Microsoft has pulled the plug on new movie and television purchases and rentals through Microsoft.com, the Microsoft Store on Windows, and the Microsoft Store on Xbox. Existing customers have not necessarily lost their libraries: Microsoft says previously purchased content remains playable in the Movies & TV app on Xbox and Windows, and downloaded purchases remain available on Windows.
Microsoft has ended new movie and TV purchases and rentals through Microsoft.com, the Microsoft Store on Windows, and the Microsoft Store on Xbox. The shutdown does not mean that previously purchased content has immediately vanished. Microsoft’s current support guidance says customers can still watch purchased movies and TV shows in the Movies & TV app on supported Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Windows users can continue playing downloaded purchases.
The practical change is the end of Microsoft’s storefront—not an automatic deletion of every movie or episode already attached to a customer’s Microsoft account. However, Microsoft also says there is no direct way to transfer that library to another video service, and ordinary refunds for digital movies and TV shows are generally unavailable.
What Microsoft has shut down
Microsoft no longer offers new entertainment content for purchase through:
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- Microsoft.com;
- the Microsoft Store on Windows; and
- the Microsoft Store on Xbox.
That includes new movie and television purchases and rentals. Readers may have encountered reports identifying July 18, 2025, as the date the change became public. That date comes from contemporaneous reporting; Microsoft’s current support wording states the policy in the present tense but does not prominently specify a shutdown date on the page itself.
“Abruptly” describes how the change felt to customers, but it is safer not to claim that Microsoft gave no notice unless a dated Microsoft announcement establishing that point is available.
Previously purchased movies and shows should still be available
Microsoft says previously purchased movies and television shows remain accessible through the Movies & TV app on Xbox and Windows. Windows customers can also continue watching content they downloaded, including downloads in the HD maximum resolution supported by Microsoft’s guidance.
This means the immediate steps are preservation and verification—not panic-buying or trying to rebuild an entire library elsewhere.
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- Open the Movies & TV app on the Xbox or Windows device associated with the Microsoft account used for the purchase.
- Check the Purchased or Library section and confirm that important titles appear.
- Download priority titles on Windows if you want an offline copy available under Microsoft’s current guidance.
- Verify the correct Microsoft account. A title missing from one account may have been purchased through another account, particularly in a household with multiple Xbox or Microsoft logins.
- Contact Microsoft Support if a previously purchased title does not appear, will not download, or will not play. Microsoft directs customers with problems involving purchased movies and television shows to Support.
Microsoft’s device-association guidance says purchased content can be downloaded to up to five devices and redownloaded as many times as needed, subject to the applicable account and service conditions. That is useful protection for customers replacing a Windows PC or setting up another supported device, but it is not a promise that the service will remain available forever or that every playback problem will be resolved.
This is not the same as the Xbox 360 Store closure
Microsoft’s current shutdown covers new movie and television transactions on Microsoft.com, Windows, and Xbox. It should not be confused with the earlier Xbox 360 Store and Xbox 360 Marketplace closure.
Microsoft announced that the Xbox 360 Store and Marketplace would stop supporting new purchases on July 29, 2024. As part of that separate change, the Movies & TV app stopped functioning on Xbox 360 after that date. The 2024 event did not mean that all Xbox consoles lost access to previously purchased Movies & TV content.
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- The available storage capacity may vary.
| Change | Scope | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox 360 Store closure | Xbox 360 Store and Marketplace | New purchases ended July 29, 2024; Movies & TV no longer functions on Xbox 360. |
| Current Movies & TV storefront shutdown | Microsoft.com, Windows Store, and Xbox Store | New movie and TV purchases and rentals are no longer offered; previously purchased content remains supported under Microsoft’s current guidance. |
Can Microsoft purchases be transferred to Amazon, Apple, or another service?
No direct transfer is available. Microsoft says purchased content cannot be moved directly to another service. Customers should not expect to export a Microsoft Movies & TV library to Amazon, Apple, Google, Fandango at Home, or another retailer.
A new account at another service may provide a place to buy or rent future titles, but it does not automatically recreate the purchases already associated with a Microsoft account. Be especially cautious of any guide promising a universal migration, file export, or guaranteed restoration of an entire Microsoft library.
Movies Anywhere helps with some films—but not television shows
There is a limited exception for eligible movies. Microsoft’s Movies Anywhere information describes access to supported films purchased through Microsoft Movies & TV. When a title and account meet Movies Anywhere’s requirements, the film may be watchable through Movies Anywhere on Xbox, Windows, iOS, Android, and supported streaming devices.
That is an eligibility-based access arrangement, not a universal migration system. Before relying on it, check:
- whether the title is an eligible film;
- whether the purchase qualifies under the current Movies Anywhere rules;
- whether the Microsoft account can be connected as required; and
- whether the device and region are supported.
Television episodes and series do not fit the same eligible-film model. A customer should not assume that a season purchased through Microsoft will appear in Movies Anywhere simply because a particular movie does.
