How to Cancel Xbox Game Pass Core (Gold) in 2026

Updated February 2026 • Difficulty: Easy • $9.99-19.99/month

Xbox Live Gold was rebranded to Xbox Game Pass Core in 2023. If you're still paying, here's an important fact: free-to-play games (Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends, Rocket League) no longer require any subscription.

Cancel from Web (Fastest)

1. Go to account.microsoft.com/services
2. Sign in with your Microsoft/Xbox account
3. Find Xbox Game Pass Core (or Game Pass Standard/Ultimate)
4. Click Manage → Cancel
5. Follow the prompts — Microsoft will offer alternatives, click through them
6. Confirm cancellation

Cancel from Xbox Console

1. Press the Xbox button → Profile & system
2. Go to Settings → Account → Subscriptions
3. Select your Game Pass subscription
4. Choose Cancel

Xbox Game Pass Tiers Explained

Do You Actually Need It?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you only play free-to-play games? → Cancel. You don't need a subscription for Fortnite, Warzone, Apex, or Rocket League anymore.
• Do you mainly play single-player games you bought? → Cancel Core. You don't need a subscription to play games you own offline.
• Do you play the Game Pass library regularly? → Worth keeping Standard or Ultimate.
• Do you have Game Pass but only use it for online multiplayer? → Downgrade to Core ($9.99) from Ultimate ($19.99).

Prepaid Time

If you bought a prepaid Game Pass code (from a store or online), cancelling won't refund the remaining time. Your subscription continues until the prepaid period ends, then it simply won't renew.