How to Cancel iCloud Storage

Posted by in Save Money | Updated on June 20, 2023
At a Glance: To cancel your iCloud storage plan, the process varies depending on the device you’re using. On a Mac, open the Apple menu, go to System Preferences, choose iCloud, select Manage, and then Change Storage Plan. On a Windows PC, use the iCloud for Windows application and follow similar steps. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name, choose iCloud, select Manage Storage or iCloud Storage, and then Change Storage Plan. Make sure to enter your Apple ID password when prompted. Downgrading your plan allows access until the billing period ends, and refunds may be available in certain cases. Copy important data from iCloud before canceling.

Cloud storage is a convenient way to access all your data across several devices without having to juggle copies of it on different devices. Apple’s iCloud is a data storage subscription service for your Apple devices. If you get to a point where you no longer want to pay for an iCloud subscription, it may not be clear how to cancel and what happens to your data when you do. Read on to learn more about how to cancel iCloud storage.

How to Cancel Your iCloud Storage Plan

If you are not sure how to cancel iCloud storage, you can follow the instructions detailed below. It’s very similar to the steps to cancel Apple Music. The procedure is slightly different depending on which device you use.

How to Cancel Your iCloud Storage Plan from a Mac

You can cancel your iCloud storage plan using an Apple Mac by following the instructions listed below:

  1. Open the Apple menu  
  2. In the System Preferences menu, click Apple ID (If you’re using macOS Mojave or earlier, you don’t need to click Apple ID)
  3. Choose iCloud
  4. Choose Manage
  5. Choose Change Storage Plan
  6. Open the Downgrade Options menu
  7. Type in your Apple ID password when asked
  8. Choose Manage
  9. Choose the Free Plan
  10. Click the Done button.

If you can’t click the Done button, you may be signed in with the wrong Apple ID. Make sure you are using the Apple ID that is linked to your iCloud storage plan. If it still doesn’t work you can try canceling your iCloud storage using a different device.

For most people, when you downgrade your plan, you will still have access to all of your features until the end of the billing period. However, partial refunds are available in some cases, where required by law. 

If you recently downgraded your iCloud storage plan, you can contact Apple support within 14 days to request a refund.

How to Cancel Your iCloud Storage Plan from a PC

You can also use a Windows PC to cancel your iCloud storage plan by following the instructions listed below:

  1. Open the iCloud for Windows application
  2. Click the Storage button
  3. Select Change Storage Plan
  4. Open the Downgrade Options menu
  5. Enter the password for your Apple ID when asked
  6. Select Manage
  7. Choose the Free Plan
  8. Click the Done button.

Make sure you are using the Apple ID that is linked to your iCloud storage plan. If you’re unable to click the Done button, you may be signed in with the wrong Apple ID. If it still doesn’t work you can try canceling your iCloud storage using a different device.

Generally, when you downgrade your plan, you will still have access to all of your features until the end of the billing period. Partial refunds are also available in some cases, where required by law. 

If you recently downgraded your iCloud storage plan, you can contact Apple support within 14 days to request a refund.

How to Cancel Your iCloud Storage Plan from an iPhone

You can use your iPhone to cancel your iCloud storage plan by following the instructions listed below:

  1. Open the Settings menu
  2. Select the button with your name on it
  3. Select the  iCloud button 
  4. Tap Manage Storage or iCloud Storage
  5. Select the Change Storage Plan button
  6. Tap to open the Downgrade Options menu
  7.  Typ in your Apple ID password.
  8. Choose the Free Plan
  9. Tap the Done button.

If you can’t click the Done button, you may be signed in with the wrong Apple ID. Make sure you are using the Apple ID that is linked to your iCloud storage plan. If it still doesn’t work you can try canceling your iCloud storage using a different device.

For most people, when you downgrade your plan, you will still have access to all of your features until the end of the billing period. However, partial refunds are available in some cases, where required by law. 

If you recently downgraded your iCloud storage plan, you can contact Apple support within 14 days to request a refund.

How to Cancel Your iCloud Storage Plan from an iPad

You can use your iPad to cancel your iCloud storage plan by following the instructions listed below:

  1. Open the Settings menu
  2. Select the button with your name on it
  3. Select the  iCloud button 
  4. Tap Manage Storage or iCloud Storage
  5. Select the Change Storage Plan button
  6. Tap to open the Downgrade Options menu
  7. Type in your Apple ID password
  8. Choose the Free Plan
  9. Tap the Done button.

Make sure you are using the Apple ID that is linked to your iCloud storage plan. If you’re unable to click the Done button, you may be signed in with the wrong Apple ID. If it still doesn’t work you can try canceling your iCloud storage using a different device.

Generally, when you downgrade your plan, you will still have access to all of your features until the end of the billing period. Partial refunds are also available in some cases, where required by law. 

If you recently downgraded your iCloud storage plan, you can contact Apple support within 14 days to request a refund.

How to Cancel Your iCloud Storage Plan Without Apple

You don’t have to use an Apple device to cancel iCloud storage. You can also use a Windows PC to cancel or downgrade your subscription. Follow the instructions shown below to cancel your iCloud storage plan without Apple.

  1. Open the iCloud for Windows application
  2. Click the Storage button
  3. Select Change Storage Plan
  4. Open the Downgrade Options menu
  5. Enter the password for your Apple ID when asked
  6. Select Manage
  7. Choose the Free Plan
  8. Click the Done button.

If you can’t click the Done button, you may be signed in with the wrong Apple ID. Make sure you are using the Apple ID that is linked to your iCloud storage plan. If it still doesn’t work you can try canceling your iCloud storage using a different device.

For most people, when you downgrade your plan, you will still have access to all of your features until the end of the billing period. However, partial refunds are available in some cases, where required by law. 

If you recently downgraded your iCloud storage plan, you can contact Apple support within 14 days to request a refund.

What Happens if I Cancel My iCloud Storage Plan?

Whenever there is more data in your iCloud storage than what your plan allows for, your iCloud app will no longer sync or update information on your devices with the cloud. 

The app will only continue to sync again after you upgrade the storage capacity or delete data to free up storage capacity.

In addition, if you downgrade to the Free Plan, you will no longer have access to certain features associated with iCloud+, such as Hide My Email and Private Relay.

To make sure you don’t lose any of the information in your iCloud storage you can also copy what’s in iCloud and store it somewhere else.

How to Downgrade Your iCloud Storage Plan

The procedure for downgrading your iCloud storage plan is the same as how to cancel iCloud storage. Follow the instructions given above for each type of device. The only difference is, when you reach the Downgrade Options menu, select a cheaper plan than you had, instead of the Free Plan.

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Conclusion 

The method of how to cancel iCloud storage is very straightforward. It’s very similar to the steps to cancel Apple TV. The exact procedure depends on which device you use to cancel. After you cancel your iCloud storage, the data that you had stored is not deleted, but you will not be able to sync any new data if you have more than 5GB stored. The procedure for downgrading to a cheaper paid plan is the same as for canceling.

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Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.