How to Cancel YouTube Premium — Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
⏰ 1-2 minuteseasyVerified 2026-05-21$13.99/mo
YouTube Premium cancellation is straightforward — done in under a minute. You'll go back to the ad-supported free tier but keep all your uploads, playlists, and subscriptions.
Go to your YouTube memberships page
Navigate to youtube.com/paid_memberships in your browser. Or in the YouTube app: tap your profile picture → Purchases and memberships → Manage memberships.
Click "Manage membership" next to YouTube Premium
Find your YouTube Premium membership in the list and click "Manage membership" or the gear icon next to it.
Click "Deactivate" or "Cancel membership"
Select "Deactivate" and then choose "Cancel subscription". YouTube may show you what you'll lose (ad-free, background play, YouTube Music).
If you mostly use YouTube Music, consider switching to YouTube Music Premium ($10.99/mo) instead of full Premium ($13.99/mo).
Need the exact words to say if they try to keep you?
Click "Continue to cancel" and then "Yes, cancel" on the final confirmation. Your Premium features remain active until the end of your billing period.
Any downloaded videos for offline viewing will become unavailable after your Premium expires.
⚠️ Watch out
If you subscribed through Apple App Store (iOS), you must cancel through Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions.
YouTube Music Premium is included with YouTube Premium. Canceling Premium cancels Music access too.
If you're on a Family plan, only the family manager can cancel. All family members lose Premium features.
Background playback and picture-in-picture on mobile will stop working on the free tier.
✗ Refund policy
Google does not offer refunds for YouTube Premium subscriptions. Your Premium benefits continue until the end of your current billing cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I see ads again after canceling YouTube Premium?
Yes. Once your Premium expires, you'll see ads before and during videos, lose background playback, and lose offline downloads. Your content and subscriptions are unchanged.
Can I get a refund for YouTube Premium?
Google does not offer refunds for YouTube Premium. Your access continues through the end of your billing period. For billing errors, contact Google support.
What happens to my YouTube Music library?
Your library, playlists, and liked songs are preserved. You can still use YouTube Music free with ads and shuffle-only playback on mobile.
Can I cancel YouTube Premium but keep YouTube Music?
Yes. After canceling Premium, you can subscribe to YouTube Music Premium separately ($10.99/mo) for ad-free music without the full YouTube Premium features.
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