Short answer: open Settings › [your name] › Subscriptions, tap the cleaner app and tap Cancel Subscription (or Cancel Free Trial). Deleting the app does not stop the billing. Cancel at least 24 hours before the renewal date. If you were charged for a period you didn't want, request a refund from Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
Steps
- Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Tap Subscriptions. You'll see active and expired subscriptions with their renewal dates and prices.
- Tap the cleaner app's subscription.
- Tap Cancel Subscription or Cancel Free Trial, then Confirm.
- The screen now shows when access ends. You keep what you paid for until then.
- For a refund, go to
reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in, choose Request a refund, pick the reason and select the charge. - Check your bank or card statement after the next renewal date to make sure no new charge appears.
Can't find the subscription?
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Not listed in Subscriptions | You may have subscribed with another Apple Account. Check each account you use. |
| Bought on the developer's website | Cancel on that website or with your card provider, not in Settings. |
| Listed under Expired | It's already canceled; nothing more to do. |
| Family member's subscription | They must cancel on their own Apple Account. |
You can also get to the same list from the App Store app: tap your profile picture, then Subscriptions.
Why weekly plans cost so much
Many cleaner apps start with a short free trial that turns into a weekly subscription. Weekly prices look small but add up:
| Weekly price | Per year |
|---|---|
| $5.99 | about $311 |
| $7.99 | about $415 |
| $9.99 | about $519 |
| $11.99 | about $623 |
Apple shows the renewal price and period on the subscription screen before you confirm, but it's easy to miss inside a trial offer. If you cancel during a free trial, you may lose access right away, so cancel near the end of the trial if you want to finish your cleanup first.
What you keep after canceling
Anything the app already deleted is gone from your library (or waiting in Recently Deleted for 30 days). Compressed videos and converted photos stay in your Photos library. Vault apps are different: if the app keeps hidden photos in its own storage, export them back to Photos *before* you delete the app (hiding photos safely).
A cleaner without a subscription
Spaceclear has no subscription at all and no trial that turns into a charge. Scanning is always free, and the free plan includes daily cleanups. Spaceclear Pro is one payment of $8.99 (US price), with Family Sharing, so there's nothing to cancel later. If you switch from another cleaner, cancel the old subscription first, then install Spaceclear and scan; nothing needs to move. See the comparison of cleaner apps and prices and is the Cleanup app safe?.
FAQ
Does deleting an app cancel the subscription?
No. Subscriptions are tied to your Apple Account, not to the app being installed. You must cancel in Settings › [your name] › Subscriptions, or you'll keep being billed.
Can I get a refund for a cleaner app subscription?
You can ask. Go to reportaproblem.apple.com, choose Request a refund and select the charge. Apple decides case by case; requests made soon after an unexpected renewal have the best chance.
Why is there no Cancel button?
If the subscription screen has no Cancel button, the subscription is already canceled and runs until the date shown, or it was bought outside the App Store. Check the expiry date and your other Apple Accounts.
Updated 2026-11-13