Thinking about canceling your Microsoft subscription? You're not alone. Microsoft, founded way back in 1975, offers everything from Microsoft 365 for work to Xbox Game Pass for play. Maybe you signed up for Microsoft 365 just to try out the new Copilot AI features everyone's talking about, but now you're done experimenting and want to stop the charges. This guide covers canceling on desktop, iOS, and Android. With plans ranging from $6.99 to $16.99 a month, you could save up to $204 a year by making sure you're not paying for something you don't use. Let's get it done.
How to Cancel Microsoft Subscription on Desktop
Canceling on a desktop computer is the most straightforward method. You'll do everything through the main Microsoft account website. As of early 2024, this process still works best on a computer browser rather than mobile, which can be a bit glitchy.
1 Go to Your Microsoft Account
Open your browser and head over to account.microsoft.com. You'll need to sign in with the same email and password you used to purchase the subscription.
2 Find Services & Subscriptions
Once you're in, look for the Services & subscriptions link in the top menu. Click it. This page lists everything you're paying Microsoft for.
3 Locate Your Subscription
Scroll through the list to find the specific subscription you want to end, like Microsoft 365 or Xbox Game Pass. Next to it, you should see a Manage link. Click that.
4 Start the Cancellation
On the management page, look for the Cancel subscription or Turn off recurring billing option. They both do the same thing. Weirdly, this button can sometimes be hard to spot, so take a good look.
5 Confirm You Want to Cancel
Microsoft will likely show you an offer to try and keep you as a customer. Just skip past it and find the final confirmation button. I had to click 'Confirm cancellation' twice before it actually registered. Keep going until you see a message confirming that recurring billing is off.
How to Cancel Microsoft Subscription on iOS
This only works if you subscribed directly through the Apple App Store. If you paid on Microsoft's website, you can't cancel it here. You'll have to use the Desktop method instead. It's a common point of confusion.
1 Open iPhone Settings
Grab your iPhone or iPad and open the Settings app.
2 Go to Your Apple ID
Tap on your name and Apple ID banner at the very top of the screen.
3 Find Your Subscriptions
On the next screen, tap on the Subscriptions menu item.
4 Cancel the Microsoft Subscription
Look for the Microsoft subscription in your list of active subscriptions and tap on it. Then, just hit the Cancel Subscription button and confirm your choice. Simple as that.
How to Cancel Microsoft Subscription on Android
If you paid for your subscription through the Google Play Store, this is how you cancel. If you signed up directly on the Microsoft website, these steps won't work, and you'll need to log into your Microsoft account in a web browser.
1 Open the Google Play Store
Find and open the Play Store app on your Android phone or tablet.
2 Access Your Account Menu
Tap on your profile picture or initial in the top-right corner to open the account menu.
3 Go to Payments & Subscriptions
From that menu, select Payments & subscriptions, and then tap on Subscriptions on the following screen.
4 Find and Cancel
Find the Microsoft subscription in the list, tap it, and then choose Cancel subscription. Follow any final prompts to complete the process.
Cancel Microsoft Subscription with live chat
Microsoft pushes you towards its 'Get Help' virtual agent first. To get a live chat, go to the Microsoft Support page. Type your issue (e.g., 'cancel subscription'). Click 'Get Help'. Keep clicking 'No' on the virtual agent's suggestions until you see an option to 'Talk to a person' or 'Contact Support'. From there, you should be able to start a live chat. Be prepared to wait, though.
Cancel Microsoft Subscription with phone
You can try calling Microsoft Support at 1-800-642-7676 (1-800-MICROSOFT), but getting a human for billing issues is tough. The automated system will likely direct you back to the website. One user on Reddit said, 'I was on hold for 45 minutes just to be told to use the website.' Your best bet is using the live chat feature online.
Before you cancel, know this: Microsoft generally doesn't give refunds for subscriptions, especially if you cancel mid-month. You just get to use the service until your paid period ends. If you have a yearly plan and cancel within 30 days of the charge, you might get a prorated refund, but don't bet on it. Also, and this is important, check your OneDrive storage. If you're using more than the free 5GB, you need to download your extra files before your subscription ends, or Microsoft will eventually delete them. They don't offer a 'pause' option, so canceling is your only real choice to stop payments.
Microsoft Plans and Pricing 2025
| Plan | Price (per month) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Basic | $1.99 | 100 GB of cloud storage, ad-free Outlook email, and web/mobile versions of Office apps. No desktop apps. |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $6.99 | For one person. Includes 1 TB of cloud storage, premium desktop Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and advanced security features. |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $9.99 | For up to six people. Includes everything in Personal, but each person gets their own 1 TB of storage (6 TB total). |
| Xbox Game Pass Core | $9.99 | The basic online console multiplayer access. Includes a small catalog of over 25 games. Replaced Xbox Live Gold. |
| Xbox Game Pass for PC | $9.99 | Access to a large library of PC games, including new releases from Xbox Game Studios. EA Play is included. |
| Xbox Game Pass Ultimate | $16.99 | The all-in-one plan. Includes Game Pass for Console and PC, online multiplayer, EA Play, and access to Xbox Cloud Gaming. |
Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft
Can I unsubscribe from Microsoft anytime?
Can I get a refund from Microsoft if I forgot to cancel?
How do I know my Microsoft subscription is cancelled?
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How do I raise a complaint to Microsoft?
Olivia Harper
Content Manager
Olivia Harper, a Content Manager with nine years of experience, creates user-focused guides on subscription services. Featured in Digital Consumer Reports, her work simplifies subscription terms and cancellations.
