Find and cancel subscriptions directly through your device settings

Most app subscriptions can be cancelled through the same place you set them up — your phone's settings or your computer's account page. Apple, Google, and Amazon all let you manage subscriptions without opening the app itself, which is useful if the app makes cancellation deliberately hard to find.

On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the top, select Subscriptions, find the app you want to cancel, and tap Cancel Subscription. On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile icon, go to Payments and subscriptions, select Subscriptions, choose the app, and tap Cancel subscription. On a Mac, open System Settings, click your name, select Subscriptions, find the app, and click Edit or Manage. On Windows, go to Microsoft Store Settings, select App subscriptions, and click Manage.

Amazon Prime and similar subscriptions managed through your Amazon account work differently — you cancel them on Amazon's website under Your Account, then Memberships and subscriptions. The same applies to subscriptions you pay for through a web browser rather than an app store.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone subscriptions cancel through Settings > Your Name > Subscriptions; Android subscriptions cancel through Google Play > Profile > Payments and subscriptions > Subscriptions.
  • Cancelling through your device settings stops future charges immediately, even if you have already paid for the current billing period.
  • Some apps hide a cancellation link inside the app itself, usually under Account or Settings, if you prefer to cancel that way.
  • Refunds for the current billing period are rare unless you cancel within a few days of being charged, depending on the app's refund policy.
  • Deleting an app from your phone does not cancel the subscription — you must cancel through settings or the app store to stop charges.

What happens when you cancel a subscription

When you cancel through your device settings, the subscription stops immediately. You will not be charged again at the next billing date. However, you usually keep access to the app or service until your current billing period ends — if you paid for a month, you can use it for the rest of that month even after cancelling.

Refunds for time you have already paid for are uncommon. Most apps do not refund the current billing period unless you cancel within a few days of being charged. Apple's App Store has a 14-day refund window for subscriptions, but you have to request it through your purchase history, not through the cancellation screen. Google Play offers refunds within 48 hours of purchase for most subscriptions. Amazon and other services have their own policies, which you can find in their terms or by contacting support.

Cancelling subscriptions you set up through the app itself

Some apps let you manage subscriptions only from inside the app, not through your device settings. Look for Account, Settings, or Billing inside the app. If you find a subscription management screen there, you can usually cancel directly. This method is slower than using device settings, but it works the same way — your subscription stops at the next billing date.

A few apps make cancellation intentionally difficult by hiding the option deep in menus or requiring you to contact support. If you cannot find a cancellation option in the app after checking Account, Settings, and Help sections, go back to your device settings and cancel there instead. You have the right to cancel through your device's app store even if the app does not offer an in-app cancellation button.

Stopping charges from apps you no longer use

Deleting an app does not cancel its subscription. The app will continue to charge you even after you remove it from your phone. Before you delete an app, check your device settings to see if it has an active subscription. If it does, cancel the subscription first, then delete the app.

To find subscriptions you may have forgotten about, go to your device settings and look at the full subscription list. On iPhone, this is Settings > Your Name > Subscriptions. On Android, it is Google Play > Profile > Payments and subscriptions > Subscriptions. Review the list for apps you no longer use and cancel any subscriptions you do not want. Many people find subscriptions they forgot they had — streaming services, fitness apps, or premium features they tried once.

Cancelling subscriptions on your computer or web browser

If you signed up for a subscription through a website rather than an app, you will need to cancel on that website. Log into your account, look for a Subscriptions, Billing, or Account Settings page, and find the option to manage or cancel. The exact location varies by company, but most put it under Account or Settings.

Some services, like Spotify or Netflix, let you manage subscriptions from either the app or the website. Others, like Adobe Creative Cloud or Microsoft 365, require you to cancel on their website. Check the service's support page if you cannot find where to cancel — most companies have a help article that walks you through the exact steps.

Handling subscriptions tied to family or shared accounts

If you share an Apple Family or Google Family account with other people, subscriptions may be tied to the family organizer's account. You might not see the subscription in your own settings if someone else in the family set it up and is paying for it. Contact the family organizer to cancel, or ask them to remove you from the subscription.

If you are the family organizer and want to cancel a subscription, you can do so from your own device settings. The subscription will stop for everyone in the family who uses it, so make sure that is what you want before you cancel.

What to do if you are still being charged after cancelling

If you cancelled a subscription but still see a charge on your next billing date, the cancellation may not have gone through. Log back into your device settings and check whether the subscription still appears in your active subscriptions list. If it does, cancel it again.

If the subscription no longer appears in your settings but you were still charged, contact the app company's support team with a screenshot of your cancellation confirmation and your billing statement. Most companies will refund a charge if you can show you cancelled before the billing date. You can also contact your bank or credit card company to dispute the charge if the app company does not respond within a few days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting an app stop the subscription?

No. Deleting an app from your phone does not cancel the subscription. You must cancel through your device settings or the app store to stop future charges. The app will continue to bill you even after you delete it.

Can I get a refund for the month I already paid for?

Refunds for the current billing period are rare. Apple offers a 14-day refund window if you request it through your purchase history. Google Play refunds within 48 hours of purchase. Most other apps do not refund time you have already paid for, but it is worth asking the company's support team if you cancelled within a few days of being charged.

What if the app does not have a cancellation option?

You can always cancel through your device settings, even if the app itself does not offer a cancellation button. On iPhone, use Settings > Your Name > Subscriptions. On Android, use Google Play > Profile > Payments and subscriptions > Subscriptions. You do not need the app's permission to cancel.

Will I lose access to the app immediately after cancelling?

No. You usually keep access until the end of your current billing period. If you paid for a month, you can use the app for the rest of that month after cancelling. Access stops on the next billing date.

How do I find subscriptions I forgot about?

Check your device settings for a complete list of active subscriptions. On iPhone, go to Settings > Your Name > Subscriptions. On Android, go to Google Play > Profile > Payments and subscriptions > Subscriptions. Review the list and cancel any you no longer want.