How to Cancel Apple Music Student Plan in 2026 (Before Verification Expires)
Updated 2026-03-03 · 5 min read
⏰ The Auto-Upgrade Trap
Apple Music Student costs $5.99/month and includes Apple TV+. But student status must be re-verified annually through UNiDAYS, and the maximum student pricing lasts 4 years. After that (or if verification fails), it automatically upgrades to the $10.99/month Individual plan — nearly double the price.
Cancel Apple Music Student (iPhone/iPad)
Open Settings
Tap your name at the top (Apple ID)
Tap Subscriptions
Tap Apple Music
Tap Cancel Subscription
Access continues until end of billing period
Playlists and library saved for 30 days after cancellation
Cancel Apple Music Student (Mac)
Open App Store
Click your name (bottom left) → Account Settings
Scroll to Subscriptions → Manage
Click Edit next to Apple Music
Click Cancel Subscription
Re-Verify Student Status
If you're still a student but verification expired:
Open Music app or go to music.apple.com
Go to your subscription settings
Click Verify Student Status
You'll be redirected to UNiDAYS to verify your enrollment
Use your .edu email to verify
Verification is valid for 12 months, up to a maximum of 4 years total
What You Get (and Lose)
Apple Music Student includes: Full Apple Music catalog + Apple TV+ — both for $5.99/month
When you cancel, you lose: Streaming access, Apple TV+, offline downloads stop working
What stays: Playlists saved for 30 days. Songs you purchased from iTunes stay forever. Apple TV+ access ends immediately.
Cheaper Music Alternatives for Students
Spotify Student ($5.99/month): Same price, includes Hulu (with ads) AND Showtime — significantly more value
YouTube Music Student ($5.49/month): Cheapest option, includes ad-free YouTube — great if you watch YouTube a lot
Amazon Music Student ($4.99/month): Cheapest premium music, requires Prime Student ($7.49/month)
At the same $5.99/month price, Spotify Student gives you Spotify Premium + Hulu (with ads) + Showtime. That's a music service AND two streaming services for the price of Apple Music alone. If you're budget-conscious (as students usually are), Spotify Student is the better deal.
Graduation Checklist
Before graduation: Set a calendar reminder to cancel before your 4-year student limit or graduation date
Download offline songs: If you have downloaded songs for offline listening, they'll stop working after cancellation
Export playlists: Use a service like Soundiiz or TuneMyMusic to transfer playlists to Spotify or YouTube Music
Cancel auto-renew: Better to cancel early than get charged $10.99 unexpectedly
Bottom line: Apple Music Student is a solid deal at $5.99 while you're actually a student. But set a reminder before graduation — the silent upgrade to $10.99/month catches most people off guard. Consider Spotify Student for more value at the same price.
💡 Student discounts expire — are you still getting them?
Upload your bank statement to JustCancel and check if any student subscriptions silently converted to full price.