How to Cancel Subscriptions on iPhone

Manage your iTunes and App Store subscriptions from your phone

By
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Writer
  • Ithaca College
Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others.
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Updated on March 8, 2021

What to Know

  • In iOS: Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions > tap the relevant subscription > Cancel subscription > Confirm.
  • In Music or iTunes: Account > View my account > Settings > Subscriptions > Manage > Edit > Cancel.

This article describes how to cancel a subscription on Apple devices running iOS 13, iOS 12, and iOS 11, the Music app in macOS Catalina (10.15), and iTunes 12.

How to Cancel a Subscription on iPhone and Other iOS Devices

You must cancel a subscription at least 24 hours before the renewal time. Just like you can subscribe directly on your iPhone, you can cancel subscriptions there, too. To do that, though, you don't use the app you're trying to cancel. Instead, follow these steps:

  1. Tap the Settings app on the iPhone Home screen to open it.

  2. Tap your Apple ID.

  3. Tap Subscriptions to open the Subscriptions settings screen.

    iPhone Settings

  4. Tap the subscription that you want to cancel.

    This screen lists all of your current subscriptions in the Active section and your canceled or expired subscriptions in the Expired section.

  5. Tap Cancel Subscription. This screen also includes other options for the subscription.

  6. In the pop-up window, tap Confirm to cancel the subscription.

    Edit subscription settings on iPhone

You can also access the Subscriptions settings by tapping the App Store app on the iPhone Home screen. Tap your image at the top of the App Store screen and tap Subscriptions to open the same Subscriptions settings you access through the Settings app. Then follow Steps 4 through 6 above.

When you cancel a subscription, you can still use it until the end of the current subscription period (usually a month or year). This date is noted at the bottom of the screen beneath the Cancel button.

How to Cancel Subscriptions on a Computer

You can also cancel your subscriptions using iTunes on a Mac running macOS Mojave (10.14) or earlier or on a PC with iTunes 12. Here's how:

  1. Open iTunes.

  2. Click Account in the menu bar and select View My Account in the drop-down menu.

    iTunes showing View My Account option

    Mac users running macOS Catalina (10.15) don't have iTunes. They reach their account by clicking the Music app and selecting Account in the right sidebar. Other than that, the process is the same as for iTunes.

  3. Enter your Apple ID username and password when prompted.

  4. Scroll down to the Settings section and click on Manage next to Subscriptions.

    iTunes subscriptions settings

  5. Click Edit next to the subscription you want to cancel.

    This screen lists all active and expired subscriptions you have.

    Active subscriptions screen in iTunes

  6. Click Cancel Subscription and confirm the cancellation in the pop-up window.

    Edit Subscription in iTunes

You can cancel iTunes subscriptions on your Apple TV, too. To do that, go to Settings > Users & Accounts. Select your account and go to Subscriptions. Select the service you want to cancel and choose Cancel Subscription.

About Subscriptions

Subscriptions that you sign up for through the App Store on an iPhone or iTunes on a computer are linked to your Apple ID, which makes it possible for you to access them from multiple devices. These are monthly or annual subscriptions to services and apps that include things like signing up for Netflix or Hulu using their apps, unlocking bonus features of an otherwise-free app, or for Apple's own subscription services, such as Apple Music and News.

Apple bills your account monthly or yearly when the subscriptions renew using the credit or debit card you have on file with Apple.

You've probably encountered a free trial period with an app that renews automatically at the end of the trial period unless you cancel it. If you don't cancel, Apple bills you. Whether you want to prevent this type of not-so-free charge or have grown tired of a service that you've been paying for repeatedly, you can cancel your subscription.

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