Cancellation instructions — how to cancel via device settings

iOS subscriptions are cancelled through device Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions; Android subscriptions through Google Play. The app cannot provide a direct cancel button, but it must communicate the cancellation path — users who cannot figure out how to cancel file chargebacks, which cost the developer $15–$25 per dispute plus chargeback ratio penalties. Apple guideline 3.1.2 requires that users are informed of how to cancel, and the FTC Negative Option Rule requires that cancellation be "simple." A paywall that says "Cancel anytime" without providing any actual cancellation instructions is deceptive under this standard.

Add a "Manage Subscription" button to your settings or account screen that opens the platform's subscription management. Include brief cancellation text on the paywall as well.

// SettingsScreen.tsx
import { Platform, Linking } from 'react-native';

const manageSubscription = async () => {
  const url = Platform.OS === 'ios'
    ? 'https://apps.apple.com/account/subscriptions'
    : 'https://play.google.com/store/account/subscriptions';
  await Linking.openURL(url);
};

<TouchableOpacity onPress={manageSubscription}>
  <Text>Manage Subscription</Text>
</TouchableOpacity>

On the paywall, include at minimum: "Cancel anytime in device Settings." This text satisfies Apple's disclosure requirement and, combined with the manage-subscription deep link in settings, gives users a complete cancellation path.

• ID: app-store-iap-subscriptions.subscription-lifecycle.cancellation-instructions
• Severity: medium
• What to look for: Count all relevant instances and enumerate each. Subscriptions on iOS are cancelled through device Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions, and on Android through Google Play → Subscriptions. The app itself cannot provide a cancel button that directly cancels the subscription (except via the StoreKit.showManageSubscriptions() API on iOS 15+ which opens the system sheet). Check that the app communicates cancellation instructions somewhere accessible to the user. Look for: (1) Text on the paywall such as "Cancel anytime in device Settings" or "Manage subscription in Settings". (2) A settings/account screen with a "Manage Subscription" button that calls StoreKit.showManageSubscriptions() (iOS) or opens https://play.google.com/store/account/subscriptions (Android) via Linking.openURL(). (3) ManageSubscriptionsSheet usage in SwiftUI. Failure pattern: the app implies users can "cancel anytime" but provides no path or instructions to actually do so.
• Pass criteria: The app communicates where and how to cancel (device settings or a manage-subscription deep link), either on the paywall or in an account/settings screen. At least 1 implementation must be verified.
• Fail criteria: No cancellation instructions anywhere in the app — app says "cancel anytime" but provides no mechanism or instructions to do so.
• Skip (N/A) when: No subscription IAP in the app.
• Detail on fail: "Paywall says 'Cancel anytime' but no cancellation path or instructions exist in the app — no 'Manage Subscription' button in Settings and no link to device subscription management" or "App provides no mechanism for users to manage or cancel their subscription"
• Remediation: Both Apple and Google require that users can access their subscription management. Provide a direct path:
  1. For iOS, open the system subscription management sheet:

     import { Platform, Linking } from 'react-native';
     const manageSubscription = async () => {
       if (Platform.OS === 'ios') {
         await Linking.openURL('https://apps.apple.com/account/subscriptions');
       } else {
         await Linking.openURL('https://play.google.com/store/account/subscriptions');
       }
     };
     

  2. Add "Manage Subscription" to your Settings or Account screen
  3. Include brief cancellation instructions on the paywall (even just "Cancel anytime in Settings")