How to Cancel iTunes Match

Turn off Apple's automatic music-syncing service

High Angle View Of Colorful Cancel Anytime Text On Wooden Table

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by Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, The Spruce, and other publications.
Updated September 07, 2019

Apple originally positioned iTunes Match as a way to listen to all of your music on any device. It included music you bought and tunes you downloaded to iTunes via CD. But it doesn't make as much sense in a world that is moving away from purchasing music and toward subscribing to it.

The paid service was originally a convenient way to keep a unified music library no matter where you were, but you might wonder if it's necessary anymore.

Do You Need iTunes Match?

If you already subscribe to Apple Music, you can listen to music you have uploaded on all of your devices. Apple Music contains the same functionality as iTunes Match, which allows you to upload songs you transferred from CD or bought on other music stores to the iTunes library and upload them to iCloud. You can store up to 100,000 songs this way. And because songs you buy from iTunes don't count toward this limit, it should be enough for almost anyone.

If you subscribe to Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, or any other subscription service, you only need iTunes Match if those subscription services don't encompass your entire library.

How to Cancel iTunes Match on Your iPhone or iPad

You'll find the subscription management options in the Settings app of your iPhone or iPad.

  1. First, launch the Settings app.

    The iPad Settings app

  2. Tap your name at the top of the menu.

    Apple ID in Settings on an iPad

  3. Choose iTunes & App Store.

    Cancel subscription on iPad

  4. You will see "Apple ID:" followed by your email address at the top of this screen. Tap this to enter the Apple ID settings.

    Cancel subscription on iPad

  5. Choose View Apple ID and log in to your Apple account if it prompts you.

    Cancel subscriptions on iPad

  6. Scroll down and choose Subscriptions.

    Cancel app subscriptions on iPad

  7. If you are subscribed to iTunes Match, it will show up under Active. Tap it to view the iTunes Match options.

  8. Tap Cancel Subscription at the bottom of this window. Your iTunes Match account will still be active until the end of the subscription period.

How to Cancel iTunes Match on Your PC or Mac

It's a little easier to cancel a subscription on a Mac or PC

  1. Launch iTunes.

  2. Click the Account menu and choose View My Account...

    View My Account option in iTunes on a Mac

  3. You will probably need to sign in to your account unless you have recently viewed your Apple ID account.

    Sign-in screen in iTunes on a Mac

  4. Find Subscriptions under the Settings menu and click Manage.

    Account page in iTunes on a Mac with the Subscriptions Manage option highlighted

  5. Click Edit next to iTunes Match.

  6. Click the Cancel Subscription button to unsubscribe to iTunes Match.