Update – Removing Credit Cards from Xbox Account
Removing your credit card information from Xbox LIVE has always been a pain in the rear for many subscribers. Quite a few people felt uncomfortable with their credit card information being “stuck” on their account especially when consoles are traded in, sold or otherwise passed on to new people. I posted an article about removing your credit card information back in April 2007 that worked for some but for many others, the process was still a headache. People are still commenting on that article as a matter of fact with weird ways to resolve this.
Well take a seat because I’m about to totally blow your mind. You can now easily remove your credit cards from your account with the simple click of a mouse button. Yes, that process has become extremely easy now. I want to update you on exactly how you can go about removing your credit cards from your account. This may have been known by most but I’m sure there was at least one person out there who wasn’t aware because to be honest, even I just found this information.
- Log on to Xbox.com and select Manage Profile (click for larger image)
- Select Manage Payment Options (click for larger image)
- Click “Remove” on the credit card you want to remove & it’s gone (click for larger image)
One thing to note is that the credit card needs to be free of Auto Renewal. If it’s tied to an active subscription set to Auto Renew, you’ll have to call Xbox Support and remove auto renewal before being able to remove your credit card on file. And there must be at least one card on file if you have an active subscription. If you’re a Silver member you can remove every card on file but active Gold members need at least one active card on file.
I hope this eases some concerns out there. It surely put a smile on my face to know that this process is pretty easy and mindless now as it should have always been. If you know of someone who may not know, be sure to pass the word around and point them to this article.
Remember, your account is accessible via the email address you used when creating your Gamertag and establishing it as a Windows Live ID. So be sure to remember the email address you signed up with.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Yeah well then go to the xbox site and turn off autorenewal (this has to be off first before removing card)….since apparently we can do that now, but not a couple months ago…then look at the date which for auto-renewal…okay so by this time you turned off auto-renewal yes?..now wait until that date comes for auto renewal (xbox site will say something like “hey! put your auto-renewal back on! we want your money!”….then on that day (maybe its better to do it the following day) go to account information or whatever it’s called, and click “remove” to remove your credit card..
so really this is all like a 2-part process 
November 9th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
If your expired credit card is tied to your xbox live account then you will no be able to delete it or change to another account from your console or xbox.com. Instead, you have to go here –>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/819003/ and follow the link to microsoft billing to change your payment method and remove your expired credit card
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:03 am
I just removed auto renewal via the web on the accounts page. All you do is go to “Membership Level”, keep clicking “Next, Next, Next” till you get to the auto renewal page (Good job in hiding this feature so deeply M$). And then click Off. Simple… Now if i go back to my accounts page it says my account will expire in X days, haha sweet, now i dont have to call them! woot!
June 30th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
This is not working for me… even when i go to membership level if i keep pressing next itll try to buy something
July 1st, 2010 at 6:57 am
obviously the steps have changed with the many revisions to Xbox.com. i’ll try to update the procedures soon.
September 14th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
just turned this horrible function off too… bloody m$
June 20th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
I hate this, XBOX SUCKS @55 when it comes to removing credit cards for payment. I am soooo pissed off, an reading comment after comment of everyone having the same dam problem. Ya’d think they would have this fixed by now….What happens to people who don’t have credit cards??? are they even allow on Live to play???
But thank you DeaconBlade for trying to help
March 10th, 2013 at 5:05 pm
i gotta question… i just added a 12 month card to my xbox and im trying to remove a credit card. but it doesnt let me. it says remove payment or edit card. im afraid if i remove it, the 12 month card will cancel… any help?
March 11th, 2013 at 7:57 am
it won’t cancel. but it’ll likely not allow you to remove it because it’s attached to that card. worth a shot . but nope, it won’t cancel your 12 month.