Why You're Seeing "MICROSOFTSTORE*" on Your Bank Statement

A MICROSOFTSTORE* charge on your bank statement comes from the Microsoft Store, Microsoft's official retail platform for software, games, apps, and devices. This charge appears when you've made a purchase through the Microsoft Store, whether that's a new app, a game for Xbox or PC, a subscription upgrade, or a physical product like a Surface laptop or accessory. The descriptor MICROSOFTSTORE* is used by Microsoft to identify transactions processed through their store platform. If you see this charge and don't immediately recognize it, it's worth checking your Microsoft account purchase history to identify the exact item or service you were billed for.

The MICROSOFTSTORE* descriptor appears on your bank statement because Microsoft processes its retail transactions under this standardized billing name rather than simply listing 'Microsoft.' The asterisk (*) following the descriptor is commonly used by large retailers to separate the merchant identifier from any additional purchase details, such as a product name or order number, that may appear alongside it. Payment processors and banks display the merchant's registered billing name, which in this case is formatted as MICROSOFTSTORE* to clearly indicate the transaction originated from Microsoft's retail storefront.

A MICROSOFTSTORE* charge on your bank or credit card statement is typically a legitimate transaction from the Microsoft Store, Microsoft's official digital and physical retail platform. This charge appears when you purchase apps, games, software, hardware, or subscriptions through Microsoft Store online or in-app.

• You or a family member purchased an app, game, or software from Microsoft Store
• A Microsoft 365, Xbox Game Pass, or other subscription auto-renewed through Microsoft Store
• You bought a digital movie, book, or media item via the Microsoft Store marketplace
• A device or accessory was ordered directly from the Microsoft Store website

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, a MICROSOFTSTORE* charge is a legitimate transaction from the Microsoft Store — often a forgotten app purchase, an auto-renewing Microsoft 365 subscription, or an Xbox Game Pass charge. A quick check of your Microsoft account order history at account.microsoft.com will usually clear up any confusion.