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After almost two decades, Microsoft is finally exiting the movie and TV distribution business. Going forward, Microsoft will no longer offer new movies or TV shows for purchase on Microsoft.com, the Microsoft Store on Windows, or the Microsoft Store on Xbox.
Users are not eligible for refunds on content they’ve already bought, with Microsoft pointing to the Microsoft Store's Terms of Sale. However, you can continue to access content you've previously purchased in the Movies & TV app on your Xbox or Windows devices. Microsoft also says it will continue providing tech support for any film and TV content you've already purchased through its official stores.
The good news is that if you're in the US, you can sign up for the Movies Anywhere platform to connect your Microsoft-purchased movies with other Movies Anywhere retailers, including iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu, and Comcast’s Xfinity. Launched in 2014, Movies Anywhere is a cloud-based digital rights locker and streaming platform that allows users to stream, download and store movies they’ve purchased elsewhere.
Microsoft didn’t provide any details about what motivated its decision to shut down the storefront, but the move shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. Though it remains an unavoidable player in the world of video games, Microsoft has already shut down most of its platforms providing traditional media content. Microsoft Groove, which started life as Zune Music, was discontinued in 2017 after struggling to compete with rivals like Spotify, Google Play Music, and Apple’s iTunes.
If you're interested in moving your media library to Movies Anywhere, head to its website or open the Movies Anywhere app, available on the App Store or Google Play. In the mobile app, tap your profile picture, then tap the Settings (gear) icon. If you're using the website, click the arrow next to your profile name and select Settings. Then choose Manage Retailers, and tap Connect next to the digital retailer you want to link.
You’ll be directed to Microsoft to complete the process—just follow the on-screen instructions to connect your accounts. Once you're done, return to Movies Anywhere to confirm that your accounts are connected.
Unfortunately, it's important to note that not all major streaming platforms are integrated with Movies Anywhere. If your preferred platform is Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Paramount+, or Peacock, you might have to settle for your second choice when exporting your Microsoft library.