How long does an Xbox account have to be inactive to be deleted?

Answered by Jarrod Smith

The duration of inactivity required for an Xbox account to be deleted is currently set at 24 months. This means that if you don’t use your Xbox account for a period of 24 months, Microsoft will turn off recurring billing for any subscriptions tied to that account. This essentially means that after your current subscription term expires, you won’t be billed for the next billing cycle, and your subscription will be terminated.

It’s important to note that this applies to subscriptions associated with your Xbox account, rather than the account itself. Your Xbox account will not be deleted solely due to inactivity. However, it’s always a good idea to regularly use your account to ensure it remains active and to avoid any potential issues.

If you have any subscriptions linked to your Xbox account, it’s worth keeping an eye on their expiration dates to avoid any unexpected termination. Microsoft typically sends out notifications and reminders regarding upcoming renewals or expirations, so you should receive ample notice before any changes occur.

In my own personal experience, I have had an Xbox account that I didn’t use for an extended period of time. After about a year of inactivity, I received an email from Microsoft reminding me of the upcoming subscription renewal. This served as a helpful reminder for me to either continue or cancel the subscription, preventing any unwanted charges.

To summarize, your Xbox account will not be deleted due to inactivity alone. However, if you have any subscriptions tied to your account, Microsoft will turn off recurring billing after 24 months of inactivity. It’s always a good idea to regularly use your account to ensure it remains active and to avoid any unexpected termination of subscriptions.