Cancel Apple Music directly in the app or on your device

You cancel Apple Music through the same Apple ID account where you started the subscription. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use an iPhone, Mac, iPad, or Android phone, but the process takes about two minutes either way. Apple does not charge a cancellation fee, and your access stops at the end of your current billing cycle — you keep the service through the date you already paid for.

On an iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app, tap your name at the top, select Subscriptions, find Apple Music, and tap Cancel Subscription. On a Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click your name, go to Subscriptions, select Apple Music, and click Edit or Manage. On Android, open the Apple Music app itself, tap your profile icon in the top right, go to Settings, select Subscription, and tap Cancel Subscription. The app will ask you to confirm — that final tap is what stops the charge.

Key Takeaways

  • You cancel through your device's settings or the Apple Music app itself, not through a website or customer service line.
  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period, so you keep access until that date even after you cancel.
  • If you subscribed through a family plan, you need the plan organizer to remove you, or you can cancel only your own portion if you have a separate subscription.
  • If you cannot find the Subscriptions menu, your account may be managed by a parent or guardian, and you will need to ask them to cancel.

What happens to your music and playlists after cancellation

When your subscription ends, you lose access to the full Apple Music catalog and any playlists you created using songs that are not in your personal library. Downloaded songs disappear from your device unless you own them through iTunes purchases. Playlists you made stay in your account, but you cannot play the songs in them until you resubscribe.

If you have music you purchased outright through iTunes (not streamed), that music remains playable on your devices after Apple Music cancels. The distinction matters: a song you bought is yours; a song you streamed is only yours while you pay. Before you cancel, read or screenshot any playlists you want to remember, since the song titles will still be there but the audio will not play.

Canceling a family plan subscription

If you are part of an Apple Music Family plan, only the person who set up the plan can cancel the entire subscription. That person can also remove individual family members without canceling the plan itself. If you want out but the plan organizer wants to keep it, ask them to remove you from the plan in Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing > Apple Music.

Once you are removed, you can start your own individual subscription if you want to keep the service. Family plans cost more than individual subscriptions but cover up to six people, so the organizer may not want to cancel the whole thing just because one person is leaving.

If you subscribed through iTunes or the App Store

Some people start Apple Music through the iTunes Store or App Store rather than the Apple Music app itself. The cancellation process is the same — go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions > Apple Music > Cancel Subscription — but the billing may be slightly different. Check your Apple ID payment method to confirm which card is being charged, since subscriptions started through different apps sometimes use different payment sources.

If you see a charge from Apple on your credit card statement but cannot find Apple Music in your Subscriptions list, you may have a different Apple service running instead, like Apple TV+ or iCloud+. Search your Subscriptions menu for anything with an active renewal date, and cancel the ones you do not want.

Canceling if your account is managed by a parent or guardian

If you are under 18 or your account is linked to a parent's Family Sharing setup, you may not see a Cancel Subscription option. Instead, you will see a message saying the subscription is managed by your parent or guardian. Ask them to open their own Settings, go to Family Sharing, select your name, and manage your subscriptions from there.

Parents can also set up Screen Time restrictions that prevent you from canceling without permission. If you think this is the case, talk to the account holder directly rather than trying to work around it.

What to do if the cancel button does not appear

If you cannot find Apple Music in your Subscriptions list, the service may already be canceled, or the subscription may be tied to a different Apple ID than the one you are currently signed in with. Sign out of your current Apple ID and sign back in with the account you used to start Apple Music. Then go back to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions and look again.

If you still do not see it, open the Apple Music app and check whether you are logged in there. Sometimes the app and your device settings use different accounts. You can also check your Apple ID payment history by going to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases to see what subscriptions are currently active on that account.

Checking your billing history after cancellation

After you cancel, you should not see another charge from Apple Music on your next billing date. Check your credit card or bank statement about a week after your cancellation date to confirm the charge stopped. If you see a charge after the cancellation date, contact Apple Support with your receipt or statement showing the unwanted charge.

Keep a record of the date you canceled and the confirmation screen if possible. Apple's support team can see your cancellation in their system, but having your own record speeds up the conversation if something goes wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Apple Music charges monthly or yearly, and you keep access through the end of the period you paid for. If you cancel on day one of a monthly cycle, you still have access for the full month. Apple does not refund partial months.

What if I want to pause my subscription instead of canceling?

Apple Music does not have a pause feature. You either cancel (and lose access at the end of your billing period) or keep paying. If you think you might come back, canceling and resubscribing later is the same as pausing — your playlists and preferences stay in your account.

Will I lose my music if I cancel and resubscribe later?

Your playlists and account settings stay in your Apple ID even after cancellation. When you resubscribe, they will be there. Songs you purchased through iTunes remain playable. Only streamed songs become unplayable until you resubscribe.

Can I cancel Apple Music but keep Apple TV+ or other Apple services?

Yes. Each subscription is separate. Canceling Apple Music does not affect Apple TV+, iCloud+, or any other service. Go to Subscriptions and cancel only the one you want to stop.

What if my payment method is expired but I want to cancel anyway?

You can still cancel through Settings > Subscriptions > Apple Music > Cancel Subscription even if your payment method is expired. The cancellation itself does not require a working card — it just stops future charges.