Cancel YouTube Music directly through your Google Account settings

To stop your YouTube Music subscription, sign into your Google Account on any device, go to myaccount.google.com, and select Payments & subscriptions from the left menu. Find YouTube Music in your list of subscriptions, click it, and select Cancel subscription. Confirm the cancellation when prompted. Your access ends at the end of your current billing cycle — you keep YouTube Music until that date, then it stops.

If you subscribed through the YouTube Music app on your phone, the cancellation process is the same: open the app, tap your profile picture in the top right, go to Paid memberships, select YouTube Music, and tap Cancel subscription. The result is identical whether you cancel in the app or on the website.

You will receive a confirmation email at the address tied to your Google Account. Keep this email as proof of cancellation in case you are charged again by mistake. If you are charged after the cancellation date, contact Google Support through the same Payments & subscriptions page.

Key Takeaways

  • Cancel YouTube Music through myaccount.google.com under Payments & subscriptions, or through the YouTube Music app under Paid memberships.
  • Your subscription remains active until the end of your current billing cycle, so you do not lose access when ready.
  • Google sends a confirmation email when you cancel, which you should save as proof.
  • If you are charged after your cancellation date, you can request a refund through your Google Account or contact your payment method's issuer.
  • Canceling YouTube Music does not delete your Google Account or affect other Google services.

What happens to your music and playlists after cancellation

When your YouTube Music subscription ends, you lose access to ad-free listening and offline downloads. Any songs you downloaded to your device for offline play will no longer work. Your playlists and library remain saved to your Google Account, but you cannot play them without restarting your subscription.

If you switch to YouTube Music's free tier (which includes ads and limited skips), your playlists and saved songs are still there. You can resume a paid subscription at any time and pick up where you left off. Your listening history and recommendations are preserved even after cancellation.

Canceling a YouTube Music family plan

If you manage a YouTube Music family plan, canceling it removes the subscription for all family members. Go to myaccount.google.com, select Payments & subscriptions, find YouTube Music Family, and click Cancel subscription. All members lose access at the end of the billing cycle.

If you are a member of someone else's family plan and want to leave without canceling the whole plan, you cannot do this through Google's settings. Instead, contact the plan manager and ask them to remove you. They can do this by going to myaccount.google.com, selecting Payments & subscriptions, clicking YouTube Music Family, and removing your name from the members list.

Canceling a YouTube Music subscription started through a third-party service

If you started your YouTube Music subscription through a carrier like Verizon, T-Mobile, or Sprint, or through a service like Best Buy or another retailer, you must cancel through that service, not through Google. Canceling in your Google Account will not work because the third party handles your billing.

Contact your carrier or retailer's customer service and tell them you want to cancel YouTube Music. They will remove it from your account and stop charging you. Ask for a confirmation number or email so you have proof of the cancellation.

Requesting a refund after cancellation

If you cancel YouTube Music and are charged again, or if you cancel mid-cycle and want a refund for unused time, you can request one through your Google Account. Go to myaccount.google.com, select Payments & subscriptions, find the charge you want to dispute, and click Report a problem. Describe what happened and submit. Google typically responds within 5 to 10 business days.

If Google denies your refund request, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company or bank. Contact them directly and explain that you canceled the subscription but were charged anyway. Most payment processors will reverse the charge if you provide proof of cancellation.

Pausing instead of canceling

YouTube Music does not offer a pause or freeze option. If you want to stop paying temporarily but keep your account and playlists intact, your only choice is to cancel and restart later. Restarting is free and takes the same steps as the original signup — you just sign in and select your plan again.

Some people cancel and restart seasonally (for example, canceling in winter and restarting in spring) to save money. Your playlists, library, and listening history will be waiting when you come back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will canceling YouTube Music affect my YouTube Premium subscription?

No. YouTube Music and YouTube Premium are separate subscriptions. Canceling one does not touch the other. If you have both and want to cancel only YouTube Music, you can do that without losing YouTube Premium's ad-free video playback and offline downloads.

Can I get a refund if I cancel in the middle of my billing cycle?

Google's standard policy does not refund unused portions of your subscription. However, you can request an exception through the Report a problem tool in your Payments & subscriptions page. Google grants refunds in some cases, particularly if you canceled within a few days of being charged or if you were charged twice by mistake.

What if I forgot my Google password and cannot access my account to cancel?

Go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery and follow the steps to reset your password. You will need access to your recovery email or phone number. Once you reset your password, sign in and cancel through Payments & subscriptions as normal.

Does canceling YouTube Music delete my account?

No. Canceling your subscription only stops the recurring charge. Your Google Account, email, Drive files, and all other Google services remain active. You can restart YouTube Music anytime by signing in and selecting a plan again.

How long does it take for the cancellation to go through?

The cancellation is when ready. You will see it removed from your Payments & subscriptions page right away. However, your access to paid features (ad-free listening and offline downloads) continues until the end of your current billing cycle. You will not be charged again after that date.