Cancel a subscription directly in the App Store or Settings

You can stop paying for an app subscription through your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV device. The fastest route is the Settings app on any Apple device linked to your Apple ID. Open Settings, tap your name at the top, select Subscriptions, find the app you want to cancel, and tap Cancel Subscription. The cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle — you keep access until that date, then the subscription ends.

On a Mac, the process is similar: open System Settings, click your name in the sidebar, select Subscriptions, find the app, and click Edit next to it, then choose Cancel Subscription. If you are using an older Mac running macOS Monterey or earlier, open System Preferences instead of System Settings, but the steps are the same.

You can also cancel through the App Store app itself. Open the App Store, tap your profile icon in the top right corner, select Subscriptions, find the app, and tap Cancel Subscription. All three methods — Settings, System Settings, and the App Store — reach the same cancellation system, so use whichever is closest to you.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings (or System Settings on Mac), tap your name, select Subscriptions, find the app, and tap Cancel Subscription to stop any recurring charge.
  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle, so you retain access to the app until that date passes.
  • You can cancel through Settings, System Settings, or the App Store app — all three reach the same subscription management system.
  • If you see a charge after cancellation, check your billing date and contact Apple Support, because the subscription may have renewed before your cancellation processed.
  • Refunds for unused portions of a subscription are rare but possible if you contact Apple Support within 30 days of the charge.

Check your billing date before you cancel

Before you cancel, look at when your subscription renews. In the Subscriptions menu, tap the app name to see the renewal date. If renewal is in two days and you cancel today, you will be charged again in those two days, and then the subscription ends. If you want to avoid that charge, wait until after the renewal date to cancel — you will have paid for the full cycle, but you will not be charged again.

This matters most for subscriptions that renew monthly. A yearly subscription that renews in 11 months is worth canceling now if you know you will not use it, because you avoid 11 months of charges. But a monthly subscription renewing in two days is often cheaper to let renew once and then cancel, rather than paying for a partial month.

What happens after you cancel

Your access to the app ends on the renewal date, not when ready. If your subscription renews on the 15th and you cancel on the 10th, you can still use the app until the 15th. After that date, the app will no longer function if it requires an active subscription to run.

Some apps let you use a limited free version after your subscription ends. Others lock you out completely. This depends on how the app developer built it. You will see a message in the app itself explaining what happens when your subscription expires, usually a few days before the renewal date.

How to find subscriptions you forgot about

Open Settings, tap your name, and select Subscriptions to see every app you are paying for. The list shows the renewal date and the price for each one. Scroll through and look for subscriptions you no longer use — many people discover charges they forgot about this way.

If you see a subscription you do not recognize, tap it to see the app name and developer. If it is still unfamiliar, cancel it. You can always resubscribe later if you change your mind. The Subscriptions menu is the only place to see all your active subscriptions at once, so check it every few months to catch subscriptions that have been renewing without your attention.

Refunds for subscriptions you just paid for

Apple rarely refunds subscription charges, but you can request one within 30 days of the charge if you believe it was made in error or if you cancelled but were charged anyway. To request a refund, go to reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, find the charge in your purchase history, and select the reason for your refund request. Apple reviews the request and responds within a few business days.

Refunds for subscriptions you used are uncommon — Apple considers the subscription active for the full billing period, even if you cancel partway through. Your best option is to cancel before the renewal date so you are not charged again. If you were charged after you cancelled, that usually means the cancellation did not process in time, and a refund request is your path forward.

Canceling a subscription on a shared family account

If you share an Apple ID family plan with others, each person can manage their own subscriptions. Open Settings on your device, tap your name, select Subscriptions, and you will see only the subscriptions tied to your Apple ID. You cannot see or cancel subscriptions that other family members purchased, and they cannot see yours.

If a family member is paying for a subscription through a shared payment method and you want them to cancel it, ask them to open their own Settings and follow the cancellation steps. The family organizer (the person who set up the family plan) can see all subscriptions in the family account settings, but cannot cancel individual subscriptions without the person's permission.

What to do if you cannot find the subscription to cancel

If you see a charge on your bill but cannot find the subscription in your Subscriptions list, the charge may be from a different Apple service. Charges for iCloud storage, Apple Music, Apple TV+, or Apple One (a bundle) appear in the Subscriptions menu, but charges for in-app purchases, app downloads, or one-time payments do not. Check your purchase history at reportaproblem.apple.com to see what the charge was for.

If the charge is from an app subscription but does not appear in your Subscriptions list, sign out of your Apple ID and sign back in. Sometimes the list does not refresh when ready. If it still does not appear after signing out and back in, contact Apple Support with the charge details and the app name — they can locate the subscription and cancel it for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose access to the app when ready after I cancel?

No. You keep access until the end of your current billing cycle. If your subscription renews on the 20th and you cancel on the 10th, you can use the app until the 20th. After that date, the app will no longer work unless it offers a free version.

Can I get a refund if I cancel in the middle of a billing cycle?

Refunds for partial use are uncommon. Apple will consider a refund request within 30 days of the charge if you believe it was made in error. Go to reportaproblem.apple.com, find the charge, and explain why you want a refund. Apple reviews requests but does not may provide approval.

What if I cancel but get charged again?

This usually means the cancellation did not process before the renewal date. Check the renewal date in your Subscriptions list to confirm when you were charged. If you were charged after you cancelled, request a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com within 30 days. Include the date you cancelled and the date you were charged.

Can I pause a subscription instead of canceling it?

Apple does not offer a pause feature for subscriptions. Your options are to cancel (which ends the subscription at the next renewal date) or to keep paying. Some apps offer their own pause feature within the app itself, so check the app settings before you cancel.

How do I cancel a subscription if I forgot my Apple ID password?

You will need to reset your password to access Settings and manage subscriptions. Go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID email, and follow the steps to reset your password. Once you have access to your account, open Settings and cancel the subscription as described above.