How to Turn Off Auto Renewal on iPhone

You've probably been there. You sign up for a service or download a free-trial app you think you'll love, but you aren't impressed. Before you know it, you're paying a monthly fee for an app or service you never use. There are plenty of excellent subscription-based services available through your iPhone, but sometimes you need to cancel a subscription. Here's how to prevent auto renewals on your iPhone so you needn't worry about unwanted charges.

Information in this article applies to iPhones running iOS 13, iOS 12, and iOS 11.

How to Turn Off Automatic Renewal

Complete the cancellation process at least 24 hours before the renewal date. Otherwise, the subscription might still renew, and you'll be charged. Here's how:

On your iPhone, tap Settings. Then, tap your name at the top of the screen that opens.
Tap iTunes & App Store.
Tap the field at the top of the screen that reads Apple ID: [your email address].

You can also get to this screen by tapping the App Store icon on the iPhone Home screen. Then, tap on your Apple ID icon, followed by your name.
Tap View Apple ID.
Tap Subscriptions.
Locate the subscription you want to cancel in the Active section of the Subscriptions screen and tap it.

If you have a lot of subscriptions, you might need to scroll down the list.
You can edit your subscription if it contains options or cancel auto renew. Tap Cancel Subscription to cancel the subscription.

If you pay in advance, you can still use the service up until the date listed. It's worth doing this if you plan on only having the subscription for a brief time.

You've successfully turned off auto renew on your iPhone for that subscription.

How to Turn Automatic Renewal Back On

If you realize you didn't mean to turn off auto-renewal for a subscription or change your mind later, you can switch it back on from the same Subscriptions screen.

Tap the subscription you want to resubscribe to in the Expired section. A payment screen appears with information about the renewal.
Tap the option you want. There may be more than one available.

The subscription automatically renews on the date that's listed on the payment screen.
Complete the process by entering your password or via FaceID or TouchID.

Your subscription is set up again, until you choose to cancel it.

I Don't See My Subscription Listed

There are a few key things to consider.

Some subscriptions are conducted directly with the provider rather than Apple. Check the provider's website for more details.
Check that you've signed in with the correct Apple ID. If you have more than one Apple ID, you may have signed in on the wrong one for the subscription.
Family Sharing organizers can't manage subscriptions for other family members. They need to do it themselves.