Reader question: cancel iPhone app subscription during the trial period

A reader recently asked me how she can cancel an app subscription while it is still in the “trial period”, ie in the (free) test phase. She downloaded a supposedly free app for plant identification with a trial subscription from the App Store, which was, however, connected to a full subscription. She wrote to the app's support team, but only received the feedback that they cannot help here and that she should cancel the subscription in iTunes. But what if the trial subscription or the entire app is not displayed in iTunes? In the following you will find a few tips and points of contact.

Cancel iPhone iOS app trial subscription via iTunes on Mac or PC

You can read how to edit app subscriptions directly via the iPhone under the next subheading. First of all, if you also have a Mac or PC with iTunes at hand, with which you can manage your iPhone:

1. The iTunes Open the app on macOS or Windows
2. In the menu bar Account click and in the drop-down menu View my account ... here
3. Sign in with your Apple ID and click show account here
4. On the "Account data" page scroll down to "Settings" and on the "Subscriptions" line on the Administer-Click the link
5. Choose a subscription and click Edit click and then cancel subscription choose

Example of the iOS app overview in iTunes. If you want to cancel a subscription, click on "Edit" in the subscription overview next to the app description.

Cancel app subscriptions directly from your iPhone

The procedure is very clear via iTunes. Basically, it's pretty easy too - if you know how to do it. But if you neither have a Mac nor a Windows PC on which you are logged in at hand, you can also cancel an iOS app subscription on the iPhone. This basically also applies to trial subscriptions and test versions with a subscription. You can find exceptional cases below. Here are the iPhone steps first:

1. In the Settings on yours Namur (at the top) tap
2. Then from the overview iTunes & App Store choose
3. Right on top of that Apple ID tap and then Show Apple ID select (log in if necessary or use Touch ID or Face ID)
4. On the strip with the inscription Subscriptions tippen
5. Tap iPhone app subscription to manage and use the options cancel subscription selected, then confirm cancellation

You can also cancel an app subscription or trial subscription directly on the iPhone. Image: Apple.com

No subscription is displayed in the app overview - what now?

In the event that subscriptions - even those in the trial period - are not displayed, Apple lists a few possible reasons and solutions. You can find the entire support document on the topic with this link. Here is the evaporated checklist for the problem:

• Has the subscription been taken out with the current Apple ID? is the same Apple ID used in iTunes on the computer?
• Maybe the iOS app subscription was taken out directly from the third party and not through Apple? (A few more information in the next paragraph)
• If the subscription was taken out via Apple (directly in the app from the App Store or via iTunes), but it is not displayed, contact support (see below).
• Family member subscriptions cannot be canceled using the Family Sharing Organizer; everyone has to manage their own apps and subscriptions.
• The iCloud storage plan is a special case and is not listed in the subscriptions. You can find help on the topic via the link above.

Cancel contracts and subscriptions via the app: Subscription alert as a cancellation service provider

Third-party subscription or the subscription is not displayed in the overview

Apple offers help on iOS app subscriptions and third-party providers in the Support document HT207865 at. It shows, among other things, how you can find out details about the concluded contract and how you can request help with the problem. From personal experience I can tell you this point of contact recommend. After calling up the link, click on the “No, thank you. Continue. ”Button and then select how support can help you. 

The link takes you directly to Apple support in the iOS apps section. Here you can get support for applications that you cannot find in the overview and, if necessary, cancel the subscription, even during the trial period.

You can reach Apple support by email and use a chat function to directly describe your concerns and get help. I have already received help several times when I bought an app and wanted to return it because it did not work. It always went smoothly and very friendly. So if nothing seems to be working, you can find quick and competent help here. I wish you success!

Update 30.09.2019/XNUMX/XNUMX: A friendly but specific email to the app provider also helps!

My reader, who inspired me to write this article, ultimately found a solution without Apple support. She informed the provider of the corresponding plant identification app "PictureThis!" contacted again by email and appealed to his seriousness.

With success: she received a positive answer from the provider and after a seven-day trial period no money was debited for the unwanted annual subscription. The app provider obviously had the opportunity to cancel the trial subscription. @ Carmen: Thanks for your info!

Jens Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He appears as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with problems of a technical nature. In his free time he drives electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with his iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions for current bugs.