How To Request A Refund On Xbox
Image: Microsoft

Games are a wonderful thing, but sometimes they fail to live up to expectations, or in some situations, are downright broken. To no surprise, you'll probably be looking to refund the game if you hit this wall, but unless you know what to do, it's not as simple as you may expect.

To help you out along the way, here's a step-by-step guide on how to request a refund on Xbox.

How To Request A Refund On Xbox

To start, there are some important terms and conditions worth noting. As stated on the Xbox Support page, most purchases are not eligible for a refund after 14 days. There's been a few exceptions to this rule, with titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, but for the most part, you have a 14-day window.

Another important bit of information to know is that submitting a request does not guarantee a refund, so while this guide will point you in the right direction, Xbox has every right to refuse your refund.

Step One
Go to the "Request an Xbox refund" page at Xbox Support.
Step Two
Ensure that you're signed in.
Step Three
A list will appear. Scroll through until you find the item you wish to refund.
Step Four
Tick the box of the item you want to refund, return to the top of the page and press "Request a refund".
Step Five
A pop-up box will appear. You'll be asked for the following: A reason for the request, additional details and your email address. Click next and then submit.
Step Six
Now you'll have to wait for a response. You can click the tab "Refund status" next to "Request availability" to see how the process is going.

How To Request A Subscription Refund

Along with game and media purchases, you can also request an Xbox subscription refund. Maybe you've picked up an Xbox Game Pass sub by accident or have an EA Play membership you don't need. Thankfully, you can sort it all out via Xbox Support.

Step One
Go to the Services & subscriptions page for your account.
Step Two
Select Manage next to the subscription you want to cancel.
Step Three
In the Payment settings section, follow the steps to cancel your subscription.
Step Four
Next, choose between Don’t charge me on (next renewal date) and Cancel immediately and get a refund. If you don’t qualify for a refund, you’ll be prompted to Turn off recurring billing and won’t see a refund option.

How To Return A Physical Product Purchased Via Xbox

You may or may not know, but you can also purchase physical items via your Xbox - even a new console! As with anything though, sometimes electrical goods just don't work, or worse yet, arrive damaged. Again, you can go through a refund process if you run into any issues.

Step One
Go to your order history on your Microsoft Account.
Step Two
Select "Request a refund". As stated by the Xbox Support page: "If you don’t see Request a return, your item may not be eligible for a return".
Step Three
Follow the instructions on the screen to get a prepaid shipping label for the return.
Step Four
Once Xbox has received your purchase, you'll either receive a replacement or a refund.

How To Cancel A Pre-Order

One of the best things in the digital age is the ability to pre-order games, allowing you to pre-order the game ahead of its launch. Unfortunately, some games review poorly or are confirmed to be littered with bugs before their release, giving you a bit of buyer's remorse.

Luckily, there's an option to cancel pre-orders, ensuring you don't have to play something you no longer want.

Step One
Go to your order history on your Microsoft Account.
Step Two
Find your pre-ordered item.
Step Three
Select "Cancel item". You don't need to submit a refund request and if you've been charged, those funds should automatically be refunded to you.

There you have it! Everything you need to know about refunding your items on Xbox. It's a pretty simple procedure and should help you out in a few situations.

Has this guide helped you? Let us know in the comments below.