How to Cancel Your
iCloud+ Subscription
Cancel or downgrade your iCloud+ storage plan in under 2 minutes. Follow these verified steps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows — and learn how to protect your photos and files before you downgrade.
Quick Overview
Difficulty
EasyTime
~2 minutes
Method
Settings App
Refund
No refunds
Before you cancel: Back up your data
Canceling iCloud+ drops your storage to the free 5GB tier. If you are using more than 5GB, your photos, files, and backups may stop syncing and could eventually be deleted. Download everything important before you cancel. We walk you through this below.
Cancel iCloud+ on iPhone or iPad
Open Settings
Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. This is the gray gear icon found on your Home Screen. Make sure your device is connected to the internet so the subscription changes can be processed by Apple.
Tap your name (Apple Account)
At the very top of the Settings screen, tap your name and profile picture. This opens your Apple Account settings (previously called Apple ID). This is where Apple keeps all your subscription, payment, and iCloud information.
Tap Subscriptions
Scroll down and tap Subscriptions. You will see a list of all your active and expired Apple subscriptions. iCloud+ will appear here if you have an active paid storage plan (50GB, 200GB, 2TB, 6TB, or 12TB).
Select iCloud+
Tap iCloud+ from the list of active subscriptions. This opens the plan details page where you can see your current storage tier, monthly price, and renewal date. If you do not see iCloud+ here, your storage may be included in an Apple One bundle instead.
Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm
Scroll to the bottom and tap Cancel Subscription (it may also say "Downgrade to 5GB Free"). Apple will warn you that your storage will be reduced to 5GB and that data exceeding this limit may not sync. Tap Confirm to finalize. Your paid plan stays active until the end of the current billing period.
Cancel iCloud+ on Mac
Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. On older macOS versions (Monterey and earlier), this is called System Preferences.
Click your Apple Account
Click your name and profile picture at the top of the sidebar. Then click iCloud from the account options. This takes you to your iCloud storage overview.
Click Manage and then Downgrade
Under iCloud+ Features, click Manage. Then click Change Storage Plan and select Downgrade Options. You may be asked to enter your Apple Account password. Select the free 5GB plan and confirm your choice.
Subscribed Through Apple or Google?
iCloud+ is an Apple service, so it is always managed through your Apple Account. However, if you access iCloud on a Windows PC or through the web, the process differs slightly. Here are the steps for both Apple devices and alternative platforms.
Cancel via iPhone / iPad
- 1. Open Settings on your iPhone
- 2. Tap your name at the top (Apple Account)
- 3. Tap Subscriptions
- 4. Tap iCloud+ in the list
- 5. Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm
Cancel via Web or Windows
- 1. Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in
- 2. Click Subscriptions in the sidebar
- 3. Find iCloud+ and click Manage
- 4. Click Cancel Subscription
- 5. Confirm the cancellation when prompted
What Happens After You Cancel iCloud+?
Your plan stays active until the billing period ends
After you cancel, your iCloud+ storage and features (Private Relay, Hide My Email, custom email domain) remain available until the end of the current billing cycle. You will not be charged again.
Storage drops to the free 5GB tier
Once the billing period ends, your storage limit drops to 5GB. If your iCloud data exceeds 5GB, your devices will stop creating new backups, photos will stop syncing, and iCloud Drive files will not update. Apple holds your data for approximately 30 days, then may begin deleting it to bring you under the limit.
Photos and files may be permanently deleted
This is the biggest risk. If you use iCloud Photos and have more than 5GB of media, Apple may delete photos and videos from iCloud after the grace period. Photos stored only in iCloud (not on your device) could be lost forever. Download your photos to your device or computer before canceling.
iCloud+ features are disabled
Premium features like iCloud Private Relay (Safari VPN), Hide My Email (disposable email addresses), and custom email domains will stop working when your plan expires. Any Hide My Email addresses you created will be deactivated, so emails sent to those addresses will no longer be forwarded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my photos if I cancel iCloud+?
Not immediately, but potentially yes. When your storage exceeds the free 5GB limit, iCloud stops syncing. Apple retains your data for roughly 30 days after you exceed the limit. If you do not free up space or resubscribe within that window, Apple may begin deleting data. To be safe, download all photos and videos to your Mac, PC, or an external drive before canceling. On iPhone, go to Settings > Photos and enable "Download and Keep Originals" to ensure full-resolution copies are stored locally on your device.
Can I downgrade to a smaller iCloud+ plan instead of canceling?
Yes. Instead of canceling entirely, you can switch to a cheaper tier. For example, if you are on the 200GB plan but only use 30GB, you could downgrade to the 50GB plan and save money while keeping your data synced. Go to Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions > iCloud+ and select a different plan tier.
What happens to my iCloud email address after canceling?
Your @icloud.com email address is tied to your Apple Account, not to your iCloud+ subscription. You will keep your iCloud email even after downgrading to the free plan. However, if you used the custom email domain feature (available only with iCloud+), that custom domain will stop working.
Do I get a refund when I cancel iCloud+?
No. Apple does not issue refunds for partial billing periods on iCloud+. Your paid plan remains active until the end of the current billing cycle, and then you are automatically moved to the free 5GB tier. You will not be charged again after canceling.
Can I cancel iCloud+ without an Apple device?
Yes. You can sign in to your Apple Account at appleid.apple.com from any web browser on any computer or phone. Navigate to Subscriptions, find iCloud+, and cancel from there. You can also use the iCloud for Windows app if you have a PC.
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