Apple Music stops playing and charging when you turn it off in Settings
Disabling Apple Music means stopping the service from running on your device and removing it from your subscription. The steps differ depending on whether you want to pause the service temporarily, remove it from one device, or cancel your subscription entirely. Most people who say they want to "disable" Apple Music actually want one of three things: stop it from playing automatically, remove the app from a specific device, or cancel the subscription so Apple stops charging them monthly.
If you are still paying for Apple Music but do not want it on your phone or computer, you can sign out without canceling. If you want to keep the service but stop it from launching in the background, you can turn off background app refresh. If you want to stop the monthly charge completely, you need to cancel the subscription through your Apple account settings.
Key Takeaways
- Signing out of Apple Music on one device removes the app's access to your account but does not cancel your subscription or affect other devices.
- Turning off background app refresh prevents Apple Music from running in the background and using battery, but the app remains on your device.
- Canceling your Apple Music subscription through Settings stops the monthly charge and removes access on all devices where you are signed in.
- If you share an Apple Family plan, canceling affects only your access, not other family members' accounts.
Sign out of Apple Music on a single device
Signing out removes Apple Music from that specific phone, tablet, or computer without affecting your subscription or other devices. On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Music, scroll down, and tap your Apple ID at the bottom. Select "Sign Out" and confirm. On a Mac, open System Settings, click General, then Music, and sign out from there. On Windows, open iTunes or the Apple Music app, click Account in the menu, and select Sign Out.
After you sign out, the app stays on your device but you cannot play music or access your library until you sign back in. Your subscription continues and you are still charged monthly. If you use Apple Music on other devices, they remain signed in and fully functional.
Turn off background app refresh to stop automatic launching
If you want to keep Apple Music installed but prevent it from running when you are not using it, disable background app refresh. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap General, then Background App Refresh. Find Apple Music in the list and toggle it off. On Mac, open System Settings, click General, then click Login Items, find Apple Music, and remove it. On Windows, right-click the Apple Music app in your taskbar and uncheck "Run at startup."
This stops the app from using battery power and data in the background, but you can still open and use Apple Music whenever you want. Your subscription remains active and you continue to be charged. This is useful if you listen to music occasionally but do not want the app consuming resources constantly.
Cancel your Apple Music subscription
Canceling stops the monthly charge and removes your access to Apple Music on all devices. On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the top, select Subscriptions, find Apple Music, and tap Cancel Subscription. Confirm the cancellation. On Mac or Windows, open System Settings or iTunes, go to your account settings, find Subscriptions, select Apple Music, and cancel from there. You can also cancel through the Apple ID website at appleid.apple.com by signing in, clicking Subscriptions, and selecting Apple Music.
After you cancel, you lose access to all Apple Music features when ready. Your downloaded songs remain on your device but you cannot stream new music or access your library through the service. If you are on a family plan, only your access is removed; other family members keep their access unless they also cancel individually.
What happens to your music after you disable Apple Music
Songs you downloaded to your device while subscribed remain playable after you cancel, but only if you downloaded them. Streamed music and playlists you created in Apple Music become inaccessible. If you added Apple Music songs to your personal music library, they disappear from that library once your subscription ends.
If you want to keep a record of songs you liked, create a list of them before you cancel. You can export playlists to a notes app or take screenshots of your library. Some music streaming services let you import playlists from other services, so you can move your list to Spotify, YouTube Music, or another platform if you switch.
Removing the Apple Music app from your device
On iPhone or iPad, you cannot fully delete the Apple Music app because it is part of the operating system. You can hide it by pressing and holding the app icon, selecting Remove App, then choosing Hide. The app remains on your device but disappears from your home screen. On Mac or Windows, Apple Music is built into the system and cannot be uninstalled.
If you want Apple Music completely gone from your experience, sign out first, then hide or disable the app. This removes it from view and prevents it from launching automatically, even though the files remain on your device taking up minimal space.
Reactivating Apple Music if you change your mind
If you canceled your subscription and want to restart it, go back to Settings or your account page and select Resubscribe. You are charged starting the day you reactivate. Your previous playlists and library history may not be fully restored, depending on how long you were away from the service. Apple typically keeps some account data for a period after cancellation, but this is not may provide.
If you only signed out but did not cancel, signing back in restores your full account when ready with no interruption to your subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does signing out of Apple Music cancel my subscription?
No. Signing out removes the app from that device only. You continue to be charged monthly and can sign back in anytime. To stop the charge, you must cancel the subscription through your account settings.
Will I lose my playlists if I cancel Apple Music?
Yes. Playlists you created in Apple Music disappear when your subscription ends. Downloaded songs stay on your device, but streamed music and your library become inaccessible. Save your playlist names before you cancel if you want to recreate them elsewhere.
Can I disable Apple Music on my iPhone but keep it on my Mac?
Yes. Sign out on your iPhone through Settings, and it removes the app's access only on that device. Your Mac remains signed in and fully functional. Your subscription continues on all devices.
What if I am on a family plan and want to cancel only my access?
Go to your account settings and cancel your subscription. This removes only your access. Other family members keep their access and are not affected. The family organizer can manage who has access through Family Sharing settings.
Can I turn off Apple Music notifications without canceling?
Yes. Go to Settings, tap Notifications, find Apple Music, and toggle off notifications. You can also turn off background app refresh to prevent the app from running entirely. Both options keep your subscription active.