How to Cancel YouTube Premium

Online Cancel anytime Moderate ~3 min

AI-Generated: These steps were automatically generated. If you notice any inaccuracies, let us know below. (Confidence: 85%)

Difficulty

4/10

Est. Time

3 min

Quick process

Refund

Not available

Auto-Renewal

Active

Cancel before renewal date

Important Warnings

Downloaded videos for offline viewing will no longer be accessible immediately
Background play will stop working on mobile devices
YouTube Music Premium access will be lost
Ads will return immediately after cancellation period ends
You maintain access until the end of your current billing period

Step-by-step instructions

Go to youtube.com and sign in to your Google account

Click on your profile icon in the top right corner

Select 'Purchases and memberships' from the dropdown menu

Find YouTube Premium in your list of memberships

Click 'Manage' next to YouTube Premium

Click 'Deactivate' or 'Cancel membership'

Follow the prompts and confirm your cancellation

Go to cancellation page

Tips & Things to Watch For

Billing Date Based on First Subscribe Date

Pro Tip

Your monthly billing date is set when you first subscribe and remains consistent unless you cancel and resubscribe. If you want billing on a specific date (like payday), cancel current subscription, wait for it to expire, then resubscribe on your desired date.

Premium Lite in Select Countries - Cheaper Ad-Free Option

Pro Tip

Some European countries have 'Premium Lite' tier (~$7/month) that removes ads but doesn't include downloads, background play, or YouTube Music. This is region-specific and not available in US/most markets. If available in your region, it's good for users who only want ad-free viewing.

What to Expect

Dark Patterns to Watch

Multiple confirmation screens required
Benefits reminder screens before final cancellation
Confusion between 'pause' and 'cancel' options
Cancellation option buried in account settings rather than prominently displayed
Use of terms like 'deactivate' instead of clear 'cancel' language
No direct cancel link on premium page or help documentation