YouTube Premium and YouTube TV are the two subscriptions you can cancel

YouTube offers two separate paid subscriptions, and the cancellation process differs for each one. YouTube Premium removes ads from videos, lets you read content to watch offline, and enables background play on mobile. YouTube TV is a live television service that streams cable channels and local broadcasts — it is not the same product as YouTube Premium, and cancelling one does not affect the other.

If you are unsure which one you have, check your Google Account settings or your payment method's transaction history. The charge will appear as "YouTube Premium" or "YouTube TV" depending on which service you pay for. Some people have both subscriptions running at the same time, so verify before you cancel.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube Premium and YouTube TV are separate subscriptions with different cancellation steps — cancelling one does not affect the other.
  • You cancel both subscriptions through your Google Account settings, not through the YouTube app itself.
  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle, and you keep access until that date even after you cancel.
  • If you cancel and then change your mind, you can resubscribe at any time without penalty.
  • YouTube does not offer a pause option — you must cancel to stop charges, though you can resubscribe later.

How to cancel YouTube Premium on a computer

Open a web browser and go to myaccount.google.com. Sign in with the Google Account that is linked to your YouTube Premium subscription. Click Payments & subscriptions in the left menu, then click Manage subscriptions.

Find YouTube Premium in the list and click it. You will see your current plan, renewal date, and payment method. Click Cancel subscription. Google will ask you to confirm the cancellation and may offer you a discount to keep the subscription — you can accept the offer or proceed with cancellation. Once you confirm, the cancellation is complete. You will receive a confirmation email, and your subscription will end on the date shown in your account.

How to cancel YouTube Premium on a phone or tablet

The process is similar on mobile devices but the exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone. On both devices, open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap Purchases and memberships or Paid memberships (the wording varies by device).

Tap YouTube Premium, then tap Cancel subscription or Manage depending on what appears. Confirm the cancellation when prompted. If you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store rather than directly through YouTube, you may need to cancel through that app store instead — the YouTube app will direct you there if that is the case.

How to cancel YouTube TV

YouTube TV cancellation also happens through your Google Account. Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in. Click Payments & subscriptions, then Manage subscriptions. Find YouTube TV in the list and click it.

Click Cancel membership. You will see your final billing date and be asked to confirm. YouTube TV will ask why you are cancelling — this is optional feedback and does not affect the cancellation. Once confirmed, your YouTube TV access ends on the date shown, and you will not be charged again.

What happens after you cancel

Your subscription remains active until the end of your current billing cycle. If you paid on the 15th of the month and cancel on the 20th, you keep full access until the 15th of the next month. After that date, the features disappear — ads return on YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV stops working.

You will not receive a refund for the unused portion of your subscription. If you cancel mid-cycle, you have already paid for that month and cannot get that money back. However, you can resubscribe at any time without penalty, and your watch history and playlists remain in your account even after cancellation.

If you subscribed through a third-party app store

Some people subscribe to YouTube Premium through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store rather than directly through Google. If you did this, you must cancel through that app store, not through your Google Account.

On iPhone, open the App Store app, tap your profile picture in the top right, tap Subscriptions, find YouTube Premium, and tap Cancel Subscription. On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile picture, tap Payments and subscriptions, tap Subscriptions, find YouTube Premium, and tap Cancel subscription. The cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle, just as it does when you cancel through Google Account settings.

Troubleshooting common cancellation problems

If you cannot find the cancel button, verify you are signed into the correct Google Account — the one that actually has the subscription. Some accounts have multiple subscriptions or payment methods attached, so check that you are looking at the right one. If you subscribed through an app store, the cancel option will not appear in your Google Account settings; you must go through that app store instead.

If you see a message saying you cannot cancel, the subscription may have already ended or been cancelled previously. Check your email for a cancellation confirmation from Google. If you believe you were charged after cancellation, contact Google Support through your account settings — they can review your billing history and issue a refund if an error occurred.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I cancel mid-cycle?

No. YouTube subscriptions are not refundable once the billing cycle has started. If you cancel on the 20th of a month and your renewal date is the 15th, you have already paid for that full month and cannot recover that charge. You keep access until the 15th, but no refund is issued.

What is the difference between cancelling and pausing?

YouTube does not offer a pause feature. You must cancel to stop charges. However, you can resubscribe at any time without penalty, and your account information remains intact. If you think you might return, cancelling is the same as pausing from a practical standpoint.

Will I lose my watch history and playlists if I cancel?

No. Your watch history, playlists, subscriptions to channels, and all other account data remain in your Google Account after you cancel. If you resubscribe later, everything will be there. Cancelling only removes the paid features like ad-free viewing or YouTube TV access.

Can I cancel YouTube Premium but keep YouTube TV?

Yes. The two subscriptions are completely separate. Cancelling one has no effect on the other. You can cancel Premium and keep TV, cancel TV and keep Premium, or cancel both. Each one is managed independently in your subscriptions list.

How long does it take for the cancellation to go into effect?

Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle, not when ready. You will keep access and be charged nothing after that date. The exact date appears in your account settings when you cancel, so you can see exactly when the subscription ends.