How to cancel Spotify on the web or app

To cancel Spotify, log into your account on the web at spotify.com, go to your account settings, and select the option to cancel your subscription. You do not need to delete the app from your phone or computer — cancellation stops the charges, and the app straightforward stops working when your current billing period ends.

On the web: Click your profile icon in the top right, select "Account", scroll to "Subscription", and click "Cancel subscription" or "Cancel plan". Spotify will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discount to stay. You can ignore this and proceed with cancellation. Your music access ends on the date your current billing cycle would renew.

On the mobile app: Open Settings, tap "Account", select your subscription tier, and look for a "Cancel subscription" button. The exact wording and location vary slightly between iOS and Android, but the button is always in the subscription section. If you cannot find it, the web method is faster and more reliable.

Key Takeaways

  • Cancellation happens in your account settings on spotify.com or in the mobile app, and takes less than two minutes.
  • Your music stops working on the date your current billing period renews, not when ready — you keep access until then.
  • If you subscribed through Apple, Google Play, or Amazon, you may need to cancel through that platform instead of Spotify directly.
  • Spotify does not refund partial months, so cancelling mid-cycle means you lose the unused portion of that payment.
  • Your saved playlists and account data remain on Spotify's servers for a period after cancellation, so you can reactivate without losing them.

What happens to your music and playlists after cancellation

When your subscription ends, you lose the ability to play any music on Spotify. Free accounts with ads still exist, but they come with restrictions: you cannot skip songs freely, you hear ads between tracks, and you cannot read music to listen offline. If you want to keep your playlists and account history, do not delete your account — just let the subscription lapse.

Your playlists, saved songs, and listening history stay attached to your account for several months after cancellation. If you resubscribe later, everything is still there. However, if your account sits inactive for a very long time (Spotify's exact timeline is not public), the company may delete the account and its data. Reactivating within a year is safe.

Cancelling a subscription you bought through Apple, Google, or Amazon

If you signed up for Spotify through Apple's App Store, Google Play, or Amazon, you subscribed through their billing system, not Spotify's. Cancelling in Spotify's settings will not work — you must cancel through the platform where you paid.

On Apple: Open Settings, tap your name, select Subscriptions, find Spotify, and tap "Cancel Subscription". On Google Play: Open the Play Store app, tap your profile icon, go to Payments and Subscriptions, select Subscriptions, find Spotify, and tap "Cancel subscription". On Amazon: Go to amazon.com, open Your Account, select Memberships and Subscriptions, find Spotify, and click "Cancel subscription".

If you are unsure where you subscribed, log into Spotify on the web and check your Account settings — it will tell you whether your subscription is managed by Spotify or by another company.

Refunds and what you lose when you cancel

Spotify does not refund unused portions of your subscription. If you pay for a month on the 15th and cancel on the 20th, you lose the remaining 10 days of payment. The only exception is if you cancel within a trial period — most new subscriptions come with a free trial, and cancelling before it ends means you are never charged.

When your subscription ends, you lose offline downloads. Any songs you downloaded to listen without internet will no longer play, even if you still have them stored on your device. Your playlists remain, but you cannot listen to them unless you resubscribe or switch to the free tier with ads.

Reactivating your Spotify subscription later

If you cancel and want to come back, straightforward log into your account and restart your subscription. Your playlists, saved songs, and listening history are still there. You can resubscribe to the same plan you had before or choose a different tier — Spotify does not lock you into your original choice.

When you resubscribe, you may see promotional offers like a discounted first month or a free trial period. These are the same offers new users see, so cancelling and resubscribing can sometimes be cheaper than staying subscribed if you want a break.

Deleting your Spotify account entirely

Cancelling your subscription and deleting your account are two different things. Cancelling stops the charges but keeps your account and data. Deleting your account removes everything — your playlists, saved songs, listening history, and profile — and this action cannot be undone.

To delete your account, go to spotify.com, log in, open Account Settings, scroll to the bottom, and click "Delete account". Spotify will ask you to confirm and may warn you that this is permanent. Once you confirm, your account and all its data are gone. You can create a new Spotify account with the same email address after deletion, but it will start completely fresh.

Most people should cancel their subscription, not delete their account. Delete only if you are certain you will never want to return or if you want to remove your data from Spotify's servers entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my playlists if I cancel?

No. Your playlists stay on your account for months after cancellation. If you resubscribe, they are still there. Only delete your account if you want to remove them permanently.

Can I get a refund for the month I cancel in?

No. Spotify does not refund partial months. If you cancel mid-cycle, you lose the unused portion of that payment. Cancelling on the day before your next billing date wastes the least money.

What if I subscribed through my phone and want to cancel?

Check where you subscribed. If you signed up through Apple, Google Play, or Amazon, you must cancel through that platform, not in the Spotify app. Log into Spotify on the web to see which company manages your subscription.

Can I pause my subscription instead of cancelling?

Spotify does not offer a pause feature. You can cancel and resubscribe later, or downgrade to the free tier with ads. There is no middle ground that stops charges while keeping your account active.

How long do I have access after I cancel?

You keep access until the end of your current billing period. If you pay monthly and cancel on the 10th, you can listen until the end of that month. After that date, your subscription is gone and you cannot play music unless you resubscribe.