How to Cancel YouTube Premium Subscription? [Step by Step]
YouTube Premium is Google’s paid membership that removes ads, allows background play and downloads, and includes YouTube Music Premium. Individual plans typically cost around $13.99 per month in the US, with family plans higher.
Charges appear on the payment method linked to your Google Account, Google Play, or Apple ID depending on how you signed up.
Deleting the YouTube app does not cancel your subscription. You must turn off auto-renewal through the correct account settings. This guide covers the official steps so you can stop future charges while keeping access until the end of your current period.
What Is YouTube Premium and How Billing Works
YouTube Premium is a recurring membership billed monthly or annually. It renews automatically until you cancel. You can usually pause it for a limited time instead of canceling fully.
Billing happens through Google (most common), Google Play, or Apple if you subscribed in the iOS app. Family plans share benefits with up to five other members under one manager. Anyone on the account can check status, but the person who pays generally controls cancellation.
Access continues until the end of the paid billing cycle after you cancel. Google typically does not refund the remaining time.
How to Cancel from YouTube on Computer
This is the primary method for most Google-billed subscriptions.
- Go to youtube.com/paid_memberships and sign in with the Google Account that has Premium.
- Click Manage membership.
- Click Deactivate.
- Click Continue to cancel.
- Select a reason and click Next.
- Click Yes, cancel.
You should see a confirmation on screen and receive an email. Benefits stay active until the end of the current period.
How to Cancel on Android
- Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture.
- Tap Purchases and memberships (or Paid memberships).
- Tap your YouTube Premium membership.
- Tap Continue to cancel (or Deactivate).
- Select a reason and confirm with Yes, cancel.
If the subscription was purchased through Google Play, the app may send you to Google Play settings to finish the cancel.
Canceling If Billed Through Apple or Google Play
On iPhone or iPad (Apple billing)
If you signed up through the YouTube iOS app, cancel via Apple:
- Open Settings and tap your name.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- Tap YouTube or YouTube Premium.
- Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm.
On Google Play
- Open the Google Play Store app or go to play.google.com.
- Tap your profile and select Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions.
- Find YouTube Premium and tap Cancel subscription.
- Follow the prompts.
Always check both places if you are unsure how you were billed.
What Happens After You Cancel
Auto-renewal stops. You keep ad-free viewing, downloads, background play, and YouTube Music Premium until the end of the billing period you already paid for. After that date, the benefits end and ads return.
You will not be charged again unless you resubscribe. Confirmation appears in the YouTube app or website and usually arrives by email. Check youtube.com/paid_memberships later to confirm an end date is listed.
Tips for a Smooth Cancellation
Sign in with the exact Google Account that holds the membership. Family plan managers cancel for the whole group.
Cancel a few days before renewal if possible so the system processes cleanly. Screenshot the confirmation. You can often pause instead of canceling if you only need a temporary break (up to about six months in many cases).
If the cancel button is missing, try another browser, incognito mode, or a different device.
Common Problems and Solutions
If you still see charges after canceling, verify the membership end date on the paid memberships page. Charges may belong to a different Google service. Check payments.google.com for details.
Apple-billed users must cancel in Apple Settings. Google Play users may need the Play Store path.
If you cannot find the membership, try recovering the Google Account linked to the charge or contact YouTube support through the help pages.
Alternatives After Canceling
You can still watch YouTube for free with ads. YouTube Music free tier remains available. Some users switch to ad-blocking browser extensions or other music services, though results vary by device and policy. You can resubscribe anytime through the same account.
FAQs About YouTube Premium Cancel Subscription
Q: Will I lose access right away when I cancel YouTube Premium?
No. Benefits continue until the end of your current billing period. After that date they stop.
Q: Can I get a refund after canceling YouTube Premium?
Google generally does not refund the remaining time in a billing cycle. Refund requests are limited and handled case by case through support or the original billing platform (Apple or Google Play).
Q: Does deleting the YouTube app cancel my Premium subscription?
No. You must cancel through the paid memberships page, Google Play, or Apple Settings depending on how you were billed.
Q: What if I am on a YouTube Premium family plan?
The family manager cancels the plan for everyone. Individual members cannot cancel the shared subscription themselves.
Conclusion
To cancel your YouTube Premium subscription and stop auto-renewal, go to youtube.com/paid_memberships, manage the membership, and deactivate it.
Use Apple Settings or Google Play if those platforms handle your billing. You keep the benefits until the paid period ends and will not be charged again unless you resubscribe.
Confirm the cancellation on the memberships page and save the email. That is the most reliable way to end the recurring charge.
Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information based on publicly available YouTube and Google support pages at the time of writing. It is not financial or legal advice. Policies and interfaces can change. Contact YouTube support or your payment provider for help with your specific account.
