YouTube Premium cancels through your Google Account settings, not through YouTube itself

To cancel YouTube Premium, you go to your Google Account page, find the subscription section, and click cancel. The process takes about two minutes. You keep access to Premium features until the end of your current billing cycle — YouTube does not cut you off when ready when you cancel.

The exact steps depend on whether you signed up through Google Play (Android), the App Store (iPhone or iPad), YouTube's website, or a third-party payment method. Each route has a different cancellation page, but they all lead to the same result: your subscription stops renewing on your next billing date.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube Premium cancels through your Google Account settings at myaccount.google.com, not through the YouTube app or website.
  • You keep Premium features until the end of your current billing period, even after you cancel.
  • If you signed up through Apple's App Store or Google Play, you may need to cancel through that app store instead of Google Account settings.
  • YouTube will not send you a cancellation confirmation email, so check your Google Account settings a few days later to confirm the subscription is gone.
  • If you cancel and then change your mind, you can resubscribe at any time — there is no penalty for cancelling and returning.

Cancel through Google Account settings (most common route)

Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in with the Google Account that pays for YouTube Premium. Click Payments & subscriptions in the left menu, then click Manage subscriptions. You will see YouTube Premium listed with your next billing date.

Click on YouTube Premium, then click the Cancel subscription button. Google will ask you why you are cancelling — you can skip this or answer it. After you click cancel, the page will show "Subscription cancelled" and give you a cancellation date. Your Premium access ends on that date, not when ready.

Do not close the page until you see the cancellation confirmation. Take a screenshot or write down the cancellation date so you have proof if there is a billing problem later.

Cancel if you signed up through Apple's App Store

If you subscribed to YouTube Premium through an iPhone or iPad, you need to cancel through Apple's settings, not through Google. Go to Settings on your device, tap your name at the top, then tap Subscriptions. Find YouTube Premium in the list and tap it.

Tap Cancel Subscription. Apple will ask if you want to keep the subscription — make sure you tap the option to cancel. You will see a message saying when your subscription ends. Apple sends a cancellation email to the address on your Apple Account, usually within a few minutes.

If you use both an iPhone and a Mac, the subscription appears in both places. Cancelling it on one device cancels it everywhere.

Cancel if you signed up through Google Play

If you subscribed on an Android phone or tablet, open the Google Play Store app. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner, then tap Payments and subscriptions. Tap Subscriptions, find YouTube Premium, and tap it.

Tap Cancel subscription. Google Play will show you the date your subscription ends. Unlike Apple, Google does not always send a cancellation email, so check your Google Account settings a few days later to confirm the subscription is no longer listed.

What happens to your account after you cancel

You keep all your YouTube data — your watch history, playlists, subscriptions, and uploads stay on your account. You lose Premium features like ad-free viewing, offline downloads, and background play on the day your subscription ends, but your account itself does not disappear.

If you had YouTube Premium Family, all family members lose Premium access on the cancellation date. The family group itself stays active, so you can add Premium back later and invite the same people without setting it up from scratch.

Resubscribe if you change your mind

You can resubscribe to YouTube Premium at any time after cancelling. Go back to your Google Account settings, click Manage subscriptions, and you will see an option to resubscribe. YouTube does not charge a penalty for cancelling and coming back, and you do not lose any account history.

If you cancelled through Apple or Google Play, you can resubscribe through the same app store. Your subscription will start on the day you resubscribe and renew on the same date each month.

Troubleshooting: You were charged after cancelling

If YouTube charged you after your cancellation date, the charge was likely processed before your cancellation went through. Subscriptions sometimes take a day or two to fully cancel in the payment system, even though the website shows "cancelled" right away.

Check your Google Account settings again to confirm the subscription no longer appears under Manage subscriptions. If it is still listed as active, click cancel again. If the subscription is gone but you were still charged, contact Google Support through your Google Account settings — they can issue a refund for charges after your cancellation date. Have your cancellation date and the charge date ready when you contact them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my videos if I cancel YouTube Premium?

No. Cancelling Premium does not delete your account, videos, playlists, or watch history. Everything stays on your account. You only lose the Premium features like ad-free viewing and offline downloads.

Can I cancel YouTube Premium on the YouTube app?

No. You have to cancel through your Google Account settings, Apple Settings, or Google Play Store — not through the YouTube app itself. The YouTube app does not have a cancellation button.

Will YouTube send me a cancellation email?

Google does not always send a cancellation confirmation email. If you signed up through Apple, you will get an email from Apple. If you signed up through Google, check your Google Account settings a few days after cancelling to confirm the subscription is gone.

What if I cancel in the middle of a billing cycle?

You keep Premium access until the end of your current billing period. If you cancel on the 15th and your billing date is the 25th, you have Premium until the 25th. YouTube does not refund the unused portion of your subscription.

Can I pause YouTube Premium instead of cancelling?

YouTube does not offer a pause option. You either keep the subscription active or cancel it. If you want to come back later, you can resubscribe at any time without penalty.