So, you’re thinking about canceling your YouTube Premium subscription. Maybe your budget is tightening, you’re not using the benefits as much as you thought, or you’ve found other ways to get your music and ad-free video fix. Whatever the reason, you’ve come to the right place on How to Cancel YouTube Premium.
Canceling a subscription should be simple, but sometimes, companies make the process a little too discreet. If you’re wondering where to find that elusive “cancel” button, you’re not alone.
Welcome to Simmyideas, your friendly guide to navigating the digital world. In this comprehensive post, we’re going to walk you through exactly how to cancel YouTube Premium on every device imaginable. We’ll also answer all your burning questions: What happens after you cancel? Are there any hidden tricks? What are the best alternatives?
Let’s dive in and reclaim that monthly fee!
Why Are You Canceling? (A Quick Reality Check)
Before we get to the “how,” let’s pause for a second on the “why.” Understanding your motivation can help you make the best decision. Common reasons for How to Cancel YouTube Premium include:
Cost-Cutting: Let’s be honest, YouTube Premium isn’t the cheapest subscription out there. That monthly or annual fee can add up.
Underutilized Features: You might have signed up for ad-free videos but find you don’t watch enough YouTube to justify the cost. Or perhaps you never use YouTube Music.
Ad-Blocker Satisfaction: If you primarily watch on a desktop computer, a good ad-blocker can achieve an ad-free experience for free.
Content Shift: Your viewing habits may have changed, and you’re spending more time on other platforms like Netflix, Spotify, or TikTok.
Trial Period Ending: You signed up for a free trial and don’t want to be charged.
If any of these ring true, then canceling is probably the right move. But if you’re on the fence, let’s quickly recap what you’ll be giving up.
What You Lose When You Cancel YouTube Premium
It’s not just about ads for How to Cancel YouTube Premium. Canceling YouTube Premium means saying goodbye to a suite of features:
Ads: This is the big one. You’ll see pre-roll, mid-roll, and display ads on virtually all videos.
Background Play: On mobile, you won’t be able to close the YouTube app or lock your phone and keep the audio playing. The video will stop.
Downloads: You will lose access to your downloaded videos for offline viewing. The downloads will remain but become unplayable.
YouTube Music Premium: Your ad-free access to the vast YouTube Music library, including its download and background play features, will be revoked.
YouTube Originals: While less of a flagship feature now, you’ll lose access to Premium-only original content.
Okay, still sure you want to proceed? Perfect. Let’s get to the step-by-step instructions.
Part 1: How to Cancel YouTube Premium on the Web (Desktop/Laptop)
This is the most straightforward method on How to Cancel YouTube Premium and works whether you’re on a Windows PC, Mac, or Linux machine. You can do this through either the YouTube website or the Google Pay site. We’ll cover both.
Method A: Canceling via YouTube.com
This is the most intuitive way, as you’re managing your subscription right within the YouTube ecosystem that why this method of How to Cancel YouTube Premium in here for you.
Sign In: Go to YouTube.com and make sure you are signed into the Google account that has the Premium subscription.
Access Your Settings: Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen. From the dropdown menu, select “Purchases and memberships.”
(Image Suggestion: A screenshot of the YouTube homepage with an arrow pointing to the profile picture and the “Purchases and memberships” option highlighted.)
Navigate to Memberships: On the left-hand sidebar, click on “Memberships.” This is where you’ll see your YouTube Premium membership listed.
Manage Your Premium: Find the YouTube Premium card and click on “MANAGE.”
The Moment of Truth: You will now be redirected to a Google Pay page that manages your subscription. Look for the “Cancel Subscription” option. It’s usually a button or a clickable link.
Follow the Prompts: Google will likely try to offer you a discount or remind you of the benefits you’ll lose. Stay strong! Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm your cancellation.
Confirmation: You should see a confirmation message and receive an email confirming the cancellation. Your subscription will remain active until the end of the billing period you’ve already paid for.
Method B: Canceling via payments.google.com
If you’re having trouble with the YouTube site, you can go straight to the source on How to Cancel YouTube Premium.
Go to Google Pay: Open your browser and go to payments.google.com.
Sign In: Ensure you’re signed in with the correct Google account.
Find Subscriptions: On the left-hand menu, click on “Subscriptions.”
Locate YouTube Premium: You’ll see a list of all your active subscriptions through Google. Find and click on “YouTube Premium.”
Cancel: Click on “Cancel subscription” and follow the instructions to confirm.
Part 2: How to Cancel YouTube Premium on an Android Device
The process of How to Cancel YouTube Premium on Android is very similar to the web, as Android is a Google product. You can do it through the YouTube app or the Google Play Store app.
