Does Xbox Live Automatically Renew?
Xbox Live auto-renewal is a feature that allows your subscription to continue uninterrupted, but it can also lead to unexpected charges if not managed properly, so it’s essential to understand how it works and how to cancel or manage your subscription. To answer the question directly, yes, Xbox Live does automatically renew, but you can turn off recurring billing at any time to prevent this from happening.
Understanding Xbox Live Auto-Renewal
Xbox Live is a subscription-based service that provides online gaming, free games, and discounts to its users, and it can be purchased as a monthly or annual subscription, with the option to auto-renew at the end of each billing cycle.
Managing Your Xbox Live Subscription
To manage your Xbox Live subscription, you can sign in to your Microsoft account, go to the Subscriptions section, and select Manage next to the subscription you want to cancel or turn off recurring billing.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I stop Xbox Live auto-renewal? You can stop Xbox Live auto-renewal by signing in to your Microsoft account, going to the Subscriptions section, and selecting Cancel subscription or Turn off recurring billing.
- Do I need to pay for Xbox Live every month? You only need to pay for Xbox Live Gold if you want to play games online and access special bonuses, but Xbox Live is free and provides basic online functionality.
- What happens when Xbox Live expires? After 24 months of inactivity, Microsoft will turn off recurring billing for that subscription, and your subscription will terminate after the current term has expired.
- Can I cancel Xbox Live anytime? Yes, you can cancel your Xbox membership at any time if you no longer use it or want to take a break from gaming.
- Do I need Xbox Live to play online? Depending on the game, you may need Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or a subscription to Xbox Game Pass Core to play online, but free-to-play online multiplayer games no longer require a subscription.
- What happens if I don’t pay my Xbox Live? If you don’t pay your Xbox Live, your access to the service will be terminated, and your account will revert back to the silver/free version of XBL.
- How do I know if I am still paying for Xbox Live? You can view and manage your subscriptions on Xbox by pressing the Xbox button, going to Profile & system > Settings > Account > Subscriptions.
- Why did Xbox stop 12-month subscription? Microsoft stopped offering a yearly plan for Xbox Live Gold, possibly because it is being replaced with the launch of the Xbox Series X.
- How much is the Xbox monthly fee? An Xbox Game Pass Core subscription costs $10 a month or $60 per year, and members get online multiplayer support and access to a collection of games.
- What’s the difference between Xbox Live and Game Pass? Xbox Live allows for online multiplayer and comes with access to 25 games, while Game Pass Console includes access to over 100 Xbox games but does not include online multiplayer.
- How do I stop Microsoft from automatically renewing my account? You can turn off recurring billing on the Services & subscriptions page by locating your Microsoft 365 subscription and selecting Manage.
- Does Xbox Live no longer have a yearly subscription? Microsoft is no longer selling the 12-month Xbox Live Gold subscription plan, but you can purchase it as a prepaid card through another retailer.
- Why is Xbox Live Gold so expensive? Microsoft invests in its community by strengthening digital safety, enabling new ways to share and play, and delivering industry-leading reliability, which justifies the price of Xbox Live Gold.
- Does money on Xbox expire? Microsoft funds do not expire, but funds added through promotions or the Microsoft rewards program do expire.
- Is there a way to get Xbox Live for free? You can join Microsoft Rewards to earn Microsoft Points, which you can redeem for Xbox Live Gold free subscriptions, or take advantage of free trials or promotions like Xbox Live Gold Free Play Days.