SubHelm

How to cancel YouTube Premium

Published

YouTube Premium has two common billing homes: Google, if you subscribed on the web or an Android device, and Apple, if you subscribed inside the iOS app. They cancel in different places, and the Apple route has historically also been the more expensive way to pay for the same thing.

If Google bills you

  1. In a browser, sign in and open YouTube’s paid memberships page.
  2. Select your Premium membership and choose to deactivate or cancel.
  3. Confirm; Premium runs to the end of the billing period, then you’re back to ads.

The same page handles pauses, if you want a break without a full cancellation, with the usual caveat that paused subscriptions resume silently.

If Apple bills you

Open Settings, your name, Subscriptions, tap YouTube Premium and cancel. Full steps and caveats in the iPhone cancellation guide.

While you’re there, compare prices: services that allow subscribing through Apple’s billing sometimes charge a premium for it to cover Apple’s commission. If you re-subscribe later, doing it on the web at the standard price may be cheaper than in the app.

Worth knowing

  • YouTube Music Premium is included in full Premium; if you see both charges, you’re double-paying and one of them should go.
  • Family plans cancel from the manager’s account only.
  • Premium is a classic price-creep subscription: it rises a little, yearly, quietly. Put it in your yearly total and decide at the real number.

Common questions

What happens to downloads and background play?

Both stop at the end of the billing period. Downloaded videos become unplayable offline and the ads return, but your playlists, subscriptions and history are untouched.

How long can I pause YouTube Premium?

Up to six months, from the same paid memberships page. Billing restarts automatically at the end of the pause, so note the date somewhere that will actually remind you.

Can I get a refund for the month I have just been charged for?

Google generally does not refund mid-period; Premium runs until the period ends. An Apple-billed subscription is Apple's decision instead, through reportaproblem.apple.com.

Does cancelling Premium also cancel YouTube Music?

Yes. YouTube Music Premium is part of the Premium plan, so it ends at the same time. If you are being charged for both separately, one of them is a duplicate and should go.