Method A: Canceling via the YouTube App
Open the YouTube App: Tap the YouTube icon on your home screen or app drawer.
Go to Your Profile: Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
Access Purchases: Tap “Purchases and memberships” > “Memberships.”
Manage Premium: Tap on “MANAGE” next to YouTube Premium. This will open the Google Play Store subscription page.
Cancel Subscription: Tap “Cancel subscription” and confirm your choice.
Method B: Canceling via the Google Play Store App
This is a reliable back-up method.
Open the Play Store: Launch the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
Menu: Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
Payments & Subscriptions: Go to “Payments & subscriptions” > “Subscriptions.”
Select YouTube Premium: You will see a list of your active subscriptions. Tap on “YouTube Premium.”
Cancel: Tap the “Cancel subscription” button and follow the prompts.
Part 3: How to Cancel YouTube Premium on an iPhone or iPad
This is the most important section for iOS users! Due to Apple’s App Store policies, if you signed up for YouTube Premium through the iOS app (using Apple’s in-app purchase system), you cannot cancel it through the YouTube website or the YouTube app on Android. You must cancel it through your iPhone or iPad’s settings or via a computer.
How to Check Where You Subscribed:
If you subscribed on the web or an Android device: Use any of the web or Android methods above.
If you subscribed through the iOS app: You must use the method below.
Steps to Cancel an iOS Subscription:
Open Settings: Tap on the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap Your Apple ID: Tap on your name at the very top of the Settings menu.
Go to Subscriptions: Tap on “Subscriptions” (on some older iOS versions, it might be labeled “iTunes & App Store” > then tap your Apple ID > View Apple ID > Subscriptions).
Find YouTube Premium: Scroll through the list of active and expired subscriptions until you find “YouTube Premium” or “YouTube Music.” Tap on it.
Cancel: Tap the red “Cancel Subscription” button at the bottom. You may need to confirm your choice.
(Image Suggestion: A series of screenshots showing the path through iOS Settings -> [Your Name] -> Subscriptions -> YouTube Premium -> Cancel Subscription.)
Crucial Note for iOS Users: If you cancel a subscription purchased through Apple, you will not be able to resubscribe through the YouTube app on your iPhone. You would have to do it via the web, and you’d be billed through Google instead.
Part 4: Canceling YouTube Premium Through Other Third-Party Platforms
What if you didn’t subscribe directly through Google or Apple? Some users may have subscriptions through other partners.
If You Subscribed Through a Third-Party (e.g., Verizon, Samsung)
Sometimes, YouTube Premium is bundled with other services, like a mobile carrier plan (e.g., certain Verizon plans) or as a promo with a Samsung device.
The Golden Rule: You must cancel through the provider you signed up with.
How to check: Go to
www.youtube.com/paid_memberships. If your subscription is through a third-party, it will be stated clearly here, and you will be given instructions or a link to manage it.For Verizon: You would typically manage this through your “My Verizon” account or the Verizon Up section of the app.
For Samsung Promotions: You might need to contact Samsung support if it was a limited-time promo.
Trying to cancel a third-party subscription through Google will not work, as Google is not the one billing you.
Part 5: Troubleshooting Common Cancellation Problems
Sometimes, things don’t go as smoothly as planned. Here are solutions to common hiccups.
Problem 1: The “Cancel Subscription” Button is Grayed Out or Missing.
This is frustrating but usually has a simple explanation.
Reason 1: You’re Using the Wrong Account. You might be signed into a different Google account than the one with the active Premium subscription. Double-check which account you’re using.
Reason 2: You Subscribed Through a Different Platform. As discussed, if you subscribed on iOS, you can’t cancel on the web. If you subscribed through a carrier, you can’t cancel on Android. Verify your sign-up method.
Reason 3: The Subscription is Already Canceled. It might be in a “pending cancellation” state, active until the paid period ends. Check your subscription status; it should say “Expires on [Date]”.
Problem 2: I Canceled, But I’m Still Being Charged.
This is a serious issue and is often due to one of two things:
A Legitimate Billing Error: In rare cases, a system glitch can cause a charge after cancellation. In this case, you should contact YouTube/Google Support immediately. Have your transaction ID from the bank/PayPal statement ready.
You Have Multiple Subscriptions: It’s possible you have two separate subscriptions (e.g., one on your account and one on a family member’s) and you only canceled one.
Problem 3: I Can’t Remember How I Signed Up.
No problem! Here’s the definitive way to find out:
Go to payments.google.com.
