How to cancel Apple Arcade, News+, TV+, or other App Store subscriptions

Subscriptions on iPhone
(Image credit: Karen S. Freeman / iMore)

If you've been trying out Apple's Arcade, TV+, News+ subscription, TV apps like STARZ or MAX, or music subscription services like Pandora Premium, but you want to cancel before you get charged, it's simple to cancel. The process is different depending on what Apple device you're using, but we can help step you through all of your options for canceling an App Store subscription. Frankly, we recommend using these steps to check on your subscriptions regularly, just to make sure you're not paying for subscriptions you've forgotten about.

How to cancel an App Store or News+ subscription on iPhone or iPad

Prefer watching to reading? Just hit play on the video above.

The steps to cancel subscriptions are different depending on what Apple device you're using. Here's what you need to do to cancel subscriptions from your best iPhone.

  1. Launch the Settings app.
  2. Tap Tap on your name.
  3. Select Subscriptions. You might need to log in to your Apple ID at this point if you haven't logged in recently.

Settings > Name > Subscriptions (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap the subscription you want to cancel.
  2. Select Cancel Subscription.
  1. Choose Confirm when prompted to confirm that you want to cancel your subscription.

Tap Confirm (Image credit: iMore)

After your current period ends, whether it is part of a free trial or a regular recurring subscription, iTunes will no longer bill you for that subscription.

After your current period ends, whether it is part of a free trial or a regular recurring subscription, iTunes will no longer bill you for that subscription.

How to cancel an App Store or News+ subscription on your Mac

16-inch MacBook Pro on Box (Image credit: Rene Ritchie / iMore)

You can manage your subscriptions right on your Mac from the Mac App Store.

  1. Open the App Store on your Mac.
  2. Click on your Profile in the bottom-left corner of the App Store window.
  3. Click on Account Information or Account Settings in the upper-right corner of the App Store window.

Account Settings on Mac   (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click on Manage under the Subscriptions section.
  2. Click on Edit next to the subscription you want to cancel.

Click on Manage, then click on Edit

Click on Manage, then click on Edit (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click on Cancel Subscription.
  2. Click on Done.

Click on Cancel Subscription, then click on Done

Click on Cancel Subscription, then click on Done (Image credit: iMore)

Note: News+ and Apple Arcade trial subscriptions end as soon as you cancel the subscription. There is no grace period.

How to cancel an App Store or News+ subscription on Apple TV

Apple TV Device And Remote (Image credit: Stephen Warwick / iMore)

Finally, if you plan on canceling subscriptions through your Apple TV, these instructions will help you out.

  1. Go to the Settings app on your Apple TV.
  2. Select your name.
  3. Choose Subscriptions.
  4. Press the Subscription you want to cancel. Type the name of the subscription in using the provided search if you need to.
  5. Tap Cancel Subscription.
  6. Confirm the cancellation.

Note: News+ and Apple Arcade trial subscriptions end as soon as you cancel the subscription. There is no grace period.

How to resubscribe to a service you canceled

Apple Arcade on iPhone (Image credit: iMore)

Decided that you wanna give Apple Arcade or one of the many other subscriptions another go after canceling it? Apple keeps your past subscriptions on record, so you can always re-add them at a later time (if still available).

  1. Launch the Settings app.
  2. Tap App Store.
  3. Tap on your Apple ID.

Apple ID on iPad (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Manage when the pop up window appears.
  2. Enter your Apple ID password or fingerprint ID when prompted.
  3. Tap Subscriptions.

Tap View Apple ID, then tap Subscriptions
  1. Scroll down to Expired.
  2. Tap the Subscription you want to renew.
  3. Tap the payment option for which you want to resubscribe.
  4. Enter your Apple ID password or fingerprint ID when prompted.

Tap a subscription, then tap a renewal option

When you resubscribe, you will be charged the payment you agreed to and your subscription will automatically renew until you cancel it again.

What to do if you can't cancel your subscription

(Image credit: Karen S. Freeman / iMore)

If you see a subscription in your Active subscriptions listing, but don't see the button to cancel when you tap on it, it means you've already triggered the cancelation but the subscription period hasn't expired yet. You can confirm this by noting the date below the subscription. It will read, Expires [date]. If you were still paying for the subscription, it would read Renews [date] instead.

If you don't see your subscription listed in the Subscription section at all, it means you have to cancel it directly from the source.

For example, Netflix is a monthly subscription service that will not show up on this list. In order to cancel your Netflix account, you have to go to Netflix's website, log in to your account, and cancel your subscription directly.

Still having issues?

If you can't seem to cancel an App Store subscription even after waiting beyond a service's subscription period then you should reach out to the company's customer service for additional assistance.

Say goodbye to subscription fatigue

Now you can unsubscribe from any services that you don't want anymore. That ought to give you some more money in your wallet. If there are further complications after following these steps, you should reach out to Apple's customer service and have them assist you. 

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Luke Filipowicz
Staff Writer

Luke Filipowicz has been a writer at iMore, covering Apple for nearly a decade now. He writes a lot about Apple Watch and iPad but covers the iPhone and Mac as well. He often describes himself as an "Apple user on a budget" and firmly believes that great technology can be affordable if you know where to look. Luke also heads up the iMore Show — a weekly podcast focusing on Apple news, rumors, and products but likes to have some fun along the way. 


Luke knows he spends more time on Twitter than he probably should, so feel free to follow him or give him a shout on social media @LukeFilipowicz.

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