Microsoft Suddenly Shuts Down Movies & TV Store on Xbox and Windows 11, Leaving Many Users Disappointed

Microsoft has officially pulled the plug on its Movies & TV Store across both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. As of July 18, 2025, it is no longer possible to purchase or rent any new movies or TV shows through the Microsoft Store. The announcement came with no advance notice, catching many off guard and marking the definitive end to nearly two decades of Microsoft’s ambitions in the digital entertainment space.

What Happens to Your Existing Purchases?

Microsoft has stated that all previously purchased content remains accessible. Users can continue to view movies and shows they’ve already bought, but only via the dedicated Movies & TV app on Xbox or Windows. Playback and downloads remain available in HD resolution on Windows devices. However, streaming or accessing new content is no longer possible within the Microsoft ecosystem.

• No refunds: Microsoft is not offering refunds for past purchases. The company has explicitly referenced its Store Terms of Sale, which state that purchased movies and TV shows are ineligible for refunds.

• No transfers (except for Movies Anywhere): Users cannot transfer their purchased library to another service unless their titles are part of the Movies Anywhere program in the US. This service allows eligible movies purchased from Microsoft to sync across platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Google TV. Titles not included in Movies Anywhere will remain locked to Microsoft’s Movies & TV app.

• Continued support: Microsoft will continue to provide support for playback issues and previously purchased content, but the company has offered no guarantees about how long servers (necessary for content authorization and streaming) will remain operational.

Why Did Microsoft Shut Down the Store?

While the company has not explained its decision in detail, several factors provide context:

• Shift in Consumer Behavior: With the rapid rise of streaming giants—Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Apple TV, Disney+, and others—most viewers have gravitated toward seamless, subscription-based services. The Movies & TV app, locked into Microsoft’s platform and never ported to mobile devices, couldn’t keep pace with the flexibility or broad reach of competitors.

• Business Rationalization: Microsoft’s move follows a broader trend of shedding underperforming or redundant services, including the closure of Groove Music in 2017. Streamlining the Microsoft Store experience and focusing on profitable business lines—like Azure, Surface, Copilot, and Xbox gaming—appear to be their new priority.

• Industry-Wide Trend: Sony discontinued video sales on the PlayStation Store in 2021, and now, with Microsoft’s exit, no game console in the market offers direct movie or TV purchases—ending a chapter in multimedia access for console owners.

• Cost: Maintaining digital storefronts for TV and movie sales, including content licensing and infrastructure, is expensive. Especially as users move to third-party apps, these costs can outweigh the benefits for a company as large as Microsoft.

A Look Back: Microsoft’s Long Digital Video Journey

The shutdown closes a tumultuous, nearly two-decade effort that saw multiple rebrandings and false starts:

• 2006: Launched as Zune Marketplace, carrying movies and music for the Zune media player.

• 2012: Rebranded as Xbox Video as Microsoft began focusing content around the Xbox platform.

• 2015: Evolved into the Movies & TV app, integrated into Windows 10 and the broader Microsoft Store.

• 2025: Storefront is now discontinued, ending Microsoft’s aspirations to be a leading digital entertainment retailer.

The Fallout for Movies & TV Store Users

1. Access Limited to Microsoft Ecosystem
All existing libraries are now walled into the Movies & TV app on Xbox and Windows. There are no options to export, transfer, or back up content elsewhere unless the title is eligible under Movies Anywhere and the user is based in the US.

2. No New Digital Media Purchases on Consoles
The era of buying and owning movies or TV shows on Xbox, as you once could with the Xbox 360, has ended. All digital purchases of non-gaming media, including content from the Movies & TV Store, are now unsupported on consoles from both Microsoft and Sony.

3. Ongoing Support… But for How Long?
Microsoft promises continued support for existing users but has not committed to maintaining content servers indefinitely. As seen with other tech companies, users are rightfully nervous about how permanent their purchased digital libraries actually are.

4. Users Directed to Third-Party Alternatives
Microsoft is now directing customers towards rival video-on-demand services. Official support pages mention Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home as alternatives on Xbox and Windows.

What Should Microsoft Movies & TV Store Users Do Next?

• If you live in the US and have titles eligible for Movies Anywhere, sync your library as soon as possible so you can watch your purchased movies on other devices and apps.

• Download your purchased movies and shows via the Movies & TV app on Windows if you intend to keep offline copies (limited to HD resolution).

• Explore alternative services for new purchases instead of using the Movies & TV Store—Prime Video, Apple TV, Netflix, and others now offer a broader library, superior integration across devices, and more consistent support.

• Monitor Microsoft’s support updates for new developments about server longevity or additional migration tools.

The End of an Era

Microsoft’s digital video journey, originating with the Zune Marketplace in 2006, has officially reached its conclusion. The closure of the Movies & TV store is not just the latest in Microsoft’s rolling purge of consumer-facing media services but also signifies the end of console-based digital sales of TV and movies. As digital storefronts consolidate around a handful of streaming giants, Xbox and Windows users have little choice but to move with the tides.

For long-time Microsoft fans and digital video collectors, today’s shutdown of Movies & TV store marks a significant transition—one wrapped in nostalgia, disappointment, and the uneasy realization that digital ownership is, ultimately, at the mercy of platform holders.