Carbonite is a cloud backup service that helps protect important files by storing backup copies online. If you no longer want to continue using the service, you can cancel your Carbonite subscription by turning off automatic renewal.
Carbonite's current support information explains that canceling generally means deactivating automatic renewal. You can continue using the existing features until the subscription reaches its expiration date.
This guide explains how to cancel a Carbonite subscription, what happens after cancellation, and what you should check before ending your service.
Before canceling, sign in to your Carbonite account and review your current subscription.
Check the plan you are using and its expiration date.
This is useful because canceling automatic renewal does not necessarily end your access immediately. According to Carbonite, you can generally continue using your existing features until the paid subscription expires.
Open a web browser and go to your Carbonite account.
Enter the email address and password associated with your subscription.
If you have multiple Carbonite accounts, make sure you sign in to the account that contains the subscription you want to cancel.
If you cannot remember your password, use the account recovery process before attempting to change your subscription settings.
After signing in, open your Carbonite account or subscription settings.
Look for the section related to your subscription or automatic renewal.
The exact appearance of the account page can vary depending on your Carbonite product and plan.
Carbonite uses automatic renewal to renew eligible subscriptions when the current subscription period ends.
If automatic renewal is enabled, look for the option to change or deactivate it.
For Carbonite Safe Backup Pro, Carbonite's current instructions indicate that the Billing Owner can sign in, open Account Summary, select the option to change the renewal setting, and choose the option to cancel automatic renewal.
Select the option to deactivate automatic renewal.
Review the cancellation information shown on the screen.
Confirm that you want to cancel automatic renewal when prompted.
Once automatic renewal is disabled, Carbonite should not automatically renew the subscription at the end of the current paid period.
Carbonite states that customers enrolled in automatic renewal can deactivate it through their account.
After changing the renewal setting, return to your account summary and verify that automatic renewal is no longer active.
Look for an indication that the subscription will expire rather than renew automatically.
Keep a record of the cancellation confirmation or take a screenshot of the updated account status for your records.
Canceling automatic renewal does not necessarily stop Carbonite immediately.
Carbonite's support documentation states that after automatic renewal is deactivated, existing features can generally continue to be used until the subscription expiration date.
This means you may still have access to your Carbonite backup during the remaining paid period.
Pay close attention to your backup data after the subscription expires.
Carbonite states that backed-up data is permanently removed after a limited post-expiration period. The exact period can depend on the product or account, with Carbonite documentation referring to periods of thirty or sixty days.
If you have important files stored only in your Carbonite backup, consider restoring or transferring those files before the retention period ends.
Before allowing your subscription to expire, review the files currently protected by Carbonite.
If there are important files that you need to keep locally, restore them to your computer or another appropriate storage location.
This is especially important if Carbonite contains the only available backup copy of your important documents, photographs, or work files.
If you are canceling because you are replacing your computer or changing your backup setup, you may not need to abandon your existing backup immediately.
Carbonite provides options for transferring certain subscriptions to another computer or using an existing subscription to restore files or start another backup.
Review the appropriate transfer or restore option before canceling if you plan to continue using Carbonite in another way.
Canceling the subscription and uninstalling the Carbonite application are separate actions.
If you want to stop using Carbonite on your computer, you can uninstall the application after making sure your backup needs have been addressed.
However, uninstalling the application does not replace the need to deactivate automatic renewal.
Carbonite's support documentation lists deactivating automatic renewal and uninstalling the application as steps for users who want to stop using the service.
After disabling automatic renewal, review your account to confirm the renewal setting has changed.
Keep your cancellation confirmation for your records.
If you notice an unexpected renewal charge after successfully disabling automatic renewal, contact Carbonite support and provide your account and cancellation information.
Canceling a Carbonite subscription does not automatically mean you will receive a refund.
Carbonite's current cancellation and refund information states that subscription fees and storage packs already paid for generally are not refunded simply because you cancel. However, Carbonite also provides a refund process for certain qualifying purchases or renewals within specified conditions.
If you recently purchased or renewed Carbonite and believe you qualify for a refund, review the official refund policy and contact Carbonite support.
If you cannot find an automatic renewal setting, first verify that you are signed in to the correct account.
Some Carbonite products require the Billing Owner to manage billing settings.
If you are not the Billing Owner, you may not have permission to make subscription changes.
In that situation, contact the account owner or Carbonite support for assistance.
If you believe automatic renewal is still enabled, sign in to your Carbonite account and review the renewal status.
Make sure the account shows that automatic renewal has been disabled.
If you have multiple Carbonite accounts, check each relevant account to make sure you changed the setting on the correct subscription.
If you cannot cancel the subscription through your account, contact Carbonite support through an official support channel.
Explain that you want to stop automatic renewal and provide the relevant account information requested through the official support process.
If you are requesting a refund, mention the purchase or renewal date and explain why you believe the transaction qualifies.
Never provide your password or verification codes to anyone.
Canceling a Carbonite subscription is usually straightforward because the primary step is turning off automatic renewal.
Start by signing in to the correct Carbonite account and reviewing your subscription. Locate the automatic renewal setting, deactivate it, and confirm that the account now shows the subscription will expire instead of renewing automatically.
Remember that canceling automatic renewal does not necessarily end your service immediately. You can generally continue using the subscription until its expiration date.
Before the subscription expires, review your backed-up files and restore anything important that you need to keep. Carbonite may permanently remove backed-up data after the applicable post-expiration retention period.
If you are having trouble finding the cancellation option or managing your subscription, contact Carbonite support for assistance.