How To Hide Subscriptions On iPhone

Subscriptions on iPhone can quickly get out of hand. Before you know it, you might be paying for several subscriptions you don’t use or want anymore. Fortunately, iPhone makes it easy to hide and manage your subscriptions.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover several methods to hide subscriptions on iPhone, from hiding specific apps to turning off auto-renewals. Read on to take control of your iPhone subscriptions!

Why Hide Subscriptions on iPhone?

Here are some of the top reasons to hide subscriptions on your iPhone:

• Save Money: If you have unused subscriptions, hiding them can stop those monthly charges from hitting your credit card. Over time, this can save you a lot of money!
• Reduce Clutter: Hiding subscriptions you don’t use regularly can declutter your home screen and make it easier to find the apps you actually need.
• Protect Privacy: By hiding certain subscriptions from your history, you can keep those services private if others use your phone.
• Manage Your Data: Controlling which apps can see your subscription data is important for managing privacy.
• Prevent Accidental Purchases: Hiding subscriptions can prevent kids or others from accidentally renewing them without your permission.

By taking the time to manage your subscriptions, you gain control over your iPhone and even put some extra money back in your wallet every month!

Method 1: Hide Specific Subscriptions

The App Store app makes it easy to hide subscriptions you don’t want showing up in your purchase history. Here’s how:

1. Open the App Store app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen.
3. Scroll down and tap on Subscriptions.
4. Find the subscription you want to hide. Swipe left on the subscription entry.
5. Tap Hide to confirm.

The subscription will no longer appear in your Subscriptions list in the App Store. This prevents it from being visible in your purchase history.

Keep in mind this only hides the subscription – it does not cancel or turn off auto-renewal. The subscription will still need to be canceled if you want to stop being charged for it.

Pros	Cons
Hides specific subscriptions from view	Doesn’t stop subscription charges
Easy to do in App Store	Need to cancel each subscription separately
Keeps purchase history cleaner	Subscription could get “unhidden” in future updates

This method is ideal if you just want to tidy up your subscriptions but may use some of the services in the future. Kids can also be prevented from seeing certain subscriptions by hiding them.

Method 2: Turn Off Subscription Renewal

For subscriptions you want to cancel completely, you can turn off auto-renewal in the App Store:

1. Open the App Store and go to your profile.
2. Tap on Subscriptions.
3. Find the subscription you want to cancel.
4. Tap on the subscription name to go to its page.
5. Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm.

This cancels the subscription and prevents any future charges. The subscription will still be visible in your purchase history.

Pros	Cons
Stops future subscription charges	Doesn’t hide subscription from view
Easy to manage renewals	Must repeat for each subscription
Option to resubscribe later	Lose access to that subscription service

Canceling the subscription is permanent unless you resubscribe later. It’s a quick way to stop paying for services you don’t use anymore.

Method 3: Use Screen Time Settings

The Screen Time feature in iPhone settings offers powerful ways to restrict access to content. You can use it to completely hide subscriptions from view.

Here’s how to use Screen Time to hide subscriptions:

1. Open Settings and tap on Screen Time.
2. Choose Content & Privacy Restrictions.
3. Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions using the toggle.
4. Enter the passcode you created.
5. Scroll down and tap iTunes & App Store Purchases.
6. Under Subscriptions, select Don’t Allow.

With this setting enabled, all existing subscriptions will be hidden from view in the App Store. You also won’t be able to purchase new subscriptions.

Pros	Cons
Completely hides all subscriptions	Very restrictive, blocks all subscriptions
Prevents new subscriptions	Passcode required to change settings
Great for kid devices	Lose subscription access and management

Screen Time gives you total control over subscriptions, but at the cost of removing subscription access completely. It’s best for parents restricting kids’ devices.

Method 4: Use Third-Party Subscription Hiding Apps

Several third-party apps on the App Store can hide your subscriptions as well:

• Hide My Subs – Allows hiding specific subscriptions or all subscriptions from view.
• My Hidden Purchases – Hide apps, movies, books, and more from your purchase history.
• Lock My Subs – Use a PIN to lock down your subscription list.

Here is how these third-party hiders tend to work:

1. Download the app from the App Store.
2. Open the app and grant access permissions if requested.
3. Select subscriptions to hide or set global visibility options.
4. Save your preferences in the app.
5. The apps run in the background to keep subscriptions hidden.