For U.S. readers choosing where to buy future digital movies, Movies Anywhere-compatible retailers may be worth considering when cross-service access is important. That still depends on the individual film, participating retailers, account rules, and regional availability. It does not move an entire Microsoft library after the fact.
Are refunds available?
Generally, no. Microsoft’s digital-goods refund policy says movies and television shows are not eligible for returns under the ordinary policy. Microsoft’s Movies & TV support guidance likewise says customers cannot receive a refund under the standard arrangement and can continue playing purchased content.
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- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
The important qualification is “generally.” Microsoft’s policy preserves refund rights that may apply under local law. That does not amount to a blanket refund program for everyone affected by the storefront shutdown. If a title is missing or fails to play, contact Microsoft Support rather than assuming a refund will be approved.
Where can customers buy or rent movies now?
Microsoft identifies Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home as alternative entertainment services available through Xbox and Windows stores. These services can offer different combinations of subscriptions, rentals, purchases, and supported-device playback.
They are alternatives for future viewing—not destinations for transferring existing Microsoft purchases. Catalog rights, release windows, rental periods, purchase prices, device support, and availability vary by country and can change over time. Check the current listing before buying, especially if you want a specific resolution, subtitle track, extras, or cross-device access.
| If you want to… | Most realistic option | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Watch a movie already purchased from Microsoft | Use Movies & TV on a supported Xbox or Windows device. | Sign in to the purchasing account; contact Microsoft Support if the title is missing. |
| Watch a purchased movie away from Microsoft’s app | Check whether the film is eligible for Movies Anywhere. | Eligibility does not cover every film and does not apply as a universal solution to TV shows. |
| Buy or rent a new release | Compare services such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. | Prices, catalog rights, regions, and rental terms vary. |
| Move the full Microsoft library elsewhere | No direct migration route is available. | Do not rely on claims that Microsoft purchases can be universally exported or transferred. |
If the Movies & TV app stops working
A playback failure after the storefront shutdown does not prove that the purchase has been deleted. First distinguish an account or app problem from the storefront policy itself.
- Confirm that the device is supported and connected to the internet when account verification is required.
- Sign out and back in with the Microsoft account that made the purchase.
- Check for Windows, Xbox, and Movies & TV app updates.
- Try a title that was previously downloaded on Windows, if one is available.
- Record the title, device, account, error message, and whether the problem affects one item or the whole library.
- Use Microsoft Support for missing purchases, failed downloads, or playback problems.
Do not use a PC-cleanup utility or unrelated repair product as a supposed way to restore Microsoft’s store, ownership rights, or an unavailable title. A separate Windows repair tool could only address an independent computer or app problem; it cannot reverse Microsoft’s commercial decision or transfer a digital entitlement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the shutdown means for digital ownership
The episode illustrates the difference between a digital purchase and a permanent, service-independent copy. Microsoft’s current policy preserves access to previously purchased content through its supported apps and account systems, but it does not provide a direct export to another retailer. Access therefore depends on the account, app, device support, licensing arrangements, and continued operation of the relevant playback service.
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For future purchases, readers who value flexibility should compare more than price. Check whether a title participates in an interoperability program such as Movies Anywhere, which devices can play it, whether downloads are supported, and what the retailer’s refund and account policies say. None of those checks eliminates every risk, but they can reduce dependence on a single storefront.
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- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
The bottom line
Microsoft has stopped selling and renting new movies and TV shows through its web, Windows, and Xbox stores. It has not said that previously purchased libraries were immediately erased: its current guidance says those titles remain playable in Movies & TV on Xbox and Windows, with Windows downloads still available.
There is no universal transfer to another service, and refunds are generally unavailable except where applicable law requires otherwise. Eligible films may work with Movies Anywhere, but television purchases and nonparticipating movies do not automatically follow. The safest response is to verify your library, download important Windows titles, check eligible films through Movies Anywhere, and use Microsoft Support for account or playback problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Microsoft delete previously purchased movies and TV shows?
No. Microsoft says previously purchased movies and TV shows remain available through the Movies & TV app on supported Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. Windows users can also continue playing downloaded purchases under the current guidance.
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No direct transfer is available. Microsoft says purchased content cannot be moved directly to another service. Eligible films may be accessible through Movies Anywhere, but this is not a universal solution and does not apply in the same way to television episodes or series.
Can I get a refund for Microsoft movies and TV shows?
Generally, no. Microsoft’s digital-goods policy says movies and TV shows are ordinarily ineligible for returns, subject to refund rights required by applicable law. Contact Microsoft Support if a purchased title is missing or will not play.
Is this the same as the Xbox 360 Store shutdown?
The Xbox 360 Store closure was a separate change that ended new Xbox 360 purchases on July 29, 2024 and stopped the Movies & TV app from functioning on Xbox 360. The newer shutdown covers new movie and TV transactions through Microsoft.com, Windows, and Xbox.
The Bottom Line
Microsoft’s Movies & TV storefront is closed to new movie and TV purchases and rentals across Microsoft.com, Windows, and Xbox, but existing purchases remain available under Microsoft’s current support guidance. There is no universal library transfer or ordinary refund program; only eligible films may be accessible through Movies Anywhere.
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