How to Cancel Apple Music Family Plan in 2026 (Switch Plans + Keep Library)
Updated 2026-03-03 · 5 min read
🎵 Your Library Isn't Lost
When you cancel Apple Music, your playlists and library are saved for 30 days. If you resubscribe within that window, everything comes back. Songs you purchased from iTunes (not streamed) stay in your library forever regardless.
Apple Music Plans (2026)
Voice: $4.99/month — Siri-only, no on-screen browsing
Student: $5.99/month — includes Apple TV+ (requires .edu verification)
Individual: $10.99/month — full access for one person
Family: $16.99/month — up to 6 family members
Apple One Individual: $19.95/month — Music + TV+ + Arcade + iCloud+ 50GB
Apple One Family: $25.95/month — same as above for up to 6 people + 200GB iCloud+
Cancel Apple Music Family (iPhone/iPad)
Open Settings
Tap your name (Apple ID) at the top
Tap Subscriptions
Tap Apple Music
Tap Cancel Subscription or switch to Individual/Student plan
Access continues until end of billing period
All family members lose access when the plan expires
Cancel Apple Music Family (Mac)
Open Music app (or App Store)
Click Account → Account Settings
Scroll to Subscriptions → Manage
Click Edit next to Apple Music
Click Cancel Subscription
Cancel Apple Music Family (Web)
Go to music.apple.com
Click profile icon → Settings
Under Subscriptions, click Manage
Cancel or change plan
⚠️ Impact on Family Members
When you cancel the Family plan, all 6 family members lose access simultaneously at the end of the billing period. Each person's playlists and library are preserved for 30 days. If family members want to keep Apple Music, they'll each need their own Individual subscription ($10.99/month each).
Downgrade Instead of Cancel
Family → Individual ($10.99): If only you use Apple Music, save $6/month
Family → Student ($5.99): If you qualify (must verify with .edu email), save $11/month
Switch to Apple One: If you also pay for iCloud+, TV+, or Arcade separately, the bundle might actually save money
Family Plan Math: Is It Worth It?
2 users: Family ($16.99) vs 2 Individual ($21.98) — saves $4.99/month ✓
3 users: Family ($16.99) vs 3 Individual ($32.97) — saves $15.98/month ✓ ✓
1 user: Family ($16.99) vs Individual ($10.99) — wasting $6/month ✗
Break-even: Family plan is worth it with 2 or more active users
Cheaper Music Streaming Alternatives
Spotify Free: $0 — ad-supported, shuffle-only on mobile (no ad-free family plan savings though)
Spotify Family: $16.99/month — same price as Apple Music Family, 6 accounts, works on all devices
YouTube Music Family: $22.99/month — more expensive, but includes YouTube Premium (ad-free YouTube)
Amazon Music Unlimited Family: $16.99/month — same price, included with Prime discount ($14.99)
Amazon Music Prime: Free with Prime — limited library but decent for casual listening
YouTube Music Free: $0 — ad-supported, full catalog, background play on desktop
Bottom line: If fewer than 2 people in your family actively use Apple Music, downgrade to Individual and save $72/year. If nobody uses it enough to justify $17/month, cancel entirely — free tiers of Spotify and YouTube Music cover casual listening just fine.
💡 How many music and streaming subscriptions are you paying for?
Upload your bank statement to JustCancel and find every recurring charge — Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Premium, and services you forgot about.