Cancel AppleCare through your Apple ID settings

You cancel AppleCare the same way you cancel most Apple subscriptions: through your account settings on the device or through Apple's website. The process takes about five minutes and stops charges when ready if you cancel before your next billing date. Apple does not charge a cancellation fee, and you keep coverage until the end of your current billing period.

On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the top, select Subscriptions, find AppleCare+ in the list, and tap Cancel Subscription. On a Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click your name, select Subscriptions, find AppleCare+, and click Manage. Then click Cancel Subscription. On a Windows PC or Android device, you cannot manage Apple subscriptions directly — you must use Apple's website or contact Apple Support.

If you bought AppleCare through Apple's website, sign in to appleid.apple.com, go to Subscriptions, find AppleCare+ in the list, click Edit, and select Cancel Subscription. The same steps work whether you pay monthly or annually, though annual plans cannot be refunded if you cancel partway through the year.

Key Takeaways

  • Cancel AppleCare through Settings on iPhone, iPad, or Mac by finding Subscriptions, locating AppleCare+, and tapping or clicking Cancel Subscription.
  • If you bought AppleCare through Apple's website, sign in to appleid.apple.com, go to Subscriptions, and cancel from there instead.
  • Monthly AppleCare charges stop after you cancel, but you keep coverage through the end of your current billing period.
  • Annual AppleCare plans cannot be refunded if you cancel before the year is up, so canceling a monthly plan costs you nothing if you time it before your next billing date.
  • If you cannot find AppleCare in your Subscriptions list, contact Apple Support — it may be listed under a different name or linked to a family member's account.

What happens to your coverage after you cancel

AppleCare coverage continues until the last day of your current billing cycle, even though you stopped paying. If your next charge date is March 15 and you cancel on March 1, you keep full coverage through March 14. After that date, you have no coverage and cannot file claims.

This matters if your device breaks right after you cancel. If you cancel on March 1 and your screen cracks on March 20, AppleCare will not cover the repair. Plan your cancellation date around any repairs you think you might need in the next month.

Finding AppleCare if it is not in your Subscriptions list

Sometimes AppleCare does not appear in your Subscriptions list even though you are paying for it. This usually happens if someone else on your family plan purchased it, if you bought it through a carrier like Verizon or AT&T instead of Apple directly, or if it is bundled with another service like Apple One.

If AppleCare was purchased by a family member, ask them to cancel it from their own account — they own the subscription. If you bought it through your phone carrier, you must cancel through the carrier's app or website instead of Apple's. Call Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or your carrier's customer service and tell them you want to remove AppleCare from your account.

If you cannot locate it after checking both places, contact Apple Support at support.apple.com or call 1-800-MY-APPLE. Have your device serial number and the phone number or email address associated with your Apple ID ready. Support can tell you where the subscription is and walk you through canceling it.

AppleCare purchased with a device at the store

If you bought AppleCare when you purchased your device in an Apple Store or through Apple's website, it is tied to your Apple ID and you cancel it through Settings or appleid.apple.com as described above. The same is true if you added AppleCare later through the Apple Store app.

Some older AppleCare plans, particularly those sold before 2018, may not appear in your Subscriptions list at all. If you have an older device and cannot find AppleCare in Settings, contact Apple Support — they can look up your purchase history and cancel it for you.

Refunds and what you lose when you cancel

Monthly AppleCare plans have no cancellation penalty. You pay for the current month and then stop paying. Annual plans are different: if you cancel before the year is up, Apple keeps the full annual payment and does not refund the unused months. This is why monthly plans make sense if you are unsure whether you want to keep coverage.

Once AppleCare ends, you lose accidental damage coverage, hardware repairs at a reduced cost, and priority support. If your device breaks after coverage ends, you pay Apple's full out-of-warranty repair price, which is usually $200 to $600 depending on the device and the damage. You also lose the ability to extend coverage later — AppleCare must be purchased within 60 days of buying your device.

Canceling AppleCare on a device you no longer own

If you sold, traded in, or gave away your device, you should cancel AppleCare so you are not charged for coverage on a device you do not have. The subscription is tied to your Apple ID, not the device itself, so it will keep charging you even if someone else owns the hardware.

Cancel it the same way you would for any device: through Settings or appleid.apple.com. You do not need the device in front of you. If the new owner wants AppleCare, they can purchase their own plan through their Apple ID.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I cancel AppleCare partway through the year?

No. Annual AppleCare plans are non-refundable once purchased. If you cancel three months into a 12-month plan, you lose the remaining nine months of payment. Monthly plans have no refund either, but you only lose the current month's charge if you cancel before the next billing date.

What if I cancel AppleCare and then my device breaks the next day?

You are not covered. AppleCare ends on the last day of your billing cycle, and any damage after that date is your responsibility. Out-of-warranty repairs at Apple typically cost $200 to $600 depending on the device and damage type.

Do I need to cancel AppleCare if I trade in my device at Apple?

No. AppleCare automatically ends when your device is traded in or recycled through Apple. However, if you sell your device privately or trade it in elsewhere, you must cancel AppleCare yourself to stop the charges.

Why does AppleCare still appear in my Subscriptions list after I canceled it?

It usually takes a few hours for the cancellation to process. If it is still there after 24 hours, or if you see a charge after canceling, contact Apple Support. They can confirm the cancellation went through and investigate any unexpected charges.

Can I pause AppleCare instead of canceling it?

No. Apple does not offer a pause or suspend option for AppleCare. You either keep the subscription active or cancel it. If you think you might want it back later, keep it active for now — you cannot re-purchase AppleCare after 60 days from your device purchase date.