Use the receipt to identify the billing provider and account
Start by checking the company that billed you on the email receipt. If you cannot find an Apple receipt, look at your card or bank statement. If another company sold the subscription directly, follow that company’s cancellation instructions. [1]
Even if you have moved an app from an iPhone to an Android phone, first check who bills the existing subscription. Distinguish an item billed by Apple from a subscription bought through Google Play, then find it in that account’s subscription list. Google Play also requires you to sign in to the account used for the purchase. [1][2]
Note the service name, payment amount, and payment date together. If you find an item with a similar name in the list, compare it with the receipt rather than choosing from memory. When reviewing several subscriptions, mark each item that needs canceling individually.
Do not assume cancellation is complete simply because you deleted the app. Google states that uninstalling an app does not cancel its subscription. Check the subscription status in the billing account rather than relying on whether the app is installed. [2]
Cancel Apple subscriptions in Settings
On an iPhone, go to Settings → your name → Subscriptions, select the item, then tap Cancel Subscription. You may need to scroll down to find the button. Apple says an item is already canceled if there is no Cancel button or an expiration message appears in red. [1]
If the subscription is missing, search your email for “receipt from Apple” or “invoice from Apple” to identify the Apple Account used to buy it. If it belongs to a family member’s account, that person must cancel it. Being able to view a family member’s payments does not give you permission to cancel their subscriptions. [1]
If you do not want a trial to renew, Apple advises canceling at least 24 hours before the trial ends. Check the period shown when you signed up and the actual subscription screen in advance rather than starting to look for the menu on the last day. Reopen the item after canceling to verify its status. [1]
Find Google Play subscriptions in the purchasing account
On Android, open the subscriptions list in Google Play, choose the item, and tap Cancel subscription. Finish the instructions that follow. If the menu has moved and is difficult to find, the official Google guide below provides a route to your subscriptions. [2]
If the list is empty, check whether you bought the subscription with another Google Account. Compare the receipt and the account shown in the subscription list rather than assuming the email used inside the app is also the Google Play billing account. Switch to the purchasing account to find its items. [2]
Google Play says you can continue using a canceled subscription for the period you have already paid for. Check your item’s screen for the end date and whether another payment is scheduled. Pausing and canceling are different choices, so read the final selection again if you want to stop the next renewal. [2]
Check refund eligibility separately for payments already made
Tapping Cancel Subscription does not automatically return money already paid. Some purchases from Apple may qualify for a refund, which you request at reportaproblem.apple.com. Choosing Request a refund, giving a reason, selecting the app or subscription, and submitting the request is a separate process. [3]
Apple advises allowing 24–48 hours for an update on your request. That does not mean the refund has been approved or that the money will arrive within that time. Check approval separately from the date the refund actually reaches your payment method. [3]
Google Play’s refund policies also depend on the product, when and how you paid, and your location. Not having used an app does not guarantee a refund. Use Google’s official refund guidance to find the conditions and request route for your purchase, and contact the developer if needed. [4]
If the purchase is missing from the refund list, first check whether it belongs to another account. Apple says you cannot request a refund while a charge is pending; try again after receiving the receipt. Keeping separate records of cancellation and the refund request makes their progress easier to follow. [3]
Keep a record of cancellation and the end date
When you finish, reopen the same subscription screen and check for cancellation or expiry information. Record the service name, purchasing account, end date, and the time you verified cancellation. Checking each subscription before moving to the next makes omissions easier to spot.
If you later think you were charged again, compare the date of the new payment with the previous receipt. Put the service name, account, and amount on the new receipt alongside those of the canceled item, and note any mismatch. Having these details ready makes a support request easier to explain.
When asking for help, prepare the order or receipt details and cancellation status, rather than giving only the app’s name. You do not need to share your account password. Checking refunds for past spending separately from stopping future renewals makes it clear which request is still outstanding.