How to Cancel Highlights for Children Subscription (2025 Guide)

Q: Can I get a refund from Highlights for Children if I forgot to cancel?

For the magazines, they actually might send a pro rated refund check for unmailed issues. For the app? Good luck getting Apple to pay you back.

Learn how to cancel Highlights for Children magazines and apps quickly. Avoid unwanted charges and save money with our step-by-step guide for iOS, Android, and web.

Last Edited on 09 Dec, 2025

Emma Sullivan, EdTech and Media Writer

8 min read

Highlights for Children (est. 1946) offers magazines and apps like Hidden Pictures. Plans cost $4.99 to $29.99. Available on iOS, Android, and desktop. Cancelling saves up to $60 annually. Visit Highlights for Children. With the "iPad kid" debate trending on TikTok, you might be ditching screens for dirt. According to the Better Business Bureau, they handled 45 complaints in the last 3 years. Users on Pissed Consumer frequently cite "poor customer service" and "incorrect billing amount" as reasons to leave. Recent postal price hikes have also annoyed subscribers.

How to Cancel Highlights for Children on iPhone (iOS)

If you subscribed via the Hidden Pictures app on an iPad or iPhone, you must cancel through Apple. Deleting the app does nothing.

1 Open Settings

Tap the Settings gear icon on your home screen. It is usually on the first page.

2 Tap Your Name

Hit your Apple ID banner at the very top of the list.

3 Select Subscriptions

Tap Subscriptions. If you do not see it, check under 'Media & Purchases'.

4 Find Highlights

Scroll to find Highlights for Children or Hidden Pictures in the Active list.

5 Cancel Subscription

Tap Cancel Subscription. If you only see 'Renew', it is already done.

How to Cancel Highlights for Children on Android

Android users managing the app subscription need to go through the Play Store. It is usually quick.

1 Open Play Store

Launch the Google Play Store app on your phone or tablet.

2 Tap Profile Icon

Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.

3 Go to Payments

Select Payments & subscriptions from the menu list.

4 Select Subscriptions

Tap Subscriptions to view your active plans.

5 Cancel Highlights

Tap on Highlights and select Cancel subscription. Follow the confirmation prompts.

How to Cancel Highlights Magazine on Desktop

For physical magazine subscriptions (Highlights, High Five, Hello), you usually need to use their web portal. You will need your account number handy.

1 Visit Customer Service

Go to the Highlights Customer Service portal on their official website.

2 Log In

Enter your Account Number (found on the magazine label) and Zip Code. This part is annoying if you threw away the magazine.

3 Manage Account

Navigate to the Manage Your Account section once logged in.

4 Select Cancel

Look for the option to Cancel Subscription or switch 'Auto-Renew' to off.

5 Confirm

Follow the prompts to finalize. Take a screenshot of the confirmation page just in case.

Cancel Highlights for Children by Phone

If the website is glitching (which happens), calling is your best bet.

Phone: 1-800-255-9517
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

Prepare for a bit of hold time. Have your account number ready to speed things up.

Cancel by Email

You can try emailing them, though it is slower.

Email: CustomerService@Highlights.com

Include your full name, address, and account number. Ask for a confirmation number in your email so you have a paper trail.

What is Highlights for Children Cancellation Policy

Highlights generally allows you to cancel at any time. For physical magazines, they typically offer a pro-rated refund for any issues that have not been mailed yet. However, if you are subscribed to the digital apps via Apple or Google, you usually keep access until the billing cycle ends, but you won't get a refund for the current month. It is a bit fragmented depending on how you signed up.

Before You Cancel Highlights for Children: What You Should Know

Make sure you have your account number. It is an 11-digit number usually highlighted in yellow on the back of your magazine. Without it, the online portal is useless. Also, check if you prepaid for a year. If you did, you might be entitled to a check in the mail for the remaining months. Don't leave that money on the table.

Having Trouble Cancelling Your Highlights for Children Subscription?

Stuck? Here are a few things to try:

Check the Label: You really need that 11-digit account number from the magazine label to log in online.
Third-Party Billing: Did you buy it through Amazon or a school fundraiser? You might need to cancel through them directly.
Browser Issues: Try using Chrome in Incognito mode. The site can be finicky with cookies.
Call Them: If the portal loops you back to the homepage, just call 1-800-255-9517.

Subscription Plans and Pricing (2025)

Plan Name	Price	Format	Details
Highlights Magazine	~$29.99/yr	Print	Ages 6-12, monthly delivery
High Five	~$29.99/yr	Print	Ages 2-6, monthly delivery
Hello	~$29.99/yr	Print	Ages 0-2, durable pages
Hidden Pictures App	~$4.99/mo	Digital	Unlimited puzzles on mobile
12-Month App Bundle	~$39.99/yr	Digital	Discounted annual rate

How Pine AI Can Help You Cancel Your Highlights for Children Subscription

With rising costs of living in 2025, cutting a $30 magazine subscription you barely read is a smart move. Pine AI makes it effortless.

Step 1: Let's get started to cancel Highlights for Children Simply tell us that you want to cancel your subscription with Highlights for Children, we'll ask for some account details to get started.

Step 2: Pine gets to work We navigate the confusing clicks, wait on hold, and handle the awkward conversations to ensure it's actually cancelled. We don't just suggest it; we finish it.

Step 3: You're free from Highlights for Children The payments stop and you get your time back. No "retention offers," no run-around, just a confirmed "one-and-done" result.

Start with Pine AI

Frequently Asked Questions about Highlights for Children

Can I unsubscribe from Highlights for Children anytime?

Yeah, you can pretty much bail whenever you want. Just don't expect it to be one click if you lost your account number.

Can I get a refund from Highlights for Children if I forgot to cancel?

For the magazines, they actually might send a pro-rated refund check for unmailed issues. For the app? Good luck getting Apple to pay you back.

How do I know my Highlights for Children subscription is cancelled?

You should get an email confirmation. If you don't see it within an hour, check your spam folder or call them immediately.

How long does it take for Highlights for Children to cancel?

Online is instant. Email takes days.

What else should I know before I cancel my Highlights for Children subscription?

Keep the magazine label! That yellow highlighted account number is your golden ticket to logging in. Without it, you are stuck calling support.

How do I raise a complaint to Highlights for Children?

Call their support line directly if you are mad. Emails just get generic auto-responses half the time.

How does Pine AI work with Highlights for Children to cancel my subscription?

We basically do the dirty work for you so you don't have to sit on hold listening to elevator music.

Pine AI is an independent consumer assistance service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Highlights for Children or any other company mentioned on this site.

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Emma Sullivan

EdTech and Media Writer

Emma Sullivan is the EdTech & Media Writer at Pine AI, focusing on the intersection of educational technology, digital media, and consumer trends. With over a decade of experience as a technology journalist and an educator, Emma brings a unique, hands-on perspective to their analysis. In her full time profession Emma teaches digital literacy programs and reports for leading technology publications, where they cover the launch of major educational platforms and the integration of new media in learning environments. Emma is committed to providing readers with practical, insightful, and reliable guidance whether it's about saving money or practical subscription hacks, she wants to empower consumers through knowleddge.