Microsoft has officially pulled the plug on its digital movie and TV storefront, ending its role as a content distributor in the streaming economy. As of July 2025, users can no longer purchase films or television shows from Microsoft.com, the Microsoft Store on Windows, or the Microsoft Store on Xbox.
The company posted a support notice confirming the shutdown: “Microsoft no longer offers new entertainment content for purchase, including movies and TV shows.” While sales have stopped, any content previously purchased will still be accessible. Users can continue to watch their digital libraries through the Movies & TV app on Xbox consoles or Windows devices.
For U.S.-based users, there’s a partial workaround through the Movies Anywhere program, which allows select titles to be moved to other supported platforms. But for most international users, digital ownership remains locked inside Microsoft’s own ecosystem.
Refunds, however, are not on the table. Microsoft’s terms of sale have never allowed returns for digital content, and that’s not changing. If you purchased a movie last week thinking you’d found a hidden gem, you’re keeping it—whether or not it ages like fine wine.
This move officially marks Microsoft’s exit from the digital entertainment retail space. The company previously ended its Groove Music service (formerly Xbox Music) back in 2017, and with the demise of its Movies & TV store, Microsoft has now withdrawn completely from direct content sales. The shift reflects broader trends in media consumption: instead of trying to compete with platforms like Netflix, Apple TV, or Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft appears content to focus on partnerships and its hardware and software ecosystems.
If you’re someone who forgot the Microsoft movie store ever existed, you’re not alone. The platform was never a dominant player in the streaming market and rarely made headlines unless it was for discontinuing something. Still, for those who did use it—particularly Xbox users who enjoyed a centralized way to buy and view content—it’s another reminder that digital storefronts can be as temporary as physical video stores once were.
As Microsoft recommends, users looking to rent or purchase new content will now need to turn to third-party platforms. For now, the Movies & TV app will continue to function as a playback tool for previously purchased titles, but its days of new releases are officially over.
