How to Cancel Cricket Wireless in 2026

Cricket Wireless runs on prepaid billing, so cancelling is not a button. You turn off Auto Pay and let the current paid month run out. Do it at least five days before your next due date, and port your number out first if you want to keep it.

Short answer: Go to cricketwireless.com/manageautopay or open the myCricket app, turn Auto Pay OFF, and stop paying. Service stays on until the end of the month you already paid for, then it lapses. Port your number to a new carrier before that happens or the number is gone.

Last updated: June 2026

Where is the cancel button for Cricket Wireless?

There isn't one. That is the part that trips people up. Cricket is a prepaid, no-contract service. You pay for a month in advance. There is no monthly contract to break and no "close my account" link buried in settings. You "cancel" by turning off Auto Pay so the next charge never hits, then letting the service expire on its own.

Because it is prepaid, there are no early termination fees. There is also no prorated refund. The month you already paid for is yours to the last day, whether you use it or not. So do not cancel the day after you pay unless you have a reason to. Wait until near the end of the cycle.

How do I cancel Cricket Wireless step by step?

The real task is two things: turn off Auto Pay, and get your number out if you want it. Here is the order that avoids surprises.

1. Port your number first (if you are keeping it). Sign up with your new carrier and give them your Cricket phone number, account number, and transfer PIN. The port pulls the number over and effectively ends Cricket service on that line. If you do this, you can skip the Auto Pay steps because the line closes when the number leaves. Find your account number and PIN in the myCricket app under Account, or ask Cricket for your transfer PIN.
2. If you are not porting, turn off Auto Pay on the website. Go to cricketwireless.com/manageautopay, sign in, and on the Auto Pay screen select OFF under Auto Pay Status. That is the switch that stops the next charge.
3. Or turn off Auto Pay in the app. Open the myCricket app, go to the Auto Pay screen, and tap Turn Off Auto Pay. Same result.
4. Do it at least five days before your due date. Cricket's own Auto Pay terms say you must cancel Auto Pay at least five days before the payment due date. Turn it off the day before your bill and the charge may already be in motion.
5. Let the service lapse. With Auto Pay off and no manual payment made, the line stops at the end of your paid month. You do not have to call anyone. It simply does not renew.
6. Confirm the charge stopped. Check your card or bank statement after the due date passes to make sure Cricket did not bill you again. Screenshot the Auto Pay OFF status now, in case you need proof later.

Prefer a human to do it? You can also call Cricket at 1-800-274-2538 or visit a Cricket store with your phone and ID. A rep can close the line or stop Auto Pay for you. Be ready for a light retention pitch about cheaper plans; a firm "just turn off Auto Pay" ends it.

Am I being billed by Cricket or through an app store?

For almost everyone, Cricket bills your card directly. This is a phone plan, not an App Store subscription, so the Auto Pay switch above is the one that matters. If you set up Cricket as part of a bundle or through a third party, your billing might live somewhere else. Check the card statement: if the charge reads "Cricket," you cancel with Cricket. If it reads Apple, Google, or another provider, you have to cancel wherever the money actually leaves. Verify current terms, because billing setups change.

Do I keep service until the end of the billing period?

Yes. You already paid for the full month, so your calls, texts, and data keep working until that cycle ends. Turning off Auto Pay just stops the next month from renewing. There is no refund for the days you do not use, so time your cancel for late in the cycle to get your money's worth.

What happens to my phone number after I cancel?

This is the expensive mistake. Once the line lapses, Cricket's suspend-and-restore terms give you a window: pay within 60 days of your last pay date to keep the number, otherwise the account is cancelled and the number is released. After that it is gone for good. If you want to keep your number, port it to your new carrier before you let Cricket lapse. Do not cancel first and port later.

Cancelling Cricket Wireless: your options compared

What if Cricket charges me after I cancelled?

It happens: Auto Pay was turned off too late, or a charge slipped through. First, confirm the date. If you cancelled fewer than five days before your due date, that renewal may have been locked in. If you turned it off in time and still got billed, contact Cricket and ask for a reversal, with your Auto Pay OFF screenshot as proof. If Cricket will not fix a charge you did not authorize, you can dispute the credit card charge with your bank. Know the difference between a chargeback versus a refund before you pick a route, and see what to do when a company will not refund you.

Common questions

Cutting other subscriptions too? Here is how to cancel Spotify, how to cancel Netflix, and how to cancel Planet Fitness. Or start from the cancel-anything hub.

Verify current terms on Cricket's site, terms change. Karen is not affiliated with Cricket Wireless. Karen is a self-help tool, not a law firm.