Where to find and cancel subscriptions in Settings

Open Settings on your iPhone, then tap your name at the top of the screen. Select Subscriptions — you'll see a list of every active subscription tied to your Apple ID, whether you signed up through the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, or any app that uses Apple's billing system.

Tap the subscription you want to cancel. On the next screen, tap Cancel Subscription at the bottom. You'll see options for when the cancellation takes effect — usually when ready or at the end of your current billing period. Choose which you prefer, then confirm by tapping Confirm.

The subscription will stop renewing after your current period ends. You keep access until that date arrives. If you cancel mid-cycle, you don't get a refund for the time remaining — Apple's policy is final on this point.

Key Takeaways

  • All subscriptions billed through Apple appear in Settings under your name, in one place, regardless of which app you used to sign up.
  • Cancelling through Settings stops the renewal but does not refund the current billing period.
  • Some subscriptions offer a free trial period; cancelling before that period ends prevents you from being charged.
  • If you cancel an app but the subscription stays active, you're still being charged — deleting the app does not cancel the subscription.
  • Refund requests must go through Apple directly, not through the app developer or the original retailer.

Why cancelling through Settings is the only reliable method

Cancelling a subscription inside the app itself — if that option even exists — does not always work. Many apps bury the cancellation button or make it deliberately hard to find. Some apps don't offer cancellation at all and force you to go through Apple's system.

Settings is the single source of truth for your subscriptions. Apple shows you everything in one list, lets you cancel when ready, and gives you a confirmation. If you cancel inside an app and later discover you're still being charged, you have no record of attempting to cancel. Going through Settings creates a clear trail.

This also protects you if an app shuts down or gets removed from the App Store. Your subscription lives in Apple's system, not in the app itself, so you can still cancel it even if the app no longer works or no longer exists.

Cancelling free trials before you're charged

Many apps offer a free trial — usually 7 days or 14 days — before the first charge hits. You must cancel before that trial period ends, or Apple will charge you automatically when it expires.

The cancellation date appears on the subscription screen in Settings. If your trial ends on March 15, you can cancel anytime up to March 14 at 11:59 p.m. in your time zone. After that moment, the charge goes through and you enter a paid subscription.

If you're charged by mistake — you meant to cancel but forgot, or the app didn't make the trial end date clear — you can request a refund from Apple. Go to Settings, tap your name, then Media & Purchases, then Purchase History. Find the charge, tap it, and select Report a Problem. Explain that you cancelled before the trial ended. Apple grants refunds for accidental charges within a reasonable window, usually 60 days.

What happens to your data when you cancel

Cancelling a subscription does not delete your account or your data inside that service. If you cancel Apple Music, your playlists stay in your library. If you cancel a news app, your saved articles remain. You straightforward lose access to new content and features once your paid period ends.

If you want to delete your account entirely — not just cancel the subscription — you usually have to do that inside the app itself, in the account or settings section. Cancelling the subscription and deleting the account are two separate actions. Many people cancel but never delete, which means their account and data sit dormant but still exist.

Resubscribing after you cancel

If you cancel a subscription and later change your mind, you can resubscribe anytime. Open the app, find the subscription offer, and sign up again. You'll be charged when ready for a new billing period. Any free trial that came with the original subscription is usually gone — you typically don't get a second trial.

Some apps offer a "win-back" discount if you resubscribe within a certain window after cancelling. This appears as a special offer inside the app, not in Settings. Check the app itself to see if you may have access to.

Subscriptions that don't appear in Settings

A few subscriptions won't show up in your Settings list. These are usually subscriptions billed directly by the app developer, not through Apple's system. This happens most often with dating apps, fitness apps, and some games.

To cancel these, you must go into the app itself, find the account or subscription settings, and cancel there. Look for a menu labeled Account, Settings, Membership, or Subscription. If you can't find it, check the app's help section or website.

If an app bills you directly and you want a refund, contact the app developer's support team, not Apple. Apple can only refund charges that went through their system.

Checking what you're actually paying for

Go to Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions. This list shows you the price of each subscription and when you'll be charged next. Some subscriptions renew monthly, others yearly. Some have different pricing tiers — you might be paying for a premium plan when a basic plan would do.

If you see a subscription you don't recognize, you can cancel it when ready. If you see a subscription you thought you cancelled, it may have been reactivated — some apps do this if you use a free feature that requires a subscription to unlock. Check the subscription details to see when it was last renewed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I cancel a subscription mid-cycle?

Apple does not refund the unused portion of your current billing period as a matter of policy. However, you can request a refund for accidental charges or if you believe you were misled about the trial period. Go to Purchase History in Settings and tap Report a Problem on the charge. Apple reviews these requests and grants refunds on a case-by-case basis, usually within 60 days of the charge.

What's the difference between cancelling and deleting the app?

Deleting the app from your phone does not cancel the subscription. You will still be charged when your billing period renews. You must cancel the subscription in Settings separately. Many people delete an app thinking they've cancelled and are surprised to see charges months later.

Why does my subscription still show as active after I cancelled it?

If you cancelled before your current billing period ends, the subscription remains active until that date. You keep full access until the renewal date passes. After that date, it will disappear from your Subscriptions list. If it's still there weeks after the renewal date, contact Apple Support — it may be a billing error.

Can I cancel a subscription on my iPhone if I signed up on a computer?

Yes. All subscriptions tied to your Apple ID appear in Settings on any device — iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV. You can cancel from any device. The cancellation applies to your entire Apple ID, not just one device.

Do I lose my subscription if I change my payment method?

No. Changing your payment method in Settings does not affect active subscriptions. They will continue to renew using the new payment method you've set. If a charge fails because a card is expired or declined, Apple will try again a few times before suspending the subscription.