How to delete your Apple TV account
You can delete your Apple TV account through your Apple ID settings on any device where you are signed in. The process takes about five minutes and removes your account from Apple's servers, though you will need to handle your subscription separately depending on how you signed up. If you subscribed through Apple TV Channels, the Apple TV app, or a third-party service like Amazon Prime Video, each has its own cancellation step.
Deleting your account is permanent — you cannot recover it afterward. Your watch history, saved shows, and preferences will be gone. If you only want to stop watching for now, you can sign out instead, which keeps your account intact and lets you return later.
Key Takeaways
- Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone, so make sure you want to remove it before you start.
- You must cancel your Apple TV subscription separately before or after deleting your account, depending on how you subscribed.
- If you subscribed through a third-party service like Amazon Prime Video or Roku, you cancel through that service, not through Apple.
- Signing out of your account keeps it active and lets you return later without losing your data.
- The deletion process happens through Apple ID settings and takes effect within a few days.
Cancel your subscription before deleting your account
Before you delete your account, you need to cancel any active subscription. If you subscribed directly through Apple — either through the Apple TV app or Apple TV Channels — you cancel through your Apple ID settings. Go to Settings, tap your name, select Subscriptions, find Apple TV, and tap Cancel Subscription. If you are on a Mac, open System Settings, click your name, select Subscriptions, and cancel from there.
If you subscribed through a third-party service like Amazon Prime Video, Roku Channel, or another platform, you do not cancel through Apple. Instead, log into that service's website or app and cancel your subscription there. Apple will not have a record of that subscription to cancel.
Some people have a free trial that is about to convert to a paid subscription. If you want to stop before you are charged, cancel the subscription during the trial period. Once you cancel, you can still use Apple TV until the trial ends, then your access stops.
Delete your account on iPhone, iPad, or Mac
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings and tap your name at the top. Select Password and Security, then scroll down and tap Delete Account. You will see a warning that deletion is permanent. Tap Delete Account again to confirm. Apple will send a confirmation email to your registered address.
On Mac, open System Settings and click your name in the sidebar. Select Password and Security, scroll to the bottom, and click Delete Account. Confirm the deletion when prompted. The process is the same on both devices — you are deleting your Apple ID, which removes your Apple TV account along with it.
After you request deletion, Apple takes a few days to process it. During that time, you can still sign in, but once the deletion completes, your account is gone. You will not be able to recover it.
Delete your account through iCloud.com
If you do not have access to an Apple device, you can delete your account from any web browser. Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Click your name in the top right corner and select Account Settings. Click Password and Security on the left side, then scroll down to find Delete Account.
Click Delete Account and read the warning carefully. Apple will ask you to confirm your choice and may ask security questions to verify your identity. Once you confirm, the deletion request is submitted and will process within a few days.
You will receive a confirmation email at your registered address. If you change your mind within a short window, you may be able to cancel the deletion request by replying to that email, but this depends on how far Apple has processed your request.
What happens to your data after deletion
Once your account is deleted, Apple removes your watch history, saved shows, ratings, and preferences from its servers. You cannot recover this information. If you had downloaded episodes to watch offline, those files will no longer play because they are tied to your account.
Your Apple ID is also deleted, which means you lose access to any other Apple services linked to that account — iCloud, Apple Music, the App Store, and others. If you use the same Apple ID for multiple services, deleting it affects all of them.
If you subscribed to Apple TV through a third-party service, that service may keep a record of your subscription history, but Apple will not. You can still use that third-party service with a different Apple ID if you create one later.
Signing out instead of deleting
If you want to stop using Apple TV but might return later, sign out instead of deleting. Signing out removes your account from that device but keeps your account and data intact on Apple's servers. You can sign back in anytime with the same Apple ID and password, and your watch history and saved shows will still be there.
On iPhone or iPad, open the Apple TV app, tap the profile icon at the bottom right, scroll down, and tap Sign Out. On Mac, open Apple TV, click the profile icon in the top right, and select Sign Out. On a web browser, sign out through your account settings.
Signing out does not cancel your subscription. If you are paying for Apple TV, you will continue to be charged until you cancel the subscription separately. Canceling and signing out are two different actions.
What to do if you cannot delete your account
If you see an error message or the Delete Account option does not appear, you may have a family sharing account or parental controls enabled. Family organizers cannot delete their account while family members are still linked to it. You must remove all family members first, then try deleting again.
If you are a family member, you cannot delete the family account — only the organizer can. You can remove yourself from the family group through Settings, then the family organizer can delete the account if they choose.
If you still cannot delete your account, contact Apple Support through their website. They can help you troubleshoot the issue or delete your account if there is a technical problem preventing you from doing it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover my account after I delete it?
No. Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Once Apple processes your deletion request, your account, watch history, and saved shows are gone for good. If you think you might return to Apple TV later, sign out instead of deleting.
Do I have to cancel my subscription before deleting my account?
You should cancel your subscription before or when ready after deleting your account. If you delete first and forget to cancel, you may continue to be charged. If you subscribed through a third party like Amazon Prime Video, cancel through that service instead.
Will deleting my Apple TV account delete my Apple ID?
Yes. When you delete your account through Password and Security settings, you are deleting your entire Apple ID, not just Apple TV. This removes access to iCloud, Apple Music, the App Store, and any other services linked to that ID.
What if I subscribed to Apple TV through Amazon Prime Video?
You cancel through Amazon, not through Apple. Log into your Amazon Prime Video account, go to Your Account, select Memberships and Subscriptions, find Apple TV Channel, and cancel there. Deleting your Apple ID does not cancel a subscription managed by another company.
How long does it take for my account to be deleted?
Apple usually processes deletion requests within a few days. During that time, you can still sign in, but once it completes, your account is gone. You will receive a confirmation email when the deletion is finished.