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How to Unsubscribe From an App on iPhone, iTunes, or Mac

 & Lance Whitney Contributor

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Did you subscribe to an app through your iPhone or iPad? Maybe it was a free trial subscription that requires a monthly fee to continue. It could be one of Apple’s own services, like Apple Music or Apple Arcade, or a third-party app like a password manager and music-streaming service.

If you use the service on your Apple device, you can unsubscribe there. That sounds convenient, but how does it work? Here's how to cancel a subscription from your iPhone, iPad, or computer.

Unsubscribe on iPhone or iPad

To view and cancel subscriptions from your iPhone or iPad (or iPod touch), navigate to Settings > [your name] > iTunes & App Store. Tap your Apple ID. From the pop-up window, tap the link to View Apple ID. Enter your password or sign in with Touch ID or Face ID.

Choose a Subscription

At the Account Settings screen, tap the entry for Subscriptions. Here, you can view your active and expired subscriptions. Tap an active subscription you want to cancel, then tap Cancel Subscription (or Cancel Free Trial). Tap Confirm and you're done. A service you are already subscribed to will remain active until the end of that billing cycle.

If you're still on a free trial, the account may close right away. If you have a free or discounted trial subscription, make sure you cancel it at least 24 hours before the trial ends. Otherwise, the subscription may renew automatically before the cancellation is processed.

Resubscribe on iPhone and iPad

If you change your mind about a subscription before or after the expiration date, tap the subscription you want to bring back and select a payment option. If the app offers multiple subscription options, choose the one you want to pay. Confirm your changes and re-subscribe.

When you subscribe to an app, Apple generates a random Subscriber ID unique to you and the developer. If you cancel your subscription for an app and don't resubscribe within 180 days, your Subscriber ID is reset.

Unsubscribe in iPhone App Store

You can also cancel a subscription by going through the App Store. On your mobile device, open the App Store app. Tap your profile icon on the upper-right. At your account page, tap Subscriptions, then select the active subscription you want to cancel.

Cancel Subscription

Tap the link to Cancel Subscription and confirm your decision to cancel it. The subscription will then be cancelled, and your access will be revoked at the end of that billing cycle. If you wish to resubscribe, the service will remain listed with the different subscription options visible.

Cancel Apple Music

If you're cancelling Apple Music, you can do so via the Apple Music app. Open Apple Music on your device. Tap the For You icon and then tap the profile icon in the upper right. At the Account page, tap Manage Subscription. You can then cancel or modify the subscription at the Edit Subscription page.

Unsubscribe in iTunes

If you're on a Windows computer or have yet to update to Catalina on Mac, you can also cancel subscriptions in iTunes. Open the app, then click Account > View My Account and sign in with your Apple ID if you're not already signed in. Scroll to the bottom of the Account Information screen to the Settings section. Click on the Manage link next to Subscriptions.

Cancel Subscription in iTunes

At the Subscriptions window, click on the Edit link next to the subscription you want to cancel. Click on the Cancel Subscription button, then confirm the cancellation. Your subscription stays in effect until the expiration date. If you change your mind, return to the Edit Subscription screen for the subscription. Click on the button to subscribe.

Unsubscribe in Catalina

If you're running macOS Catalina, you can cancel a subscription in System Preferences. Click the Apple ID icon, then click Media & Purchases and choose the Manage button next to Subscriptions.

Cancel Subscription in Catalina

At the Subscriptions window, find the subscription you wish to cancel and click on the Edit link next to it. Click on the Cancel Subscription button. Confirm the cancellation and then click Done.

Unsubscribe in Mac App Store

On a Mac, you can also go through the App Store to cancel and otherwise manage an app subscription. Open the App Store and click on your account name in the lower-left corner of the window.

At your Account window, click on the View Information link. Scroll to the bottom of the Account Information screen to the Manage section. Click on the Manage link next to Subscriptions.

Cancel Subscription in App Store

Click on the Edit link next to the app subscription you want to cancel. At the next screen, click on the Cancel Subscription button and then confirm the cancellation.

Unsubscribe Through Email

One final option you have is through email. If you saved the confirmation email you received when you first subscribed to the app, you can get to the necessary subscription window even quicker. In the email, click on the link to review your subscription. The Edit Subscription window pops up where you can now review and cancel the subscription.

How to Manage Your Paid Subscriptions

With new subscription services popping up every day, now is a good time to get a handle on the ones you subscribe to. These apps can monitor what you're spending and help you trim the fat.

About Our Expert

Lance Whitney

Lance Whitney

Contributor

My Experience

I've been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I've written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, PC World, Time, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET as one of the site’s East Coast reporters. I've also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.

My Areas of Expertise

I've used Windows, Office, and other Microsoft products for years so I'm well versed in that world. I also know the Mac quite well. I'm always working with iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and Android on my various mobile devices. And these days, I write a lot about AI, so that's become another key area for me.

The Tech I Use

My wife always jokes about all the tech products we have around the house, but I manage to put them to good use for my articles. I like Lenovo computers, so I own a couple of Lenovo desktops and several laptops. I have three MacBooks and a Mac mini. For my mobile life and work, I use an iPhone 16 Pro, iPad Pro, and iPad mini as well as an Apple Watch. But since I write about Android, I own several Android phones and tablets. Like any tech person, I have a cabinet full of cables, wires, and assorted mysterious gadgets. And when it's time to take a break from writing, I have an old Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, both of which I use for exercise and fitness games.

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