Canceling YouTube Premium: How to cancel (and manage a refund)

YouTube Premium is convenient (no ads, background playback, offline mode, YouTube Music included)... but it's also another subscription that can weigh on your budget. Whether your goal is to reduce your expenses, change your plan, or simply try it out and then cancel, the process is quick—as long as you cancel in the right place.

In this guide, we see:

• How to cancel YouTube Premium on Android, iPhone/iPad, and computer;
• What to check depending on the billing method (Google Play, App Store, YouTube);
• In which cases a YouTube Premium refund may be possible;
• How to properly delete your YouTube subscription without wasting time.

1) Before canceling: identify where you are being billed

This is the most important step, because it determines the exact menu to use.

YouTube Premium may be billed:

• directly via YouTube/Google (managed from YouTube);
• via Google Play (subscription on Android);
• via the Apple App Store (if the subscription was purchased from an iPhone/iPad).

In practice, if you have any doubts:

• Open YouTube (logged in to the correct Google account).
• Go to Paid Subscriptions / Purchases and Subscriptions,
• and see if YouTube redirects you to Google Play or Apple to manage the cancellation.

2) Cancel YouTube Premium on Android (YouTube app)

On Android, cancellation is usually done from the YouTube app, then possibly via Google Play depending on your subscription method.

Steps

1. Open the YouTube app.
2. Tap your profile picture.
3. Go to Paid Subscriptions.
4. Select YouTube Premium.
5. Press Continue to cancel.
6. Select a reason, then confirm with Yes, cancel.

What happens after cancellation

• The subscription remains active until the end of the period already paid for.
• You will no longer be carried over to the next cycle.

3) Cancel YouTube Premium on iPhone/iPad (Apple)

On iOS, YouTube often redirects you to Apple's settings. In this case, you can cancel your subscription in the iPhone/iPad settings.

Steps (Apple method)

1. Open Settings on your iPhone/iPad.
2. Tap your name (Apple ID).
3. Tap Subscriptions.
4. Select YouTube Premium.
5. Tap Cancel Subscription.

Tip: If the "Cancel" button does not appear and an expiration message is displayed, this often means that the subscription has already been canceled and will end on the date indicated.

4) Cancel YouTube Premium on a computer (web)

If the subscription is managed by YouTube/Google, it can be canceled in just a few clicks from your browser.

Steps (Web)

1. Sign in to YouTube with the correct account.
2. Go to the Paid Subscriptions section.
3. Open YouTube Premium, then Manage Subscription.
4. Click Disable/Cancel, then confirm.

5) “I canceled, but I still see Premium”: this is normal.

After canceling YouTube Premium, access generally continues until:

• the end of the billing period already paid for,
• or the end of the free trial if you were in a trial period (depending on the conditions at the time).

During this period, you retain your Premium benefits (no ads, background playback, offline downloads, etc.).

6) YouTube Premium refund: when is it possible?

A YouTube Premium refund is not automatic: it depends on the platform that processes the payment (YouTube/Google, Google Play, Apple) and the circumstances (recent payment, billing error, access issue, etc.).

6.1. If you are billed directly by YouTube/Google

Google has a page dedicated to YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium refunds, with a request procedure for active paid subscriptions (you must be logged in).

6.2. If you are billed via Google Play

Google Play specifies that subscriptions are not automatically refunded (with certain exceptions depending on the refund policy and the case). Cancellation mainly stops the renewal, while maintaining access until the end of the paid period.

6.3. If you are billed via Apple (App Store)

At Apple, refund requests are made via the official service reportaproblem.apple.com, where you can select the purchase in question and "Request a refund."

Good practice: if the payment has just been made (renewal), take action as quickly as possible. The closer the request is to the transaction, the more likely it is to be processed favorably (depending on the reason and the platform's policy).

7) How to properly delete your YouTube subscription (checklist)

Canceling is good. Avoiding being billed again or using the wrong account is better. Here is a simple checklist:

• Check the correct Google account: YouTube may be connected to a secondary account.
• Check the end date: it appears in "Paid Subscriptions" (or in Apple/Google Play).
• Delete payment methods? In most cases, this is unnecessary: the key is to cancel the renewal.
• Uninstalling the YouTube app does not cancel your subscription: only canceling it in the correct menu will do so.

8) Smart alternative: keep Premium... but pay less

If the idea of canceling YouTube Premium is mainly due to the price, there is often a more rational option: don't cancel your YouTube subscription, but reduce the cost.

YouTube Premium offers different plans (including family plans, subject to conditions), and this is typically the kind of subscription that many people share. Rather than managing reimbursements between friends and family or "working things out" on a case-by-case basis, a co-subscription platform like Spliiit allows you to:

• split the cost of a subscription between several people,
• secure payments,
• simplify month-to-month management.

If YouTube Premium (or YouTube Music, or other services you use on a daily basis) is part of your "entertainment" budget, optimizing your bill through a joint subscription is often more advantageous than canceling and then resubscribing a few weeks later.

FAQ – Cancellation and refunds for YouTube Premium

Will I lose YouTube Premium immediately after canceling?

No, in most cases access continues until the end of the paid period.

Why can't I cancel in the YouTube app?

Often because the subscription is managed by Apple (iPhone/iPad) or Google Play. In this case, cancellation must be done in the Apple settings or in Google Play, not just in YouTube.

Is a YouTube Premium refund guaranteed if I cancel?

No. Cancellation stops the renewal, but refunds depend on the payment platform's policy and the reason for cancellation. The official Google page explains the process on the YouTube/Google side.

How can I be sure that I won't be charged next month?

Verify that the status shows "Canceled" (or an end date) in:

• YouTube > Paid subscriptions,
• or Apple > Subscriptions,
• or Google Play > Subscriptions.

Key points to remember

• Canceling YouTube Premium is simple, but you have to cancel in the right place (YouTube/Google, Google Play, or Apple).
• Access generally continues until the end of the paid period.
• A YouTube Premium refund may be possible depending on the billing channel and context, via official Google/Apple procedures.
• If the problem is mainly financial, co-subscribing via Spliiit often allows you to keep the convenience of Premium... while paying less.

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