How to Cancel Xbox Game Pass

The release of the Xbox Series X and Series S, the fourth generation of Xbox, actually increased the popularity of this video game console. Developed by Microsoft Gaming, these latest versions of Xbox have sold over 19.8 million units as of July 2023.

How to Cancel Xbox Game Pass

It doesn’t stop there. Xbox has managed to attract more than 30 million subscribers as of 2023 through Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass, placing it directly in competition with Nintendo’s Game Cube and Sony’s PlayStation 2.

Many players enjoy any features on Xbox Game Pass, but quite a few also complain about it. Luckily, Xbox doesn’t bind its subscribers and offers the option for those who want to cancel their subscriptions.

If you want to do the same, you can learn how to cancel the Xbox Game Pass in our post. Aside from that, you can also find some troubleshooting when you face issues when doing so. Okay, let’s check it out!

What is an Xbox Game Pass?

Xbox Game Pass lets players access hundreds of high-quality games, which are added all the time. They can play them either on the console, PC, or cloud. With this subscription feature, they will always get new, more challenging games to play that Xbox has added all the time.

As part of Xbox, Xbox Game Pass was launched on June 1, 2017. Since its release, Xbox’s subscribers have been rapidly increasing. In April 2020, there were more than 10 million subscribers to Xbox Game Pass, according to the Q3 2020 earnings call. In the next two years, Xbox have more than 25 million subscribers and over 35 million subscribers in 2024.

According to the Activision Blizzard acquisition, Xbox Game Pass earned approximately $2.9 billion in revenue in the fiscal year that ended in January 2021. The revenue came from about 18% of Xbox’s total business and 30% of Microsoft’s games and services earnings.

Every Xbox Game Pass subscriber can download the games from a rotating library, and they will still be able to access them as long as their subscription has not expired. Plus, they’ll get discounts on game purchases from the libraries and their respective downloadable content (DLC).

How Much Does an Xbox Game Pass Cost?

There are four plans for Xbox Game Pass, and each offers a different price. To make it easier for you to decide which is the best one, we’ll show you all of the Xbox Game Pass plans. Note that the prices shown below are as of April 2024.

Here they are:

Plan

Price

Features

Xbox Games Pass Core

(Xbox Consoles)

$9.99/ month
  • There are more than 30 games per catalog without extra charge.
  • Discounts and deals are available on games.
  • It gives you access to play online on a multiplayer console.
Xbox Game Pass Console

(Xbox Consoles)

$10.99/ month
  • It gives you access to the Xbox console library.
  • Players can access and play new games on the day they’re released.
  • Discounts and deals are available on games.
Xbox Game Pass PC

(PC Platforms)

$9.99/ month
  • It gives you access to the Xbox console library.
  • Players can access and play new games on the day they’re released.
  • Discounts and deals are available on games.
  • It includes EA Play Membership.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

(Xbox Console and PC Platforms)

$16.99/ month
  • It gives you access to the library on PC platforms and Xbox consoles.
  • It gives you access to play online on a multiplayer console.
  • Players can access and play new games on the day they’re released.
  • Discounts and deals are available on games.
  • It includes an EA Play membership.
  • It gives you access to the Xbox Cloud Gaming Beta.

With an Xbox Game Pass subscription, you won’t miss any huge games since they will be added to the Game Pass all the time. So, you must regularly check as often as possible to see the latest ones.

How to Make a Subscription to an Xbox Game Pass

It’s pretty easy to get an Xbox Game Pass. You can simply buy one of the plans here. https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass

Step 1: Select an Xbox Game Pass Plan

On the page, you can click “Join for $1.” The $1 here is the subscription price per day for the first 14 days.

Then, you can select where you’ll play the games, either on a PC, console, or both.

    • If you want to play on PC, you can purchase either the Xbox Game Pass PC plan or the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plan.
    • If you want to play on a console, you can choose either the Xbox Game Pass Core plan or the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plan.

