How to cancel iCloud Plus on your iPhone, Mac, or web browser

You can cancel iCloud Plus through the Settings app on iPhone or Mac, through System Preferences on older Macs, or through your Apple ID account on the web. The cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle — you keep access to your extra storage until then, but you will not be charged again. Apple does not offer refunds for the remainder of your billing period.

The method you use depends on which device you have in front of you right now. All three paths lead to the same result, so pick whichever is easiest for you.

Key Takeaways

  • You can cancel iCloud Plus when ready, but your service continues until the end of your current billing cycle.
  • On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Change Storage Plan, then tap Downgrade.
  • On Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click your Apple ID, then iCloud, then Manage, then change your plan.
  • On the web, sign in at iCloud.com, click your name in the top right, choose Account Settings, then Storage, then change your plan.
  • After cancellation, your iCloud storage reverts to the free 5 GB plan, so back up any files you want to keep before the cycle ends.

Cancel iCloud Plus on iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top of the screen. Tap iCloud. Scroll down and tap Manage Account Storage (or Manage Storage on some older iOS versions). At the top, you will see your current plan and how much storage you are using. Tap Change Storage Plan.

A list of plans appears. At the bottom, tap Downgrade to Free Storage. A confirmation screen will ask you to confirm the downgrade. Tap Downgrade again. You will see a message saying your plan will change at the end of your current billing cycle. That is the cancellation complete.

Cancel iCloud Plus on Mac

On a Mac running Monterey or newer, open System Settings and click your Apple ID in the sidebar (it shows your name). Click iCloud. Click Manage next to your storage meter. A window opens showing your current plan. Click Change Storage Plan.

On older Macs running Big Sur or earlier, open System Preferences instead of System Settings, then follow the same path: click your Apple ID, then iCloud, then Manage. The rest of the steps are identical. Select Downgrade to Free Storage and confirm. Your cancellation is scheduled for the end of your billing cycle.

Cancel iCloud Plus through iCloud.com

Go to iCloud.com in any web browser and sign in with your Apple ID. Click your name or initials in the top right corner and select Account Settings. Click Storage in the left sidebar. You will see your current plan displayed with a Change Storage Plan button.

Click Change Storage Plan. Select Downgrade to Free Storage from the list. Confirm the downgrade. You will receive a confirmation message that your plan will change at the end of your billing cycle. No further action is needed.

What happens to your files after cancellation

When your iCloud Plus subscription ends, your storage reverts to the free 5 GB plan. If you are using more than 5 GB, Apple will not delete your files when ready, but you will not be able to upload new files or sync changes until you are back under 5 GB. Your photos, documents, and backups remain in iCloud but become inaccessible.

Before your billing cycle ends, read or move any files you want to keep. You can read files from iCloud.com by going to each app (Photos, Notes, Files, etc.) and saving them to your computer. For iPhone or Mac backups, you will need to create a new backup to your computer using Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) before your subscription ends.

If you want to pause instead of cancel

iCloud Plus does not have a pause option. You either keep the subscription or downgrade to free storage. If you think you might need the extra storage again soon, you can downgrade now and upgrade back to iCloud Plus later — there is no penalty for switching back and forth.

When you upgrade again, you will choose a new plan (50 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB) and a new billing cycle begins. This is useful if you only need extra storage for a few months, such as during a backup or file transfer.

Troubleshooting cancellation problems

If the Downgrade button does not appear or is grayed out, you may have a family sharing plan. Family plans must be managed by the organizer of the family group. If you are not the organizer, ask them to downgrade the plan or remove you from it.

If you see an error message during cancellation, try signing out of your Apple ID and signing back in, then repeat the cancellation steps. If the problem persists, restart your device and try again. If you still cannot cancel, contact Apple Support through the Apple ID account page — they can cancel the subscription on your behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I get a refund if I cancel mid-cycle?

No. Apple does not refund unused portions of your billing cycle. Your service continues until the end of the cycle, and you will not be charged again after that date. If you cancel on the first day of a monthly cycle, you still have access for the full month.

Can I cancel from my iPhone if I subscribed on my Mac?

Yes. iCloud Plus is tied to your Apple ID, not to a specific device. You can cancel from any iPhone, Mac, or web browser where you sign in with the same Apple ID. The cancellation applies to your entire account.

What if I accidentally downgraded and want to keep iCloud Plus?

You can upgrade back to iCloud Plus at any time before your free storage plan takes effect. Go back to the Change Storage Plan screen and select the plan you want. A new billing cycle begins when ready, and you are charged for the new plan.

Do I lose my iCloud email address when I cancel?

No. Your iCloud email address (the one ending in @icloud.com) stays active even after you downgrade to free storage. You can still send and receive email. Only your extra storage space goes away.

How do I know when my billing cycle ends?

Your billing date appears on the Change Storage Plan screen, usually listed as "Next billing date" or similar. You can also check your Apple ID account page under Subscriptions to see the exact date you will stop being charged.