To cancel an App Store subscription, open Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap your name, tap Subscriptions, choose the subscription, and tap Cancel Subscription. The same option lives inside the App Store app on a Mac and at account.apple.com from any web browser. You keep access until the current billing period ends, and the steps below cover each device, plus what to do about free trials, refunds, and subscriptions that won’t cancel.
Cancel on iPhone or iPad
This is the fastest route and the one Apple recommends.
- Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Tap Subscriptions. Every active and recently expired subscription tied to your Apple Account is listed here.
- Tap the subscription you want to end.
- Tap Cancel Subscription. You may have to scroll down to see it. A confirmation prompt appears before the cancellation is finalized.1Apple Support. If You Want to Cancel a Subscription From Apple
If you see a red expiration date instead of a Cancel button, the subscription is already canceled and will simply run out its remaining time.
Cancel on a Mac
On macOS, subscription management sits inside the App Store app rather than System Settings.
- Open the App Store from your dock or Applications folder.
- Click your name in the lower-left corner. If your name isn’t visible, sign in first.
- Click Account Settings.
- Scroll to Subscriptions and click Manage.
- Click the subscription, then click Cancel Subscription.1Apple Support. If You Want to Cancel a Subscription From Apple
Cancel Without an Apple Device
You don’t need an iPhone or Mac to stop a subscription. From any web browser, including one on an Android phone or Chromebook, go to account.apple.com, sign in with your Apple Account, and follow the on-screen instructions to find and cancel the subscription. This is the route to use if your iPhone is lost or broken.1Apple Support. If You Want to Cancel a Subscription From Apple
If you subscribe to Apple Music or Apple TV+ on a Windows PC, you can also open the Apple Music or Apple TV app, click your name at the bottom of the sidebar, choose View My Account, scroll to Settings, click Manage next to Subscriptions, click Edit, then Cancel Subscription.1Apple Support. If You Want to Cancel a Subscription From Apple
Free Trials Have to Be Canceled Early
To keep a free or discounted trial from turning into a paid subscription, cancel at least 24 hours before the trial period ends. Apple processes renewals in advance, so waiting until the final day can still result in a charge.1Apple Support. If You Want to Cancel a Subscription From Apple
The Subscriptions screen shows the exact renewal date for every trial. Setting a calendar reminder the moment you sign up is the simplest way to avoid an unwanted charge.
What Happens After You Cancel
Cancellation stops future billing but doesn’t end access right away. You keep full use of the app or service through the end of the billing cycle you already paid for, and the Subscriptions screen displays the exact expiration date.1Apple Support. If You Want to Cancel a Subscription From Apple
Apple does not automatically issue prorated refunds for unused time under its standard terms. Cancel on day two of a monthly plan and you still have access for the remaining 28 days, but no money comes back on its own.2Apple. Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions
Expired subscriptions often remain visible in your Subscriptions list for a while. That’s normal. Apple keeps them there so you can resubscribe easily, and their presence doesn’t mean you’re still being billed.
iCloud+ Is Different
Most subscriptions simply go dark when the paid period ends. iCloud+ can cost you access to your data. Canceling a paid iCloud+ storage plan drops your account back to the free 5 GB tier, and if your photos, files, and backups exceed that limit, Apple warns that it may not have enough storage to sync everything. Download or delete content to fit within 5 GB before the paid period ends, or your data could become inaccessible.3Apple Support. Downgrade or Cancel Your iCloud+ Plan
Requesting a Refund for a Charge That Already Went Through
Canceling stops the next charge; it doesn’t reverse one that already hit your account. To ask for money back on a renewal you didn’t want, go to reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in, select “I’d like to,” choose “Request a refund,” pick the charge, and submit. Refund decisions typically take 24 to 48 hours.4Apple Support. Request a Refund for Apps or Content That You Bought From Apple
Approval isn’t guaranteed. Apple reviews each request individually, and repeated refund requests for the same subscription tend to be denied. Canceling before the renewal date is a more reliable way to avoid charges than relying on refunds afterward.
When Cancellation Doesn’t Work
No Cancel Button Appears
A missing Cancel Subscription button usually means the subscription is already canceled or expired. Look for red text with an expiration date. If neither is present and you’re still being charged, the subscription is probably billed by the app developer directly rather than through Apple, and you’ll need to cancel on the developer’s website or contact them.1Apple Support. If You Want to Cancel a Subscription From Apple
The Subscription Isn’t in Your List
If the subscription doesn’t appear in Settings at all, you’re likely signed in with a different Apple Account than the one used to subscribe. Open Settings, tap your name, and check the email address shown. Old Apple Accounts from years back sometimes turn out to be the ones being charged. Searching your email for Apple receipts will show which account was billed.
You Were Charged After Canceling
Usually this means the cancellation didn’t finalize before the renewal processed, or the charge is from the final billing period before cancellation took effect. Compare the charge date against your cancellation date. If the charge genuinely came after a confirmed cancellation, request a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com.4Apple Support. Request a Refund for Apps or Content That You Bought From Apple