When subscriptions don’t appear in Apple ID (or you can’t manage/cancel them), it’s usually one of three things: you’re signed into the wrong Apple ID, the device can’t refresh billing data, or the subscription wasn’t actually billed through Apple.

Tangled knot around a credit card and warning symbol

Start on iPhone first, because that’s where subscriptions are easiest to refresh and verify—then we’ll do the Mac checks.

1. iPhone: Confirm you’re on the Apple ID that actually paid

A surprising number of “missing subscription” cases are just the wrong Apple ID on the device.

  • Go to Settings > [your name]. Check the email at the top.
  • Then open App Store > tap your profile icon > confirm it shows the same Apple ID.
  • If you have multiple Apple IDs (work/personal/old), sign into the one that used to get the receipt emails.

2. iPhone: Check Subscriptions in Settings (not only in the App Store)

The subscriptions list sometimes loads better from Settings than from the App Store screen.

  • Open Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions.
  • If it spins, errors, or stays blank, switch networks (Wi‑Fi to cellular, or vice versa) and try again.
  • If you use a VPN or iCloud Private Relay, temporarily pause it and retry.

Smartphone checklist with refresh arrow for subscription verification

3. iPhone: Use Purchase History to prove where the charge came from

If the subscription isn’t listed, Purchase History helps you confirm whether Apple billed it or the merchant did.

  • Go to Settings > [your name] > Media & Purchases > View Account > Purchase History.
  • Look for the app/service and open the receipt.
  • If the receipt shows Apple as the merchant, it should appear under Subscriptions (once the list refreshes).
  • If you don’t see an Apple receipt, the subscription may be through the app’s website, another store, or a different Apple ID.

Also check whether the subscription is under Family Sharing (someone else may be paying).

4. iPhone: Force a clean refresh (sign out of Media & Purchases only)

This refreshes App Store billing data without signing you out of iCloud entirely.

  • Go to Settings > [your name] > Media & Purchases.
  • Tap Sign Out, restart your iPhone, then sign back in.
  • Return to Subscriptions and wait 30–60 seconds for it to populate.

If you’re in the middle of account recovery or recently changed your Apple ID password, give it a little time—subscription status can lag.

5. Mac: Refresh App Store account + subscription page

Once the iPhone checks are done, use the Mac to double-check what Apple sees on your account.

  • Open the App Store on Mac.
  • Click your name (bottom-left) to view account details.
  • Look for a Subscriptions section (or Manage) and open it.
  • If the page won’t load, quit App Store and reopen it.

Laptop sync arrow with receipt icon for Mac subscription refresh

6. Mac: Check for the “not billed through Apple” scenario

If the subscription is active but never shows up under Apple ID on any device, it’s often because it was started outside Apple billing.

  • If you subscribed on a website (not in-app), you’ll usually manage it on that website.
  • If you subscribed through another marketplace (Google, Amazon, Microsoft), it won’t appear in Apple Subscriptions.
  • If you see a charge on your card but no Apple receipt, look for the merchant name in your bank statement and match it to the service.

For Apple-billed subscriptions, receipt emails from Apple are the quickest proof of which Apple ID was used.

Final thoughts

Most missing-subscription problems come down to Apple ID mismatch or the subscription not being billed through Apple at all. Start mobile-first to refresh the billing list, then use the Mac App Store account page as a second confirmation.

If you can’t find any Apple receipt for it, treat it as a non-Apple subscription and manage it directly with the service provider.