How to Downgrade or Cancel Your iCloud Storage Plan

Whether you’ve realized that you’re not using your current storage capacity or you’re looking to cut back on subscription costs, knowing how to downgrade or cancel your iCloud storage plan can save you time and money. Apple makes it relatively simple to adjust your plan according to your needs, ensuring you have the flexibility to change as your requirements do.

This article will guide you through the steps to downgrade or cancel your iCloud storage plan on all Apple devices or your Windows PC.

Downgrade or Cancel Your iCloud Storage Plan on iPhone

Apple makes it relatively simple to cancel or downgrade your iCloud Storage Plan by using an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro. If you’re using one of these Apple devices follow the steps below:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
   
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen to enter your Apple ID.
   

3. Select iCloud and then tap Manage Account Storage (or Manage Storage).
   

4. On the next screen select Change Storage Plan.
   

5. Select Downgrade Options at the bottom of the screen.
   

6. Choose a plan that suits you more. Here you can select either to downgrade for a lower subscription cost or to cancel the subscription by selecting the Free 5GB plan. Tap Done to finish the process.
   

Once you downgrade or cancel your iCloud Storage Plan, you’ll be able to see the change only when the current subscription billing period comes to an end.

Downgrade or Cancel Your iCloud Storage Plan on Mac

You can also use your Mac to downgrade or cancel your iCloud Subscription Plan. Here’s how:

1. Go to the Apple menu and select System Settings. If you’re using macOS Monterey or an earlier one, select System Preferences from the Apple menu.
   

2. Click your Apple ID and select iCloud from the left side menu.
   

3. Select the Manage button, next to the Account Storage on the right-side menu.
   

4. When a new dialog box opens, select Change Storage Plan.
   

5. Select Downgrade Options at the lower left corner of the dialog box.
   

6. If prompted, enter your Apple ID password to continue.
   
7. Select the subscription plan that suits your needs. You can select Free 5GB to cancel the subscription. Finally, select Done to finish the process.
   

Note that some users report they can’t click on the Done button at the end of the process. This typically happens if you’re not logged in with the same Apple ID account that you use for the iCloud+ plan. If this happens to you, Apple suggests you should contact their support center for further help.

Downgrade or Cancel Your iCloud Storage Plan on Windows Computer

If you’re using iCloud for Windows, here’s how you can cancel or downgrade your Storage subscription on your PC:

1. Open iCloud for Windows, and select Manage next to iCloud.
   

2. When the new dialog box opens, select the Change Storage Plan button.
   

3. In the next dialog box, select Downgrade Options at the bottom.
   

4. If prompted, enter your Apple ID password.
   
5. Select a different plan, or select Free 5GB to cancel the subscription. Then select Done to finish.
   

Same issue with the Done button not being clickable can happen on your Windows PC. If this is the case, make sure you’re logged in with the correct Apple ID.

What Happens With Your iCloud+ After the Downgrade?

After downgrading your iCloud+ plan, your storage capacity will decrease to the new plan’s limit. However, this will happen only after the current subscription billing period ends.

If your data exceeds this new limit, Apple will not delete your files right away. But you’ll be unable to back up new data to iCloud until you reduce your storage usage below the new limit. This means you may need to delete some files, such as photos, videos, or large documents, to free up space. Apple will give you a grace period to bring your usage within the new plan’s limits before your ability to store new data is affected.

Additionally, certain features that come with higher-tier iCloud+ plans, like enhanced privacy protections, HomeKit Secure Video support, or Hide My Email option, might no longer be available after the downgrade. If you rely on these features, you may need to adjust your setup or find alternative solutions. It’s important to consider how the downgrade will impact your digital life and to ensure that you have everything backed up and organized before making the change.