Yes, you can request a refund for most purchases made on Xbox. Microsoft’s official refund policy allows Xbox users to request refunds on games, downloadable content, subscriptions, and consumable virtual items in certain circumstances.
What types of Xbox purchases are eligible for a refund?
The majority of content purchased through the Xbox Store is eligible for a refund request, including:
- Full games
- Downloadable content (DLC) and add-ons
- Season passes
- Subscriptions like Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass
- Consumable virtual items like in-game currency
There are a few exceptions to the refund policy. Things that cannot be refunded include:
- One-time purchases of live TV
- Virtual land claims for games
- Items purchased for free, including Games with Gold titles
- Gifts and gift cards
But for the most part, if you buy something through the Xbox Store, you can request a refund within Microsoft’s policy limits.
When can you request an Xbox refund?
Microsoft allows refund requests on eligible purchases within 14 days of purchase. So you have a two week window to ask for a refund.
The 14 day countdown starts on the actual purchase date, which is whenever the transaction first processes. For pre-orders, the timeline begins on the day the content is available to play or use.
As long as you request the refund within that 14 day period, you are eligible under the standard policy terms.
How do you request a refund on Xbox purchases?
To request a refund on Xbox, you need to go through Microsoft’s official refund process:
- Open the Microsoft Store on your Xbox One console.
- Navigate to the My Library section.
- Select the content you want to request a refund for.
- Choose Request a refund from the menu options.
- Select the reason for your refund request.
- Confirm the request.
Alternatively, you can request the refund online:
- Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in.
- Click Payment & billing > Order history.
- Find the order and choose Request a refund.
- Pick a reason for the refund request.
- Confirm to submit the request.
After submitting the request, Microsoft will review it against their refund criteria. As long as you meet the requirements, the refund is typically approved and processed automatically within 2-3 days.
What reasons can you select for an Xbox refund?
When submitting a refund request, you need to choose one of the approved refund reasons:
- Accidental purchase – Selected by mistake.
- Bought wrong item – Didn’t mean to buy this specific product.
- Item doesn’t work – Technical issues or incompatibility.
- Item not as described – Different than marketed or expected.
- Item no longer wanted – Change of mind or preference.
Pick the reason that best represents why you want to refund your purchase. Microsoft may ask for more details to validate certain reasons.
Does Microsoft always approve Xbox refund requests?
Microsoft reviews every Xbox refund request, but approval is not guaranteed. Here are some cases where a refund could be denied:
- The purchase was made over 14 days ago.
- The content has already been used or played extensively.
- It is a non-refundable product like a gift card.
- Refunds were requested too frequently on the account.
Digital content refunds are ultimately at Microsoft’s discretion based on their policies. But in most cases for eligible purchases, they will approve requests that meet the standard criteria.
Can you get a refund on Xbox Game Pass?
Yes, Microsoft allows refunds on Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, with some limitations.
You can request a pro-rated refund within 14 days if you haven’t used the subscription. For example, if you bought a 1 month Game Pass subscription but request a refund after 5 days, you would get back around 75% of the purchase price.
However, Microsoft will not approve refunds if you have already redeemed and used Game Pass perks and in-game content. So you need to act fast if requesting a new subscription refund.
How long does it take to process an Xbox refund?
If approved, Xbox refunds are usually processed within 2-3 business days. The funds are returned to the original payment method used for the purchase.
Here are the typical timeframes:
- Credit/debit card – 2-3 business days.
- Gift cards – 5-7 business days.
- PayPal – 2-3 business days.
- Microsoft account balance – Instant.
After the refund is issued, it may take an additional few days for the funds to fully settle back into your account depending on your bank or payment provider.
Can you get a refund on Xbox Live Gold?
Microsoft allows Xbox users to request refunds on new Xbox Live Gold subscriptions, under similar conditions as Game Pass:
- Refunds are prorated based on the time remaining in the subscription period.
- Requests must be made within 14 days of purchase.
- Refunds are not allowed if you have used subscription perks like Games with Gold.
You cannot get a refund on auto-renewing or existing Xbox Live Gold subscriptions. But new subscriptions are eligible for prorated refunds if acted on quickly.
Can you return a downloaded Xbox game?