The advantage of these apps is flexibility. You can tailor exactly which subscriptions are hidden while leaving others visible. The downside is you have to install another app to manage it.

Pros	Cons
Selectively hide subscriptions	Another app to install
Keep useful subscriptions visible	Potential privacy risks
Avoid subscription management limits	Not created by Apple

Third-party subscription managers give you options lacking in Apple’s built-in tools. But they also share your data with another company.

Which Method Should You Use?

With several options available, choosing the right subscription hiding method matters:

• To quickly hide a few subscriptions you may use again later, use the App Store hiding feature.
• To permanently cancel subscriptions you’re done with, turn off auto-renewal.
• For restricting a child’s device, enable Screen Time subscription blocking.
• If you need customizable flexibility, try a third-party subscription manager.

Consider what level of control you need over your subscriptions. Don’t hide more than necessary, as that also limits useful subscription features on your iPhone.

The option that balances hiding unwanted subscriptions, keeping useful ones, and maintaining flexibility is using the App Store native options or third-party apps.

What Happens When You Hide Subscriptions?

Hiding an iPhone subscription isn’t completely removing it. Here’s what to expect when you use the various hiding methods:

• App Store Hidden: Remains installed, still makes charges, can be unhidden.
• Renewal Off: Stops charges but remains installed and visible.
• Screen Time Blocked: Completely hidden and blocks new sign ups.
• Third-Party Apps: Varies by app – most selectively hide subscriptions.

In short, hiding makes subscriptions invisible in your purchase history but doesn’t always affect the app functionality or billing. Cancelling renewal is needed to stop charges.

When Do Hidden Subscriptions Reappear?

Unless you cancel a subscription, hidden apps and services can come back. Here’s when hidden subscriptions may reappear on your iPhone:

• App Store updates – Apple tends to “unhide” apps after any App Store updates.
• iPhone updates – Major iOS updates may reset some hidden settings.
• Subscription renewals – An auto-renewing subscription becomes visible again once it renews.
• Restoring from a backup – Backups often include subscription data.
• Getting a new iPhone – iCloud can transfer subscription info when you get a new device.
• Third-party app issues – Buggy apps can fail to properly keep subscriptions hidden in some cases.

For the most permanent hiding, canceling subscriptions is better than just hiding them. For third-party apps, check in occasionally to make sure your preferences are still applied properly.

5 Pro Tips for Managing iPhone Subscriptions

Managing your iPhone subscriptions well takes some work. Here are 5 handy pro tips:

1. Catalog Your Subscriptions – Make a list of all your active subscriptions and decide which to keep or cancel. An organized approach works best.

2. Set Calendar Reminders – When you want to re-evaluate subscriptions, set reminders in your calendar to check in every 3-6 months.

3. Note Renewal Dates – Know when subscriptions will auto-renew so you can cancel unwanted ones in time.

4. Remove Unused Apps – Delete apps you don’t need anymore to prevent accidentally opening and resubscribing.

5. Ask About Discounts – Don’t be afraid to contact companies and ask about any discounts they offer on subscriptions.

Following these best practices will help you stay in control of subscriptions on your iPhone!

Frequently Asked Questions About iPhone Subscriptions

Here are answers to some common questions about managing subscriptions on an iPhone:

Q: Will I lose app data if I cancel a subscription?

A: In most cases, canceling a subscription only stops additional charges. However, some apps may delete or lock data if you are no longer a paying member. Check with each app first.

Q: Can I redownload apps after canceling their subscription?

A: Yes, you can redownload and resubscribe to apps you cancel. Your app data also remains in iCloud unless deleted by the developer.

Q: Where can I see my full subscription history?

A: Your subscription purchase history can be viewed in your Apple account. Open the App Store, tap your profile, and choose “Purchase History”.

Q: Do I still make payments during a free trial period?

A: Free trials do not charge you until the trial ends and automatically starts your paid subscription. Set a reminder to cancel before unwanted charges begin.

Q: Can I get a refund for an unused iPhone subscription?

A: Generally, Apple only offers refunds on subscriptions within the first 48 hours. After that or with lengthy use, you likely cannot get a refund.

Q: How can I tell when a subscription will renew?

A: Check a subscription’s status in your account. It will display the renewal date. Mark your calendar and set a reminder if you plan to cancel.

Carefully managing your subscriptions is well worth it for the money you can save and control you gain over how apps access your iPhone. Use the guide above to clean up your subscription situation!