How To Cancel YouTube Premium Subscription: A Complete Guide
Struggling to unsubscribe? Here’s how to cancel your YouTube Premium subscription quickly and easily, whether you’re on your computer, phone, or tablet. This definitive guide will walk you through the process.
Understanding YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium offers an enhanced viewing experience by removing advertisements, enabling background playback, and granting access to YouTube Music Premium. It’s a great option for frequent YouTube users, but circumstances change, and sometimes you need to cancel. Understanding the service you’re canceling is the first step to a smooth experience.
Why Cancel YouTube Premium?
Several reasons might lead you to cancel your subscription:
- Cost: You might find the monthly fee is no longer justifiable.
- Usage: Perhaps you’re not watching YouTube as much as you used to.
- Features: You might not be fully utilizing the benefits like ad-free viewing or offline downloads.
- Alternative Services: Maybe you’ve discovered another streaming service that better suits your needs.
How To Cancel YouTube Premium Subscription on a Computer
This method applies to any desktop or laptop with a web browser.
- Sign In: Go to YouTube.com and make sure you are signed in to the Google account associated with your YouTube Premium subscription.
- Access Purchases: Click on your profile icon in the top right corner, then select “Purchases and memberships.” Alternatively, you can go directly to youtube.com/paid_memberships.
- Manage Membership: Locate your YouTube Premium membership. You should see a “Manage membership” button. Click on it.
- Cancel Membership: On the Membership settings page, click “Deactivate.” You may be presented with different options, such as pausing your subscription. Choose “Cancel.”
- Confirmation: YouTube will likely try to persuade you to stay. Follow the prompts to confirm your cancellation. You will usually be asked to provide a reason for canceling. After confirmation, you will receive an email confirming your YouTube Premium subscription cancellation. You’ll still retain Premium benefits until the end of your current billing cycle.
How To Cancel YouTube Premium Subscription on an Android Device
The process on Android is similar to the web.
- Open the YouTube App: Launch the YouTube app on your Android device.
- Access Account: Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Purchases and Memberships: Select “Purchases and Memberships.”
- Manage Membership: Find your YouTube Premium membership and tap “Manage.”
- Cancel Membership: Tap “Deactivate,” then “Cancel,” and follow the on-screen prompts to confirm.
- Confirmation: You should receive a confirmation email.
How To Cancel YouTube Premium Subscription on an iOS Device (iPhone/iPad)
Due to Apple’s App Store subscription rules, the process is slightly different on iOS devices. You need to manage subscriptions through your Apple ID settings.
- Open Settings App: Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap Your Name: Tap your name at the top of the Settings menu.
- Subscriptions: Tap “Subscriptions.” You may need to sign in with your Apple ID if prompted.
- YouTube Premium: Find “YouTube Premium” in your list of subscriptions. If you don’t see it, your subscription may be through Google directly and you should cancel using the web or Android instructions.
- Cancel Subscription: Tap “Cancel Subscription” (or “Free Trial” if applicable) and confirm your decision.
- Confirmation: You will receive a confirmation message.
Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting
- Incorrect Account: Make sure you’re logged in to the Google account or Apple ID that you used to subscribe to YouTube Premium.
- Missing Subscription: If you can’t find your subscription, it might be associated with a different account or a different billing method (e.g., through a mobile carrier).
- Still Being Charged: If you’re still being charged after cancellation, check your billing statements and contact YouTube or Apple support (depending on where you subscribed) for assistance.
- Apple vs. Google Billing: Remember that subscriptions managed through the App Store must be canceled through Apple’s settings, not the YouTube app directly.
Understanding the Cancellation Timeline
Your YouTube Premium subscription remains active until the end of your current billing cycle. This means you can continue to enjoy the benefits of Premium until that date. After the billing cycle ends, you will revert to the standard YouTube experience with advertisements.
Pausing YouTube Premium
YouTube offers the option to pause your membership for up to six months. This is a great alternative to canceling if you anticipate returning to the service soon. To pause your membership, follow the same steps as cancelling on the web or Android, but choose the “Pause” option instead of “Cancel.” Note that pausing is not available on iOS.
What happens when I cancel my YouTube Premium subscription?
When you cancel your YouTube Premium subscription, you’ll lose access to ad-free viewing, background playback, and YouTube Music Premium at the end of your current billing cycle. You will revert to the standard YouTube experience.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my YouTube Premium subscription?
Generally, YouTube does not offer refunds for partial billing cycles. You’ll have access to Premium features until the end of the cycle you’ve already paid for. If you believe you have a legitimate reason for a refund (e.g., technical issues preventing you from using the service), you can contact YouTube support to request one.
How do I know if my YouTube Premium subscription is cancelled?
After canceling, you should receive a confirmation email. You can also check your subscription status by going to YouTube.com/paid_memberships and looking for confirmation that your membership is set to expire.
I cancelled YouTube Premium, but I’m still seeing ads. Why?
It takes until the end of your billing cycle for the cancellation to take effect. Also, verify that you are logged into the correct Google account. If you’re still seeing ads after your billing cycle ends, contact YouTube support.
Can I resubscribe to YouTube Premium after canceling?
Yes, you can resubscribe to YouTube Premium at any time. Simply go to YouTube.com/premium and follow the prompts to sign up.
What happens to my downloaded videos when I cancel YouTube Premium?
Downloaded videos are only available for offline viewing with an active YouTube Premium subscription. Once you cancel, these videos will become inaccessible.
How do I cancel YouTube Premium if I subscribed through my mobile carrier?
If you subscribed to YouTube Premium through your mobile carrier, you need to cancel directly through your carrier’s website or app. Contact your carrier for instructions.
Can I cancel YouTube Premium during a free trial?
Yes, you can cancel your YouTube Premium free trial at any time before it converts into a paid subscription. You will retain access to Premium features until the end of the trial period.
What happens to my YouTube Music Premium access if I cancel YouTube Premium?
YouTube Music Premium is included with YouTube Premium. Canceling YouTube Premium will also cancel your YouTube Music Premium access.
Is there a way to pause my YouTube Premium subscription instead of cancelling?
Yes, YouTube offers the option to pause your membership for up to six months. To pause, follow the cancellation steps, but select the “Pause” option when available. This option isn’t available if billed through Apple.
I forgot which email I used to subscribe to YouTube Premium. How can I find out?
If you’re unsure which Google account is linked to your YouTube Premium subscription, try signing in to YouTube with each of your Google accounts and checking the “Purchases and Memberships” section.
I can’t find the “Deactivate” or “Cancel” button. What should I do?
Ensure you are logged into the correct account and that your payment isn’t handled through a third party like a mobile carrier. If you’re still facing issues, contact YouTube support for assistance. They can help you identify the source of your subscription and guide you through the cancellation process.