Cannot cancel or downgrade the iCloud subscription

Iphone 8 with IOS 16.7.2

When I go to Settings->iCloud->Manage Account Storage-Change Storage Plan, I can see my current plan is 50GB, $0.99 a month.

I want to change back to the free account, but there is no option to select the free account, nor is there a downgrade option.


All the How To's I have seen online say choose the downgrade option or choose the free account.


I suspect Apple is deliberately trying to make it hard to stop paying for this, so how can I get the free option or even better cancel the iCloud subscription completely.

Posted on Nov 2, 2023 8:14 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 2, 2023 6:39 PM

Hi PickyBikers

welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) community!


Re: Cannot cancel or downgrade the iCloud subscription


Before you downgrade or cancel your iCloud+ plan,

first download or remove content that exceeds your new storage amount. 

(eg: keep using the 5Gb free or keep "none"). How to: Manage your iCloud storage - Apple Support


NB: You can turn off syncing data from the various apps to remove the synced copies in iCloud.

If you just delete data on iCloud that's in sync., it deletes everywhere it is synced with.


If you wish: Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support


Also: If you downgrade or cancel your iCloud+ plan,

the change takes effect after your current subscription billing period ends


Apple support's online article (link below) shows how to downgrade or cancel on each kind of device.

You can just follow the steps, (else please let us know just where you find the difficulty)


How to: Downgrade or cancel your iCloud+ plan - Apple Support


iCloud Support website: iCloud - Official Apple Support


Hope this works for you :-)

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 2, 2023 6:39 PM in response to PickyBikers

Hi PickyBikers

welcome to the Apple (user-to-user) community!


Re: Cannot cancel or downgrade the iCloud subscription


Before you downgrade or cancel your iCloud+ plan,

first download or remove content that exceeds your new storage amount. 

(eg: keep using the 5Gb free or keep "none"). How to: Manage your iCloud storage - Apple Support


NB: You can turn off syncing data from the various apps to remove the synced copies in iCloud.

If you just delete data on iCloud that's in sync., it deletes everywhere it is synced with.


If you wish: Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support


Also: If you downgrade or cancel your iCloud+ plan,

the change takes effect after your current subscription billing period ends


Apple support's online article (link below) shows how to downgrade or cancel on each kind of device.

You can just follow the steps, (else please let us know just where you find the difficulty)


How to: Downgrade or cancel your iCloud+ plan - Apple Support


iCloud Support website: iCloud - Official Apple Support


Hope this works for you :-)

Nov 2, 2023 7:33 PM in response to PickyBikers

Your sceenshot shows an iCloud + page:

Try:

Settings > [your name]> iCloud > Manage (Account) Storage >

then

Change storage > Downgrade Options > enter your Apple ID password

then

Choose "Free 5Gb plan" or choose "None"

then

Tap "Done"


If you can't tap Done, make sure that you're signed in with the same Apple ID that you use for your iCloud+ plan.

Nov 3, 2023 4:50 PM in response to PickyBikers

If you are not subscribed to iCloud + there could be no option to downgrade.

You would be using "none" or the free 5Gb iCloud. There would only be upgrade options. (Yet you can see your 50 Gb / 99c iCloud+ subscription in Settings!)


You could check you are signed in (to your iPhone) with your correct Apple ID:

Sign in with your Apple ID - Apple Support

and

Try restarting your iPhone (deletes temporary files, re-establishes connections etc.)

Restart your iPhone - Apple Support


See if there is any difference with accessing the "downgrade options"


Else: seems you may need to contact iCloud support for help:

There is a "Get Support- start now" link (online chat / phone / email etc.), at the bottom of their webpage: iCloud - Official Apple Support


Nov 3, 2023 6:09 AM in response to PickyBikers

I don't think I am on iCloud+ because there is an option to UPGRADE to iCloud+.

Your instructions are:

"Try:

Settings > [your name]> iCloud > Manage (Account) Storage > (this works okay)

then

Change storage > Downgrade Options > enter your Apple ID password (Downgrade Options does not exist)

then

Choose "Free 5Gb plan" or choose "None"

then

Tap "Done""


The Downgrade Options item highlighted above does not exist on the screen page.

Should I upgrade to iCloud+ and then try to follow these instructions?


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Cannot cancel or downgrade the iCloud subscription

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