To cancel a Roku remote subscription on your iPhone, open the Settings app, tap your name at the top, tap Subscriptions, select the remote app, and tap Cancel Subscription. The whole thing takes about 30 seconds. The reason it feels hidden is that the charge isn’t coming from Roku at all. It’s coming from Apple’s billing system on behalf of a third-party app developer.
Why Roku Can’t Cancel It for You
The official Roku mobile app is free and includes a full remote, voice search, headphone mode, and playback controls.1Roku Support. How to Use the Roku Mobile App to Control Your Device The App Store, though, is full of lookalike apps with names like “Universal Remote Control” or “Roku Remote Control – Roki” that charge recurring fees for functionality Roku provides at no cost. Roku itself advises against using these third-party remote apps for security reasons.2Roku Support. How to Install the Roku Mobile App
Because the subscription is billed through Apple, your Roku account won’t show the charge and Roku support can’t stop it. You cancel through Apple.
Cancel in iPhone Settings
Sign in with the Apple Account that was used to subscribe, then follow these steps:3Apple Support. If You Want to Cancel a Subscription From Apple
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap your name at the top of the screen.
- Tap Subscriptions. This lists every app currently authorized to charge your payment method.
- Find the remote app. It may not have “Roku” in the name, so check the icon and the billing amount if a title looks unfamiliar.
- Tap Cancel Subscription. You may need to scroll down. If you see a red expiration message instead of a cancel button, the subscription is already canceled.
If someone in your Family Sharing group made the purchase, only that person can cancel it from their own device.3Apple Support. If You Want to Cancel a Subscription From Apple
Cancel on the Web Instead
If your iPhone isn’t nearby or the app isn’t appearing in Settings, go to account.apple.com, sign in with the same Apple Account, and open Subscriptions. Select the subscription and confirm the cancellation.3Apple Support. If You Want to Cancel a Subscription From Apple
Deleting the App Does Not Stop the Billing
This is the most common mistake. Removing the app from your iPhone does nothing to cancel the subscription. Apple processes subscription charges at the account level, not the app level, so the money keeps coming out even after the icon is gone from your home screen. Cancel through Settings or Apple’s website first. Delete the app afterward if you want.
Watch the Free Trial Deadline
Many of these remote apps use a free trial that automatically converts to a paid subscription when it expires. If you don’t want to be charged, cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends. Canceling inside that 24-hour window means you’ll still be billed for the first cycle.3Apple Support. If You Want to Cancel a Subscription From Apple
Ask Apple for a Refund
If you were charged for a subscription you didn’t knowingly sign up for, request a refund directly from Apple. Go to reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in, choose “I’d like to,” then “Request a refund,” pick a reason, and select the specific charge.4Apple Support. Request a Refund for Apps or Content That You Bought From Apple
Apple typically responds within 24 to 48 hours. Approval isn’t guaranteed, but accidental subscriptions from deceptive apps have a reasonable chance of being refunded, particularly on a first request. If the charge isn’t showing in the refund portal, search your email for “receipt from Apple” to confirm which Apple Account was billed. You can’t request a refund on a charge that’s still pending, so wait for it to post.
Replace It With the Free Official App
Once the subscription is canceled, download the official app. It’s titled “The Roku App (Official)” and published by Roku, Inc. It works as a full remote with a directional pad, voice search, a keyboard, volume controls, and a headphone mode that routes TV audio to your phone.1Roku Support. How to Use the Roku Mobile App to Control Your Device No subscription, no trial, no premium tier. Check the publisher name before you tap Get so you don’t land in another lookalike app.