After deciding, you can click “Join Now.”

Step 2: Log into your Microsoft Account

The following page allows you to log into your Microsoft account. After logging in, you’ll be taken to the Xbox Game Pass subscription page. Here, you can choose the subscription duration: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months.

Step 3: Make a Payment

On the next page, you can make a payment for the Xbox Game Pass plan you’ve chosen. But you must add a payment method to your Microsoft account before paying it.

If you have a code or gift card, you redeem it first, so the price will be cheaper.

Step 4: Activate the Xbox Game Pass

After you make a purchase, you can activate Xbox Game Pass by going to your Microsoft Account profile. And select the “Subscriptions” menu. Here, you should find the Xbox Game Pass subscription. Then, click “Activate.”

Step 5: Download and Play

After activating your Xbox Game Pass, you can now download and play games on the “My Games” tab. Select a game you’d like to play and click “Download.”

Congratulations! You’ve successfully purchased an Xbox Game Pass and started enjoying it.

Cancelling an Xbox Game Pass Subscription: Here’s How!

Due to a certain reason, you may want to cancel the Xbox Game Pass subscription. Of course, you can easily do it at any time, just like when you purchased it.

Keep in mind that canceling your Xbox Game Pass will stop the subscription bill at the next billing period, but you can still use the benefits until the expiration date. Even though you can make a request for a refund when canceling the subscription, not all charges can be refunded.

You can take one of the following ways to cancel your Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, including:

On the Xbox Console

It will be easiest and fastest for you to cancel an Xbox Game Pass on the console. To do so, you can:

    • First, log into your Xbox account.
    • Press the Xbox icon on the joystick to open the “Guide” menu.
    • Head to the “Profile & System” section and choose “Settings.”
    • Then, select “Subscriptions” on your account setting.
    • Select the subscription you want to manage.
    • From your subscription list, make sure to choose the Xbox Game Pass subscription. Then, click “Cancel Subscription.”
    • Click “Yes” to continue with subscription cancellation.

If there’s any request window to change your plan, you should ignore it. If you’re eligible, you may be allowed to make a refund request for your subscription.

On PC

If you prefer to cancel your Xbox Game Pass subscription on PC, you can:

    • Head to the “Services & Subscriptions,” menu that can be found at the top of the screen.
    • The next page will allow you to log into your Microsoft account that you’ve used to buy subscriptions.
    • Under the “Subscriptions,” select “View All Subscriptions.”
    • Then, you can find an Xbox Game Pass subscription in the list and click “Manage.”
    • Last, you can click “Cancel Subscription.” Make sure to follow the on-screen instructions until you successfully unsubscribe.
    • If you’re eligible, you may be allowed to make a refund request for your subscription.

After canceling the subscription, you may receive a confirmation email from Microsoft that contains the end date of your subscription. Well, the status of your Xbox Game Pass subscription will change to “Canceled.”

Now, you can try to follow our guide above to cancel your Xbox Game Pass.

What If You Get Issues When Canceling Your Xbox Game Pass?

Usually, canceling an Xbox Game Pass subscription runs without any issues. But there might be several conditions that can prevent it.

Even though these are relatively rare, some of the following problems can contribute to the failure of canceling an Xbox Game Pass: Let’s see and learn how to fix it!

    • You logged into the wrong Microsoft account: If you experience it, you must ensure that your login credentials match the Xbox account.
    • You have any pending balances on your account: You cannot automatically cancel your Xbox Game Pass until you complete all outstanding payments.
    • You don’t see an option to cancel your subscription. If you don’t see “Manage,” but instead find an option that says “Turn on recurring billing,” That means your Xbox Game Pass subscription is already set to expire. So, you will not be charged after the date shown there.

If your issues cannot be solved with all of the solutions above, you may have to contact Microsoft customer support through:

    • Live chat
    • Make a phone call at 1-800-469-9269. They’re available from Monday to Sunday, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Via social media: Twitter or Instagram