Cancel YouTube Premium from your account settings

To cancel YouTube Premium, sign into your YouTube account on any device, go to your profile icon in the top right corner, and select Purchases and subscriptions. Click Manage next to your YouTube Premium subscription. On the next screen, select Cancel subscription, then confirm by clicking Yes, cancel. Your access continues until the end of your current billing period — YouTube does not refund the remainder of the month.

The exact wording and button locations vary slightly depending on whether you are on a computer, phone, or tablet, but the path through your account settings remains the same. If you cannot find the Purchases and subscriptions option, try searching your account settings for the word "subscription" — the search function will take you directly to the right page.

You can also cancel through Google Play if you signed up through an Android phone, or through the App Store if you signed up on an iPhone. The process is similar: open the app store, find YouTube Premium in your subscriptions list, and select cancel. However, canceling through your YouTube account settings is the most straightforward method and works regardless of how you originally signed up.

Key Takeaways

  • Sign into YouTube, click your profile icon, select Purchases and subscriptions, then click Manage and Cancel subscription to end your membership.
  • Your YouTube Premium access continues through the end of your current billing cycle even after you cancel — you do not lose access immediately.
  • YouTube does not issue refunds for the unused portion of your billing period after cancellation.
  • If you signed up through Google Play or the App Store, you can also cancel through those apps, though canceling through YouTube itself is simpler.
  • You can restart YouTube Premium at any time by going back to the same Purchases and subscriptions page and selecting Restore.

What happens to your account after cancellation

Once you cancel, your YouTube Premium membership ends on your next billing date. Until that date arrives, you keep all Premium features: ad-free viewing, offline downloads, background play, and YouTube Music access. After the billing date passes, ads return to your videos and you lose access to Premium features, but your regular YouTube account and all your subscriptions, playlists, and watch history remain intact.

YouTube does not delete your account or any of your content when you cancel Premium. You can still upload videos, create playlists, and watch YouTube normally — you simply see ads again and cannot use the Premium-only features. Your YouTube channel, if you have one, is unaffected.

Canceling a subscription you signed up for through Google Play or the App Store

If you subscribed to YouTube Premium through the Google Play Store on an Android phone, open Google Play, tap your profile icon, select Payments and subscriptions, then Subscriptions. Find YouTube Premium in the list, tap it, and select Cancel subscription. The cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period.

On an iPhone, open the App Store, tap your profile icon at the top right, select Subscriptions, find YouTube Premium, and tap Cancel Subscription. Again, you keep access through the end of your billing cycle. Some users find it easier to cancel through the YouTube website rather than through these apps, since the YouTube account settings page is the same regardless of your device.

If you cannot find the cancel button

The most common reason the cancel button does not appear is that your subscription is already paused or canceled. If you see a Restore button instead of Cancel, your subscription has already been canceled and will end on the date shown. You do not need to do anything else.

If you see no subscription information at all in your Purchases and subscriptions page, you may not have an active YouTube Premium membership. Check whether you are signed into the correct Google account — some people have multiple accounts and forget which one they used for YouTube Premium. Sign out completely, then sign back in with the email address you used to set up Premium.

If you still cannot locate your subscription after checking both accounts, contact YouTube Support through the Help Center. They can confirm whether an active subscription exists under your account and help you cancel it if one does.

Pausing instead of canceling

YouTube Premium allows you to pause your subscription for up to three months instead of canceling it outright. When you pause, your billing stops but your account remembers your settings and preferences. After the pause period ends, your subscription automatically resumes and billing restarts. This option is useful if you want to take a break but plan to return to Premium later.

To pause instead of cancel, go to your Purchases and subscriptions page, click Manage next to YouTube Premium, and look for a Pause subscription option. Not all accounts show this option — it depends on your region and how long you have been a subscriber. If you do not see it, canceling and restarting later is your only option, though restarting is quick and does not require you to re-enter payment information.

Restarting YouTube Premium after cancellation

If you cancel YouTube Premium and later want to restart it, return to your Purchases and subscriptions page and click Restore next to YouTube Premium. Your subscription resumes immediately and you are billed on the same day of the month as before. You do not need to re-enter your payment method or go through a signup process — YouTube remembers your account information.

There is no penalty for canceling and restarting. You can do this as many times as you want. Some people cancel during months when they know they will not use YouTube much, then restart when they want Premium features again.

Troubleshooting payment issues and unwanted charges

If you canceled YouTube Premium but were still charged, the charge likely occurred on your billing date before the cancellation took effect. YouTube processes cancellations at the end of your billing cycle, not immediately. For example, if your billing date is the 15th and you cancel on the 10th, you will be charged on the 15th as scheduled, and your membership ends on the 16th.

If you were charged after your billing cycle should have ended, or if you see multiple charges, contact your bank or credit card company first — they can see the exact dates and amounts of all charges. Then contact YouTube Support with the charge dates and amounts. YouTube can review your account history and issue a refund if the charge was an error.

If you want to prevent future charges entirely, you can also remove YouTube Premium from your payment method in your Google Account settings. Go to Payments and subscriptions in your Google Account, select Payment methods, and delete the card or account you used for YouTube Premium. This prevents accidental recharges if you restart Premium in the future, though you will need to add a payment method again if you decide to resubscribe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get a refund when I cancel YouTube Premium?

No. YouTube does not refund unused portions of your billing period. Your membership continues through the end of your current billing cycle, and then it ends. If you cancel mid-month, you keep Premium access until your next billing date, but you do not receive money back for those remaining days.

Will canceling YouTube Premium delete my channel or videos?

No. Canceling Premium does not affect your YouTube channel, videos, playlists, or watch history. Your account remains exactly as it was — you simply lose Premium features like ad-free viewing and background play. You can still upload, edit, and manage your channel normally.

Can I cancel YouTube Premium on my phone?

Yes. You can cancel through the YouTube app by tapping your profile icon, selecting Purchases and subscriptions, then Manage and Cancel subscription. You can also cancel through the Google Play Store or App Store if you subscribed through those apps. The YouTube website method works on phones too — just open YouTube in your browser and follow the same steps as on a computer.

What is the difference between pausing and canceling?

Pausing stops your billing for up to three months, then automatically restarts your subscription. Canceling ends your membership completely, and you must manually restart it if you want Premium again. Pausing is useful if you plan to return soon; canceling is better if you are unsure whether you will come back.

Why does YouTube Premium still show as active after I canceled?

Your membership remains active through the end of your billing period — that is normal. If your billing date is the 20th and you cancel on the 10th, you keep Premium access until the 20th. After that date passes, Premium features disappear and ads return. Check the cancellation confirmation email YouTube sent you to see your exact end date.