Let’s be real you signed up for YouTube Music Premium for the free listening and offline downloads, but now you’re ready to move on. Maybe you’re switching to Spotify, tightening your budget, or just realized you barely use the app anymore. Whatever your reason, figuring out how to cancel YouTube Music Premium on mobile can be surprisingly tricky if you don’t know where to look.
Here’s the thing: where you originally subscribed determines how you must cancel. Get this wrong, and you’ll be stuck paying $10.99/month for a service you don’t want. Let me break down exactly how to stop your YouTube Music subscription on iPhone and Android without the headache.
The Golden Rule: Match Your Cancellation to Your Billing Source
Before you do anything, figure out who’s actually charging you
| Original Signup Method | Where to Cancel |
|---|---|
| YouTube Music app/website directly | YouTube app or youtube.com/paid_memberships |
| Apple App Store (iOS) | iPhone Settings → Subscriptions |
| Google Play Store (Android) | Google Play Store app |
| Mobile carrier bundle | Your carrier’s website/app |
This is the #1 mistake people make. They hunt for a “cancel” button in the YouTube Music app when they actually subscribed through Apple, or they go to iPhone settings when they signed up on Google’s website. Match the method, or you’ll never successfully unsubscribe from YouTube Music Premium.
How to Cancel YouTube Music Premium on iPhone (iOS)
iPhone users, pay attention: If you subscribed via the App Store, you cannot cancel through the YouTube Music app. Apple controls your billing, so Apple controls your YouTube Music subscription cancellation.
Method 1: Through iPhone Settings (App Store Subscribers)
- Open Settings
Tap the grey gear icon on your home screen. - Tap Your Apple ID
At the very top, tap your name and profile picture. - Select Subscriptions
Choose Subscriptions and wait for the list to load. - Find YouTube Music
Locate YouTube Music or YouTube Premium in your active subscriptions. - Cancel Subscription
Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm. You’ll keep Premium until your current billing period ends.
Method 2: Through YouTube Music App (Direct Subscribers)
If you signed up directly through YouTube (not Apple):
- Open the YouTube Music app
- Tap your profile picture (top-right corner)
- Select Paid memberships
- Tap your YouTube Music Premium subscription
- Tap Manage Apple Subscriptions → Cancel
Can’t find these options? You definitely subscribed through Apple. Go back to Method 1.
How to Cancel YouTube Music Premium on Android
Android users have more flexibility since Google owns both YouTube and Android. You can cancel YouTube Music Premium through the app itself or Google Play Store.
Method 1: Through YouTube Music App
- Open YouTube Music app
- Tap your profile icon (top-right)
- Select Paid memberships
- Tap your YouTube Music Premium subscription
- Tap Deactivate next to your billing date
- Select Continue to cancel
- Choose a reason and tap Next
- Tap Yes, cancel to confirm
Method 2: Through Google Play Store
If you subscribed via Google Play:
- Open Google Play Store app
- Tap your profile picture (top-right)
- Go to Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions
- Find YouTube Music or YouTube Premium
- Tap Cancel subscription and follow prompts
How to Cancel YouTube Music Premium via Mobile Browser
Sometimes the apps glitch. When that happens, your mobile browser is the most reliable way to end your YouTube Music membership:
- Open Chrome, Safari, or any browser on your phone
- Go to youtube.com/paid_memberships
- Sign into your account
- Find YouTube Music Premium under Memberships
- Tap Manage membership
- Tap Deactivate → Continue to cancel
- Select your reason and confirm with Yes, cancel
Pro tip: If you’re on iOS but subscribed directly through YouTube (not Apple), you must use this browser method. The iPhone app will redirect you to Apple settings, which won’t work for direct subscriptions.
What Happens After You Cancel?
Understanding the YouTube Music Premium cancellation policy saves you from surprises
| Feature | After Cancellation |
|---|---|
| Premium access | Continues until end of current billing cycle |
| Offline downloads | Become inaccessible (you can only stream) |
| Your playlists | Saved forever (but with ads on free tier) |
| Background play | Stops working (music pauses when screen locks) |
| Audio quality | Drops to 128kbps (vs. 256kbps Premium) |
No refunds: YouTube Music doesn’t offer prorated refunds. If you cancel the day after being charged, you keep Premium for the full month but don’t get money back.
The “Pause” Trap: YouTube offers a “Pause membership” option for up to 6 months. Many users accidentally select this instead of canceling, then get surprised when billing resumes automatically. Always select Continue to cancel → Yes, cancel to fully stop YouTube Music billing.
Troubleshooting: When You Can’t Cancel
“There’s no cancel button!”
- You subscribed through a third party. Check if you’re billed by Apple, your carrier (like Verizon), or a bundle deal. Cancel through them, not YouTube.
- You’re on a family plan (not the manager). Only the family manager can cancel the entire plan. Members can only leave the plan.
“I canceled but still got charged!”
- You likely have multiple Google accounts or multiple subscriptions (YouTube Premium vs. YouTube Music Premium are separate).
- Check youtube.com/paid_memberships on desktop to see all active memberships.
“The app crashes when I try to cancel!”
- Use the mobile browser method instead (youtube.com/paid_memberships)
- Try incognito/private mode to avoid extension conflicts
- Clear your browser cache and cookies
Before You Cancel: 3 Smart Moves
- Download your data
Go to Google Takeout (takeout.google.com) to export your playlists and listening history before you unsubscribe from YouTube Music. - Check for annual plans
If you’re on a monthly plan, consider if an annual plan (usually 15-20% cheaper) makes sense if you’re just trying to save money. You can switch without canceling. - Family plan audit
If you’re the family manager, removing members before canceling can save them from suddenly losing access. They can join someone else’s family plan or subscribe individually.
FAQ: YouTube Music Premium Cancellation
Q: Can I cancel YouTube Music Premium directly in the app?
A: Android users: Yes, through the YouTube Music app. iPhone users: Only if you subscribed directly through YouTube. If you subscribed via Apple, you must use iPhone Settings.
Q: Will I lose my playlists if I cancel?
A: No. Your playlists, liked songs, and library remain intact. You just lose offline access and ad-free listening.
Q: Can I get a refund after canceling?
A: Generally no. The only exception is if there was a technical issue with the service during your billing period. You can request a refund through Google Play or Apple within 48 hours of purchase in some regions.
Q: What’s the difference between pausing and canceling?
A: Pausing stops billing for up to 6 months, then automatically resumes. Canceling stops billing permanently until you manually resubscribe. Always double-check which option you selected.
Q: I canceled but can still use Premium features!
A: That’s normal—you keep benefits until your billing period ends. Check your Paid memberships page to confirm it says “Expires on [date]” instead of “Renews on [date].”
Canceling YouTube Music Premium on mobile is straightforward once you identify your original billing source. iPhone users: check Apple Subscriptions first. Android users: try the YouTube Music app or Google Play Store. Everyone else: use youtube.com/paid_memberships in your mobile browser.
The key is patience—YouTube will try to tempt you with “Pause” offers and retention discounts. Stick to Continue to cancel → Yes, cancel if you’re sure, and always verify your status shows an expiration date rather than a renewal date.
Ready to switch music streaming services? Remember to cancel YouTube Music before your next billing date to avoid paying for two services simultaneously.
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