings > Account > Subscriptions. You keep Game Pass until the end date you already paid for, and you are not charged again.
This guide shows both ways to cancel Game Pass, the difference between cancelling and turning off recurring billing, what happens to your games, and how refunds work. The steps come from Microsoft Support and Xbox Support, checked in October 2026.
- Fastest way: account.microsoft.com/services > Manage > Turn off recurring billing
- On Xbox: Settings > Account > Subscriptions
- Access: you keep Game Pass until the end date
- Already off? If you see “Turn on recurring billing”, nothing more to do
- Refunds: sometimes possible, but not every charge can be refunded
Table of Contents
Cancel or turn off recurring billing: what is the difference?
Microsoft gives you two choices. Turning off recurring billing stops future charges, and you keep Game Pass and all its benefits until the date your current period ends. Cancelling immediately ends the subscription now; in some cases you may be eligible for a refund, but Xbox says not all subscription charges can be refunded.
For most people, turning off recurring billing is the better choice: you have already paid for the current period, so you can keep playing until it ends.
How to cancel Game Pass on the web
This works on any phone or computer:
- Go to account.microsoft.com/services and sign in with the Microsoft account you use on Xbox.
- Find your Game Pass subscription and select Manage.
- Select Turn off recurring billing.
- Choose whether you do not want the subscription or want to keep your benefits, and confirm.
If the page shows Turn on recurring billing instead of Manage, your Game Pass is already set to end on the date shown, and you will not be charged again.
How to cancel Game Pass on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One
- Press the Xbox button and open Profile & system > Settings.
- Go to Account > Subscriptions.
- Select your Game Pass subscription.
- Choose Turn off recurring billing (or Cancel) and follow the steps.
The console uses the account that is signed in, so check you are on the account that pays for Game Pass.
What happens after you cancel Game Pass?
- Until the end date: you keep everything, including the Game Pass library, EA Play and cloud gaming.
- After the end date: games from the Game Pass library stop working until you join again, and so do the other benefits.
- What stays: games you bought, your Xbox profile and your saves, which are stored with your account.
- Coming back: redeem a prepaid code or subscribe again, and your library is ready to play.
If you liked a game from the library, check the member discount before your Game Pass ends: buying it keeps it in your account for good.
Online play after your membership ends
On Xbox consoles, online multiplayer in paid games needs an active Game Pass plan (Essential, Premium or Ultimate). When your plan ends, you can still play those games offline, and free-to-play games such as Fortnite keep working online. If online play is what you use most, the cheaper Essential plan may be enough.
Too expensive? Look at the cheaper plans first
If price is the reason you want to stop, compare the plans before you leave. In the US, Essential costs $9.99 a month and includes online multiplayer and 50+ games, and Premium costs $14.99 with 200+ games, while Ultimate is $22.99 (official Game Pass page). Prices are different in other countries, so check the page for your region.
Another way to save is to play in bursts: join for the months when a game you want arrives, and take a break in between. Or share one membership with your family on your home Xbox: see how to share Game Pass.
Can you get a refund for Game Pass?
According to Xbox Support, you may be eligible to cancel immediately with a refund, but not all subscription charges can be refunded. The options you see depend on your plan, your country and when you were last charged. The Xbox subscription terms explain the rules for your region.
If you were charged after you meant to cancel, act quickly: open account.microsoft.com/services and check the options shown for your subscription.
Avoid surprise charges with prepaid codes
If you prefer to pay only when you want to play, use prepaid Game Pass codes. With recurring billing off, a code simply adds time to your account; when that time runs out, Game Pass stops and nothing is charged until you add another code. You stay in control of your spending, and you do not need a bank card saved on your account.
Codes for Game Pass Ultimate stack up to 36 months on one account. Our guide on how to redeem a Game Pass code shows the steps.
Cancel EA Play or Game Pass Essential and Premium too?
The same steps work for every Game Pass plan (Essential, Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass) and other Microsoft subscriptions. EA Play is included in Game Pass Ultimate, so it ends together with Ultimate; if you also pay for EA Play separately, cancel that subscription on its own.
Remove a saved card from your Microsoft account
Once no active subscription uses it, you can remove a saved card in the Payment options section of your Microsoft account. Some people keep a card saved for game purchases; others prefer gift cards and prepaid codes only, so nothing can be charged by mistake.
Make the most of your last weeks
- Finish the library games you started, or note the ones you want to buy.
- Claim any perks and in-game items you have not used yet.
- Spend Microsoft Rewards points before you forget them.
- Try a few games in the cloud that you never installed, to see if they are worth buying.
Your achievements and saves stay with your account, so nothing you earned is lost when the membership ends.
Can’t find your subscription?
If Game Pass does not appear in Services & subscriptions, you are probably signed in with a different Microsoft account. Sign out and try the other accounts you use, for example the one on your Xbox profile. If you got Game Pass through another company, such as a bundle with a device or a phone plan, manage it with that company instead.
Subscriptions for a child or family member
A subscription is managed from the account that owns it. If you pay for a child’s Game Pass on their account, sign in to their Microsoft account to change it, or use the family settings in your own account if you set up Microsoft Family. Talk to them first, so they can finish what they are playing before the end date.
Rejoining later
You can come back at any time by redeeming a prepaid code or subscribing again. Your Game Pass library is ready straight away, and your saves and achievements are waiting where you left them. Games that are still installed on your console or PC can be played again right away.
Checklist before you cancel
- Note the end date shown in Services & subscriptions.
- Finish or buy any library game you want to keep.
- Make sure your saves are synced (start the game once while online).
- If you will come back later, consider a prepaid code instead of a monthly charge.
Keep playing with a prepaid Game Pass code from IQSIX
IQSIX sells a 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate code for US Microsoft accounts. You pay once, there is no monthly charge from us, and you add the time when you want it. Read about all the Game Pass Ultimate perks first.
- Delivery: by email after your payment is confirmed (or on WhatsApp if you ask).
- Payment: crypto, card, or a Remitly bank or mobile money transfer at checkout.
- Region: USA code, for Microsoft accounts set to the United States.
- Help: we help you redeem on WhatsApp or through our contact page.
See all our game cards and top-ups.
Cancel Game Pass FAQ
How do I cancel Game Pass?
Sign in at account.microsoft.com/services, find your Game Pass subscription, select Manage and then Turn off recurring billing. On Xbox, go to Settings > Account > Subscriptions.
Do I lose Game Pass immediately when I cancel?
No, not if you turn off recurring billing. You keep Game Pass and all its benefits until the end of the period you already paid for.
Can I get a refund after cancelling Game Pass?
Sometimes. Xbox says you may be eligible to cancel immediately with a refund, but not all subscription charges can be refunded. The options depend on your plan and region.
What happens to my saves when Game Pass ends?
Your saves stay with your account. When you join Game Pass again or buy the game, you can continue where you stopped.
How do I know if recurring billing is already off?
In account.microsoft.com/services, if you see Turn on recurring billing instead of Manage, your subscription is already set to end and you will not be charged again.
Can I use prepaid codes instead of a monthly subscription?
Yes. With recurring billing off, a prepaid Game Pass code adds time to your account, and nothing is charged when it runs out.
Sources, checked 17 October 2026: Microsoft Support: turn recurring billing on or off, cancel your Microsoft subscription, Xbox subscription cancellations and refunds and the Xbox subscription terms. Screens can change.