Go to “Subscriptions and services.”
If YouTube Premium is listed here, you signed up through Google and can cancel here.
If it’s not listed, you almost certainly signed up through Apple or a third-party. Check your iOS subscriptions next.
Part 6: Life After YouTube Premium – Smart Alternatives
So, you’ve successfully canceled. Welcome back to the world of ads? Not necessarily. Here are some savvy alternatives to replicate the YouTube Premium experience without the price tag.
1. For Ad-Free Viewing
Desktop Ad Blockers: Extensions like uBlock Origin (highly recommended) or AdBlock Plus are extremely effective at blocking YouTube ads on browsers like Chrome and Firefox. They are free and powerful.
Browser-Based Solutions: Using a browser with a built-in ad blocker, like Brave, can also provide a seamless, ad-free experience.
A Word of Caution on Mobile Ad Blockers: While ad-blocking browsers exist for mobile (like Firefox with uBlock Origin), they often don’t provide the same seamless experience as the native YouTube app. Tread carefully and read reviews.
2. For Background Play on Mobile
This is a trickier feature to replace for free, as it’s a core part of YouTube’s monetization strategy.
The “Desktop Site” Trick (Android): On some Android devices, you can open YouTube in a browser (like Chrome), request the “Desktop site,” play a video, and then minimize the browser. The audio may sometimes continue to play. This is unreliable and not a perfect solution.
YouTube Music (Free Tier): The free version of YouTube Music allows for background play on your uploaded personal music library, but not for the general streaming catalog.
Alternative Music Apps: For music, switching to a free, ad-supported service like Spotify Free or Pandora can give you background audio for music, just not for general YouTube videos.
3. For Offline Downloads
This is the hardest feature to replace legitimately for How to Cancel YouTube Premium. There is no legal, free, and safe equivalent that works within the YouTube app.
Screen Recording: While technically possible, screen recording a full-length video is cumbersome, results in lower quality, and is often impractical.
The Reality: Offline downloads are a premium feature for a reason. If this is a must-have, you might need to reconsider canceling or look into other premium video platforms that offer downloads.
4. The Best Overall Alternative: A Different Music Service on How to Cancel YouTube Premium
If your primary use for YouTube Premium was YouTube Music, consider switching to a dedicated, and often cheaper, music service.
Spotify: Offers a robust free tier and a student/family plan that can be more affordable.
Apple Music: Often bundled with other Apple services.
Amazon Music: Comes free with a Prime subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Will I get a refund if I cancel YouTube Premium mid-cycle?
A: No. Google does not typically provide partial refunds. When you cancel, you are turning off auto-renewal. You will keep your Premium benefits until the end of the billing cycle you’ve already paid for. After that date, your subscription will lapse.
Q: What happens to my downloaded videos and playlists?
A: Your playlists and the record of what you downloaded will remain. However, the downloaded video files themselves will become locked and unplayable once your subscription ends. You will see a lock icon on them.
Q: Can I pause my YouTube Premium subscription instead of canceling?
A: No, YouTube does not currently offer an option to pause a subscription. Your choices are active or canceled.
Q: I’m on a Family Plan. What happens if I cancel?
A: If you are the family manager and you cancel, the entire family plan will end for all members at the end of the billing cycle. If you are a member of a family plan, you can simply leave the plan, which will remove your access to Premium benefits, but it won’t affect the plan manager or other members.
Q: How can I contact YouTube Support for help?
A: The best way is through the official help center. Go to support.google.com/youtube, click “Contact us,” and describe your issue. Be patient, as support can sometimes be slow.
READ ALSO: 11 Effective Strategies for YouTube Marketing Success – Powerful YouTube Marketing Strategy
Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways
Canceling a subscription is a powerful way to take control of your finances and digital life. While YouTube Premium offers a fantastic, seamless experience, it’s not indispensable for everyone.
To recap the key takeaways:
The web (payments.google.com) is the most universal way to cancel if you signed up through Google.
iOS users must cancel through their device’s Settings app if they subscribed via the Apple App Store.
Always cancel through the platform that bills you (Google, Apple, Verizon, etc.).
You keep your benefits until the last day you paid for; there are no pro-rated refunds.
Life after Premium is manageable with the right combination of ad-blockers and alternative apps.
We hope this ultimate guide on how to cancel YouTube Premium has empowered you with all the information you need. The process is straightforward once you know where to look.
Did you find this guide helpful? Have any other tips or questions about managing your digital subscriptions? Let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget to explore SimmyIdeas for more practical guides to simplify your tech life.
