Where to find and cancel your YouTube channel memberships

YouTube channel memberships appear in your account settings under a section called "Purchases and memberships." To reach it, click your profile picture in the top right corner of YouTube, select Purchases and subscriptions, then choose Manage subscriptions. This page shows every channel membership you are currently paying for, along with the monthly cost and the date your next payment is due.

From the memberships list, find the channel you want to remove. Click the three-dot menu next to that membership and select Cancel membership. YouTube will ask you to confirm the cancellation. Once you confirm, your membership ends when ready — you lose access to member-only content right away, and YouTube will not charge you again.

If you cannot find the Purchases and subscriptions option, you may be signed into a Google Account that does not have any memberships attached. Make sure you are signed into the correct account by checking your profile picture and email address at the top right of the page.

Key Takeaways

  • Channel memberships are managed through your Google Account's Purchases and subscriptions page, not through YouTube's main settings.
  • Canceling a membership stops your access to member-only content when ready and prevents any future charges.
  • You can cancel individual memberships one at a time using the three-dot menu next to each membership name.
  • If you see a charge for a membership you thought you canceled, contact YouTube Support with your transaction ID to investigate.

What happens when you cancel a membership

When you cancel a channel membership, your access to that creator's member-only videos, live streams, and perks ends right away. You will no longer see the member badge next to your username in that channel's comments or live chat. Any content you downloaded or saved as a member remains on your device, but you cannot access new member-only material.

YouTube does not refund partial months. If your next payment is scheduled for the 15th and you cancel on the 10th, you keep your membership until the 15th, then it stops. You will not be charged again after that date. Some creators offer a grace period or a way to rejoin at a discount, but that is up to the individual channel — YouTube does not manage those offers.

Canceling memberships on mobile devices

The process is the same on phones and tablets as it is on a computer. Open the YouTube app, tap your profile picture at the top right, and select Purchases and subscriptions. Tap Manage subscriptions, find the membership you want to remove, tap the three-dot menu, and select Cancel membership.

If you are using an iPhone or iPad, you may also be able to manage memberships through the Apple App Store. Open the App Store app, tap your profile picture at the bottom right, select Subscriptions, find YouTube in the list, and manage your memberships from there. Changes made in the App Store will sync to your YouTube account within a few hours.

If you cannot find a membership to cancel

Sometimes a membership appears on your credit card or bank statement but not in your YouTube Purchases and subscriptions page. This usually happens when the membership was purchased through a different account or a different payment method. Check that you are signed into the correct Google Account — the one you used to buy the membership.

If you are signed into the right account and still cannot see the membership, the channel creator may have ended the membership program. In that case, YouTube should have already stopped charging you, but the charge may still appear on your statement if it was processed before the cancellation took effect. Contact your bank or credit card company to dispute the charge if it continues after the creator's program ended.

Stopping charges from a creator's own membership system

Some creators run their own membership systems outside of YouTube — through Patreon, Ko-fi, or their own website. These memberships do not appear in your YouTube Purchases and subscriptions page. To cancel them, you need to visit the creator's membership page directly or log into the third-party platform where you set up the membership.

If you are unsure whether a charge is from YouTube or from a creator's own system, check your bank or credit card statement for the merchant name. YouTube charges appear as "Google" or "YouTube." Charges from Patreon appear as "Patreon," charges from Ko-fi appear as "Ko-fi," and so on. Once you know the platform, you can cancel through that platform's account settings.

Disputing a charge if cancellation did not work

If you canceled a membership but YouTube charged you again, contact YouTube Support through your account. Go to Help and feedback in the menu, select Send feedback, and describe the issue. Include the date of the charge, the channel name, and the amount. YouTube Support can see your transaction history and may be able to reverse the charge.

If YouTube Support does not respond or the charge happens again, contact your bank or credit card company directly. Provide them with your transaction ID (found on your receipt or in your purchase history) and explain that you canceled the membership. Your bank can dispute the charge and may refund it while they investigate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my videos and playlists if I cancel a channel membership?

No. Canceling a membership only removes your access to that creator's member-only content. Your own videos, playlists, and watch history remain on your account. You can still watch the creator's public videos.

Can I cancel a membership and rejoin later?

Yes. You can rejoin a channel membership at any time by going to the channel, clicking Join, and selecting the membership tier. Some creators offer a discount for returning members, but that is their choice.

What if I want to cancel all my YouTube memberships at once?

Go to Purchases and subscriptions, then Manage subscriptions. You will see all your memberships listed. Click the three-dot menu next to each one and select Cancel membership. There is no button to cancel all at once, so you must cancel them individually.

Do I need to contact the creator to cancel my membership?

No. You cancel memberships through your YouTube account settings, not by contacting the creator. The creator will see that you are no longer a member, but you do not need to send them a message.

Why am I still seeing member-only content after I canceled?

YouTube may take a few minutes to update your access after you cancel. Refresh the page or close and reopen the YouTube app. If you still see member content after an hour, contact YouTube Support with your membership details.