Yes, you can request a refund on Xbox games purchased and downloaded digitally through the Xbox Store. This includes full games, DLC packs, season passes, and other downloadable gaming content.
The same 14 day policy applies, so you need to act fast if requesting a refund on a downloaded title. As long as the content hasn’t been used extensively, you should qualify for a refund under Microsoft’s standard policy.
What if you pre-ordered a game on Xbox?
Pre-ordered games and add-ons can also be refunded, as long as you request it within 14 days of the content becoming available.
So if you pre-order a game months in advance, the 14 day window starts on the actual release date when you can first download and play the full game.
Can you get a refund on Xbox in-game purchases?
Yes, Microsoft does allow refund requests on in-game purchases and virtual currencies bought through the Xbox Store. This includes things like:
- V-Bucks in Fortnite
- FIFA Points in FIFA games
- Gems in various free-to-play games
- Character skins and upgrades
- Season passes that grant in-game items
The same policies and 14 day timeline applies. Note that content or currency that has already been redeemed in-game is no longer eligible for refund.
What options exist if Microsoft denies an Xbox refund?
If your Xbox refund request gets rejected by Microsoft, you do have a few options:
- Submit an appeal – Politely explain why you feel you should still qualify for a refund under the policy terms.
- Request account credit – See if you can get Xbox account balance instead of a monetary refund.
- Dispute the charge – Go through your bank or payment provider to dispute and potentially reverse the transaction.
- Resell the item – For things like digital game codes, you may be able to re-sell if unused to recoup some of the cost.
Appealing the decision or disputing the charge with your bank are the two most likely ways to overturn an initially denied refund. But there is still no guarantee they will work.
Can a gifted Xbox purchase be refunded?
If an Xbox product was purchased as a gift for someone else, only the gift recipient can request the refund – the original gift purchaser cannot.
Microsoft’s policy states that the person redeeming and using the content is the one who must initiate the refund process if unhappy with the product.
However, timing and usage restrictions still apply. So gifting a brand new game that the recipient immediately tries to refund is unlikely to be approved.
Does playing an Xbox game affect refund eligibility?
Yes, any usage of an Xbox product can impact your refund eligibility and how much you can get back.
Microsoft is unlikely to approve a refund request if you have already put significant time into playing the game. However, briefly launching or testing out a game should not affect your refund approval odds.
For partially used products, the amount refunded may be prorated based on your usage. But extensive use will simply make the content ineligible to be refunded in most cases.
Can you get a refund on Xbox consumable items?
Virtual consumable items like in-game currencies and power-ups can be refunded, but with limitations:
- Consumables can only be refunded if they haven’t already been redeemed in-game.
- Partially used consumable balances may be refunded at a prorated amount.
- Certain very cheap consumables may not be eligible for refund at all.
As a rule of thumb, unused consumable balances and items can be refunded, but anything already activated in-game is ineligible.
What’s the best way to get an Xbox refund approved?
To maximize your chances of success when requesting an Xbox refund, follow these tips:
- Request the refund as soon as possible – within the 14 day window.
- Avoid downloading or playing the product extensively before requesting the refund.
- Pick the most truthful refund reason that matches your situation.
- Politely follow-up or appeal if your refund gets denied initially.
The most frictionless refunds are requested quickly on unused content. But even if you’ve played a game some already, being within the 14 day policy and asking nicely can help.
Key Takeaways
The key points on getting refunds for Xbox purchases:
- Most games, DLC, subscriptions, and consumables are eligible for refunds.
- Requests must be made within 14 days of purchase.
- Content cannot have been extensively used or played.
- Refunds apply to digital purchases, disc-based games must be returned to the retailer.
- Refunds are credited back to the original payment method used.
By following Microsoft’s policy requirements, you can safely request a refund on most accidental, unwanted, or non-functioning Xbox purchases.
The Bottom Line
Microsoft aims to make requesting Xbox refunds a smooth, hassle-free process. Their 14 day refund policy window gives you adequate time to evaluate purchases and get your money back if needed.
As long as you act quickly and refrain from excessive usage, you can reliably refund eligible Xbox content that is unused, unwanted, or not working properly. Just be sure to submit refund requests through the official Xbox and Microsoft channels per the guidelines.