You can download the app again, but what happens depends on whether you own it or were renting it through a subscription

If you canceled a subscription to an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the app itself stays on your device unless you manually delete it. If you did delete it, or if you want to download it on a different device, you can get it back from the App Store at no charge — but the app will only work if you still own it outright. Apps you were paying to use through a subscription stop working once the subscription ends, even if you reinstall them.

The difference matters because some apps are sold once (you own them forever) and others are rented monthly or yearly (you lose access when you stop paying). Before you download again, figure out which type you had. Then follow the steps below for your situation.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting an app from your device does not delete your purchase history, so you can download it again from the App Store without paying a second time.
  • Apps sold as one-time purchases work after you download them again; subscription apps stop working once the subscription ends, even if reinstalled.
  • On iPhone or iPad, go to the App Store, tap your profile icon, select Purchased, find the app, and tap the cloud icon to download it again.
  • On Mac, open the App Store, click your account icon, go to Purchased, find the app, and click the download arrow next to it.
  • If a subscription app shows "Open" instead of a price or download button, your subscription is still active and the app should work normally.

How to download an app you owned outright on iPhone or iPad

Open the App Store and tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap your name or Apple ID at the top of the screen. Select Purchased, then tap My Purchases. You will see a list of every app you have ever bought or downloaded on this Apple ID.

Search for the app you want or scroll through the list. When you find it, tap the cloud icon with a downward arrow next to the app name. The app will download and install on your device. Once it finishes, the button will change to Open. Tap it to launch the app, or close the App Store and find the app on your home screen.

If you see a price instead of a cloud icon, that means you did not buy this app before — it is a new purchase. If you see Open already, the app is already installed on your device and you do not need to download it again.

How to download an app you owned outright on Mac

Open the App Store from your Applications folder or Launchpad. Click your account icon in the top right corner of the window. Select Account Settings. Click Purchased in the left sidebar. You will see a list of every app you have ever bought or downloaded on this Apple ID.

Search for the app or scroll through the list. When you find it, click the download arrow button next to the app name. The app will download and install on your Mac. Once it finishes, the button will change to Open. Click it to launch the app, or find the app in your Applications folder.

If you see a price instead of a download arrow, you did not buy this app before. If you see Open, the app is already installed and you do not need to download it again.

What happens when you download a subscription app after the subscription ends

If you were paying monthly or yearly to use an app (rather than buying it once), the app will download and install normally. However, it will not work. When you open it, you will usually see a message asking you to renew your subscription, or the app will simply refuse to open.

To use the app again, you will need to start a new subscription. Go back to the App Store, find the app, and look for a button that says Subscribe or shows a price for the subscription plan. Tap or click it and follow the prompts to pay. Your subscription will begin immediately, and the app will work again.

Some subscription apps offer a free trial period. If the app is new to you or if the developer is running a promotion, you may see an option to try it free for a set number of days before the paid subscription starts.

Downloading an app on a different device after canceling

Your purchase history is tied to your Apple ID, not to a specific device. This means you can download any app you have ever bought on any iPhone, iPad, or Mac that is signed in with the same Apple ID.

Sign in with your Apple ID on the new device. Open the App Store and go to your Purchased list (the steps are the same as above for iPhone, iPad, or Mac). Find the app and tap or click the cloud icon or download arrow. The app will download to the new device.

If the app was a subscription app and your subscription has ended, the app will download but will not work until you renew. If it was a one-time purchase, it will work immediately on the new device.

If the app does not appear in your Purchased list

An app might not show up in your Purchased list for a few reasons. The app may have been removed from the App Store by the developer, in which case you cannot download it again. The app may have been bought on a different Apple ID — check that you are signed in with the correct account. Or the app may be hidden from your Purchased list.

To unhide an app, go to your Purchased list, scroll to the top, and look for a Hidden Purchases section or option. Tap or click it to see apps you have hidden. Find the app, tap or click the cloud icon or download arrow, and it will download again. Once it finishes downloading, you can unhide it so it shows in your regular Purchased list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay again to download an app I already bought?

No. If you bought the app once, your purchase is saved to your Apple ID forever. You can download it as many times as you want on any device signed in with that Apple ID without paying again. Subscription apps are different — once the subscription ends, you must pay to renew it before the app will work.

Why does the app say "Open" instead of showing a download button?

The app is already installed on your device. You do not need to download it again. If you want to use it, tap or click Open to launch it. If you deleted it by mistake and want to reinstall it, you will need to delete it from your device first, then download it again from the App Store.

Can I download an app if I canceled my subscription but the free trial period is still active?

Yes. If you canceled during a free trial, the app will continue to work until the trial ends. After that, it will stop working unless you start a paid subscription. You can download the app on other devices during the trial period, and it will work on those devices too until the trial expires.

What if the app was deleted from the App Store?

If the developer removed the app, you cannot download it again, even if you bought it before. The app will not appear in your Purchased list. If you still have it installed on a device, it will continue to work, but you cannot move it to a new device or reinstall it if you delete it.