How to cancel or downgrade iCloud+

Before you cancel

Cancelling iCloud+ means going back to the free 5 GB. Check how much you store first: open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud. If you use more than the plan you are moving to, download or delete the extra before the change takes effect. Photos are usually the bulk of it. Nothing is deleted the moment you cancel, but a full account stops syncing and stops backing up your phone.

On an iPhone with iOS 18.4 or later

1. Open Settings and tap your name.
2. Tap Subscriptions, then iCloud+ under Active.
3. To cancel, tap Cancel Subscription. Apple warns that you may not have enough storage to sync everything; that is the warning described above.
4. To pay less instead, tap See All Plans and pick a smaller one.

On an older iPhone

1. Open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud.
2. On iOS 18 to 18.3, tap Manage Plan under iCloud+ Features. On iOS 17 and earlier, tap Manage Account Storage.
3. Tap Downgrade Options and enter your Apple Account password if asked.
4. Select the free 5 GB plan to cancel, or a smaller paid plan, then tap Done.

On a Mac

1. Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
2. Click Apple Account, then iCloud.
3. Click Manage Plan under iCloud+ Features.
4. On macOS 26 or later, click Cancel Subscription, or See All Plans to pick a smaller one. On earlier versions, click Downgrade Options and choose the new plan.

Without an Apple device, Apple also lets you cancel iCloud+ online from your Apple Account.

What happens after you cancel

• The change takes effect when the billing period you already paid for ends. Until then everything keeps working.
• If you are over the new limit at that point, iCloud stops syncing and updating, and iCloud backups no longer complete. Both resume once you delete enough or buy storage again.
• The extras that come with iCloud+ switch off on the free plan: Private Relay, Hide My Email, and HomeKit Secure Video.
• To check it worked, open the same screen again. In the Subscriptions list, iCloud+ shows the date it ends. On the older screens, the new plan has a blue tick beside it.

Apple One and refunds

• If you pay for Apple One and a separate iCloud+ plan, you can cancel the separate plan and keep the storage that Apple One includes.
• Apple gives partial refunds where the law requires it. If you changed your plan recently, contact Apple within 14 days to ask for one.