Can I unsubscribe from YouTube Premium anytime?

Yep. You can cancel your YouTube Premium subscription at any time without any penalty. You'll keep your premium benefits until the end of the current billing period you've already paid for.

Can I get a refund from YouTube Premium if I forgot to cancel?

Probably not. YouTube's terms state that payments are non-refundable. If you forget to cancel before your renewal date, you're typically charged for the next month and can't get it back. It's annoying, but that's their policy.

How do I know my YouTube Premium subscription is cancelled?

You'll get a confirmation email from Google once the cancellation is processed. You can also go back to the 'Purchases and memberships' page in your YouTube account. It should show an expiration date for your benefits instead of a renewal date.

How long does it take for YouTube Premium to cancel?

The cancellation itself is instant, but your access continues until your billing cycle ends. So, if your plan renews on the 15th and you cancel on the 5th, you still have Premium for 10 more days.

What else should I know before I cancel my YouTube Premium subscription?

Remember that canceling also means you lose access to your downloaded videos and your YouTube Music Premium account. The ads will come back immediately after your subscription officially expires. Be prepared.

How do I raise a complaint to YouTube Premium?

Your best bet is to go through the official YouTube Help Center. Use the 'Contact us' flow to describe your issue. This can lead you to email or chat support options to talk with a team member.

How to Cancel Your YouTube Premium Subscription (2025)

YouTube Premium, established in 2014, offers ad-free viewing but costs $13.99 to $22.99 monthly. You could save up to $276 annually by cancelling. Available on iOS, Android, and Desktop, the service faces backlash similar to the recent Netflix password crackdown. Visit YouTube Premium. With aggressive price hikes in 2024, Trustpilot data shows a poor rating and significant total complaints in the last 3 years regarding "billing errors" and "non-existent support." Maybe you signed up to watch Cobra Kai ad-free, but now it is just unused overhead. Users frequently report frustration with auto-renewals continuing despite their attempts to cancel.

Last Edited on 17 Dec, 2025

Chloe Anne-Bennett, Streaming & Entertainment Editor

7 min read

How to Cancel YouTube Premium on iPhone (iOS)

If you subscribed via the iOS app, Apple acts as the middleman. You must cancel through your Apple ID settings, not the YouTube app.

1 Open Settings

Tap the grey Settings gear icon on your home screen. Do not try to do this through the YouTube app itself on iOS, as Apple usually manages the billing if you subscribed via your phone.

2 Tap Your Apple ID

Click your name at the very top of the Settings menu. It should say "Apple ID, iCloud, Media & Purchases" right under your name.

3 Select Subscriptions

Tap on Subscriptions. If you do not see it, you might need to tap Media & Purchases first, then view your account. It takes a second to load.

4 Cancel Membership

Find YouTube Premium in the list. Tap it, then select Cancel Subscription. If you only see "Renew," it is already cancelled.

How to Cancel YouTube Premium on Android

Android users have it slightly easier since Google owns YouTube, allowing you to handle this directly inside the app.

1 Open the YouTube App

Launch the YouTube app on your phone. Make sure you are signed into the account that actually holds the premium subscription.

2 Go to Purchases

Tap your profile picture in the bottom right or top right corner. Select Purchases and memberships from the menu.

3 Manage Membership

Tap on your active Premium membership. You will see the price and next billing date here.

4 Deactivate

Tap Deactivate. Google might try to offer you a "Pause" option instead. Ignore it and tap Continue to Cancel.

How to Cancel YouTube Premium on Desktop or Laptop

This is often the most reliable method. Mobile apps can glitch, but the desktop site usually processes the request immediately.

1 Visit the Memberships Page

Go to youtube.com/paid_memberships in your browser. This is the direct link that skips the menu digging.

2 Manage Membership

Click on Manage Membership next to the Premium section. It will expand to show your billing details.

3 Deactivate

Click Deactivate next to the next billing date. They will ask if you want to pause instead.

4 Confirm Cancellation

Click Continue to Cancel. You may have to select a reason for leaving before the final Yes, cancel button appears.

What is YouTube Premium Cancellation Policy

YouTube operates on a strict "no partial refund" policy. When you cancel, your access continues until the end of the current billing cycle, but you will not get money back for the remaining days. It is pretty standard but frustrating if you cancel the day after a charge hits. Also, be careful with the "Pause" feature. Many users complain that they paused their subscription thinking it was a cancellation, only to get hit with a surprise charge 6 months later when the pause automatically expired. Always ensure you see a confirmation email.

Before You Cancel YouTube Premium: What You Should Know

Once your billing cycle ends, the changes are instant and aggressive.

Downloads Delete: Any videos you saved for offline viewing will lock or vanish immediately.
Ads Return: You will go back to seeing double pre-roll ads and unskippable interruptions.
Background Play Stops: The app will stop playing music or video when you lock your screen or switch apps.
Music Data: Your playlists on YouTube Music remain, but you lose offline access and ad-free listening.

Having Trouble Cancelling Your YouTube Premium Subscription?

If the buttons are missing or the site is looping, try these fixes:

Check Third-Party Billing: If you do not see a cancel button, you likely paid via Apple, Roku, or a carrier bundle (like T-Mobile). You must cancel through their portals, not YouTube.
Use Incognito Mode: Sometimes browser extensions block the pop-up confirmation windows. Try a private window.
Desktop is King: The mobile app is prone to UI bugs. Log in on a computer to force the cancellation through.

Subscription Plans and Pricing (2025)

Plan	Monthly Price	Annual Price	Details
Individual	$13.99	$139.99	Standard ad-free, background play, downloads.
Family	$22.99	N/A	Up to 5 family members (ages 13+) in same household.
Student	$7.99	N/A	Requires annual verification of student status.

How Pine AI Can Help You Cancel Your YouTube Premium Subscription

With YouTube raising prices again in late 2024, dumping this subscription is a smart financial move.

Step 1: Let's get started to cancel YouTube Premium Simply tell us that you want to cancel your subscription with YouTube Premium, we'll ask for some account details to get started.

Step 2: Pine gets to work We navigate the confusing clicks, wait on hold, and handle the awkward conversations to ensure it's actually cancelled. We don't just suggest it; we finish it.

Step 3: You're free from YouTube Premium The payments stop and you get your time back. No "retention offers," no run-around, just a confirmed "one-and-done" result.

Frequently Asked Questions about YouTube Premium

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Chloe Anne-Bennett

Streaming & Entertainment Editor

Chloe Anne-Bennett is the Streaming & Entertainment Editor at Pine AI. Chloe is a leading voice on the business of streaming, entertainment and the evolving landscape of digital media. Before contributing to Pine AI, Chloe was an entertainment correspondent for a major news outlet, where she reported on everything from box office trends to the impact of streaming services on traditional media. At Pine AI, Chloe leverages her deep industry knowledge to provide our readers with insightful analysis of the latest trends, helping them make sense of their subscriptions and where to hit the sweet spots in how to handle customer service reps.