Where to find and cancel subscriptions in Settings
Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap your name at the top of the screen. Then tap Subscriptions — you'll see a list of every subscription tied to your Apple ID, whether it's a streaming service, app membership, or cloud storage plan.
Find the subscription you want to stop and tap it. You'll see the renewal date, the price you're charged, and a button that says Cancel Subscription or Cancel Free Trial. Tap that button, then confirm when the phone asks you to verify the cancellation.
Your subscription ends on the date shown — you keep access until that date arrives, then it stops. Apple sends a confirmation email to the address on your account.
Key Takeaways
- Subscriptions are cancelled through Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions, not through the app itself.
- Cancelling stops future charges but does not refund money already paid for the current billing period.
- You keep full access to the service until your current billing cycle ends.
- If you cancel during a free trial, the trial stops when ready and you lose access right away.
- Apple sends a confirmation email when you cancel, so check your inbox to verify the cancellation went through.
What happens when you cancel during a free trial
If you're still in a free trial period and you cancel, access stops when ready — you don't get to use the rest of the trial. The service becomes unavailable as soon as you tap confirm.
This is different from cancelling a paid subscription. With a paid one, you keep using it through the end of your billing period. With a trial, cancellation is when ready. If you want to keep the trial active, don't cancel until the last day before you'd be charged.
Cancelling a subscription you no longer see in the list
Sometimes a subscription doesn't appear in your Subscriptions list even though you're being charged for it. This usually means the app was deleted from your phone, but the subscription is still active on your Apple ID.
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions anyway. Scroll down and look for the subscription under "Expired" or check if it appears under a different name than you remember. If it's still not there, the charge may be coming from a different Apple ID — check if you have more than one account on the phone.
If you're certain you're being charged but can't find the subscription anywhere, contact Apple Support through Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > Ask a Question. They can see all charges on your account and help you cancel something that's hidden or mislabeled.
Refunds for subscriptions you've already paid for
Cancelling a subscription stops future charges but does not automatically refund the money you already paid for the current billing period. If you cancel on the 5th of the month and you're charged on the 1st, that payment is gone.
You can request a refund through the same Settings menu. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > Purchase History, find the charge, tap it, and select Report a Problem. Explain why you want a refund — Apple reviews these requests and may refund the charge if it's recent or if you have a legitimate reason.
Refunds usually take 5 to 10 business days to appear back in your account. Apple doesn't refund every request, especially if the subscription was active for most of the billing period.
Cancelling through the app instead of Settings
Some apps let you manage your subscription from within the app itself — you might see a "Manage Subscription" or "Billing" button in the app's settings or account menu. Tapping that button usually opens the same Subscriptions screen in Settings, so you end up cancelling through the same place either way.
A few older apps have their own cancellation process built in, but Apple now requires most subscriptions to be managed through Settings. If an app tells you to cancel through their website or by emailing them, that's usually a sign the app hasn't been updated in a while — try the Settings method first.
Stopping recurring charges from a different payment method
If you're being charged through a different payment method — a credit card, debit card, or PayPal account instead of your Apple ID balance — the subscription may not show up in your iPhone's Subscriptions list at all. These charges come from the app developer directly, not through Apple.
To stop these charges, you'll need to contact the company that runs the app or service. Look for a "Contact Us" or "Support" link in the app, or visit their website and find a billing or account settings page. You may also be able to cancel by logging into your account on their website.
If you can't find a way to cancel and you keep getting charged, contact your bank or credit card company and ask them to block the charge or dispute it as unauthorized.
Resubscribing after you cancel
If you cancel a subscription and later change your mind, you can resubscribe through the app or through the App Store. Open the app, look for a subscription offer, and tap to restart it. You'll be charged again starting on the day you resubscribe.
Some services offer a discount or a new free trial if you resubscribe within a certain window after cancelling — this varies by app. There's no penalty for cancelling and coming back later, but you won't have access to the service between the cancellation date and the day you resubscribe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I cancel right after being charged?
You can request one through Settings > [Your Name] > Media & Purchases > Purchase History. Find the charge, tap it, and select Report a Problem. Apple reviews refund requests and may approve it if the charge is recent, but they don't refund every request. Refunds take 5 to 10 business days if approved.
Will I lose access when ready when I cancel?
No — you keep access until the end of your current billing period. If you're charged on the 1st and you cancel on the 15th, you can still use the service through the end of the month. The only exception is free trials, which stop when ready when you cancel.
Why can't I find a subscription I'm being charged for?
The app may have been deleted, or the subscription might be under a different name than you remember. Check Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions and scroll carefully. If it's still not there, you may have multiple Apple IDs on your phone. Contact Apple Support through Settings if you're certain you're being charged but can't locate it.
What if the app won't let me cancel through Settings?
Most apps are required to use Apple's system, but some older ones may direct you to their website or email support. Try the Settings method first. If that doesn't work, visit the app developer's website and look for account or billing settings there. You can also contact your bank to block the charge if you can't cancel any other way.
Can I cancel a subscription on my computer instead of my iPhone?
Yes. On a Mac, open System Settings, click your name, then Subscriptions. On a Windows PC or any web browser, go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, select Subscriptions, and cancel from there. The process is the same no matter which device you use.