YouTube Premium removes adverts, lets you download videos, and includes YouTube Music — but at £12.99/month in the UK, it's one of the more expensive streaming subscriptions. If you're not using it enough, here's how to cancel.
This guide covers every cancellation method: direct through YouTube, via Apple, via Google Play, plus family plans, student plans, and free trials.
Before you cancel: what you need to know
- You keep access until the end of your billing period — cancelling doesn't cut you off immediately
- You also lose YouTube Music Premium — it's included with YouTube Premium, so both go when you cancel
- Your account stays intact — subscriptions, playlists, watch history, and liked videos all remain
- Ads come back — you'll see adverts on videos again
- Downloaded videos and music expire — offline content becomes unavailable
How to check who bills you
Like Spotify, the most common confusion with YouTube Premium is cancelling in the wrong place. YouTube Premium can be billed three ways:
- Google directly — you signed up on youtube.com or via the Android app
- Apple (App Store) — you subscribed through the YouTube app on iPhone or iPad
- Through a mobile network — some UK carriers bundle YouTube Premium (rare, but possible)
To check: go to youtube.com/paid_memberships and look at your membership details. It will tell you who manages your billing.
How to cancel YouTube Premium (billed by Google)
If you pay Google directly — the most common method:
- Go to youtube.com/paid_memberships
- Sign in to your Google account
- Click Manage Membership
- Click Deactivate
- Select Continue to cancel
- Choose a reason (optional) and confirm
Your Premium features stay active until the end of your current billing period.
Cancel via the YouTube app (Android)
- Open the YouTube app
- Tap your profile picture (top right)
- Tap Purchases and memberships
- Tap Manage membership
- Tap Deactivate
- Follow the prompts to confirm
Cancel via Google Play subscriptions
- Open the Google Play Store app
- Tap your profile icon
- Tap Payments & subscriptions
- Tap Subscriptions
- Find YouTube Premium
- Tap Cancel subscription
How to cancel YouTube Premium billed through Apple
If you subscribed via the YouTube app on iPhone or iPad, Apple handles the billing — not Google.
- Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad
- Tap your name at the top
- Tap Subscriptions
- Find YouTube Premium
- Tap Cancel Subscription
- Confirm
If YouTube Premium doesn't appear in your Apple subscriptions, you're not billed through Apple. Use the YouTube website method instead.
YouTube Premium subscribed through Apple often costs more than subscribing directly (Apple takes a commission). If you're planning to resubscribe later, consider signing up at youtube.com instead for the lower price.
How to cancel a YouTube Premium free trial
YouTube regularly offers free trials — typically 1 month for new users, sometimes 3 months with certain devices or promotions. If you don't cancel before the trial ends, you'll be charged the full monthly price automatically.
To cancel a free trial safely:
- Use the same method you signed up with (YouTube website, Apple, or Google Play)
- You can cancel on day one and still use the trial until it expires
- You will not be charged when the trial ends
This is the recommended approach: sign up, cancel immediately, enjoy the trial, then decide whether to resubscribe.
How to cancel YouTube Premium Family plan
YouTube Premium Family allows up to 5 additional members (6 total, including the plan manager) at the same household address. Only the plan manager — the person who set up and pays for the plan — can cancel.
- The plan manager goes to youtube.com/paid_memberships
- Click Manage Membership
- Click Deactivate
- Confirm cancellation
When the Family plan is cancelled, all members lose Premium access at the end of the billing period. Individual members cannot cancel just their own access — they can only leave the family group.
If you're a family member (not the manager) and want to stop using Premium, you can leave the family group in your Google account settings. This doesn't stop the plan manager being charged — it just removes you from the group.
How to cancel YouTube Premium Student
YouTube Premium Student is a discounted plan verified through SheerID, available to eligible students at UK universities and colleges.
Cancel the same way as Individual:
- Go to youtube.com/paid_memberships
- Click Manage Membership
- Click Deactivate
Worth knowing: the Student plan requires annual re-verification and has a maximum duration of 4 years. If you don't re-verify or you graduate, your plan automatically switches to the full-price Individual rate. Cancelling before that switch avoids a surprise price increase.
YouTube Premium vs YouTube Music Premium
There are two separate paid products, and people often confuse them:
| Feature | YouTube Premium | YouTube Music Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Ad-free YouTube videos | Yes | No |
| Background play (videos) | Yes | No |
| Download videos offline | Yes | No |
| Ad-free YouTube Music | Yes | Yes |
| Download music offline | Yes | Yes |
| Background music play | Yes | Yes |
| UK price (Individual) | £12.99/month | £10.99/month |
If you mainly use YouTube for music and don't care about ad-free videos, YouTube Music Premium at £10.99/month is a cheaper alternative to full YouTube Premium. If you don't need either, cancel both and use the free, ad-supported versions.
YouTube Premium UK pricing (2026)
For reference, current UK pricing as of early 2026:
| Plan | Price | Accounts |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | £12.99/month | 1 |
| Student | £7.99/month | 1 |
| Family | £22.99/month | Up to 6 |
YouTube Premium has increased UK prices significantly since launch. At £12.99/month, it costs £155.88/year for an individual — more than Netflix Standard or Spotify Premium. Family plans cost £275.88/year. If you're not using it daily, that's worth reconsidering.
What happens after you cancel
When your current billing period ends:
- Ads return — you'll see adverts before and during videos
- Background play stops — videos pause when you switch apps or lock your phone
- Downloads expire — offline videos and music become unavailable
- YouTube Music reverts to free — with ads, limited skips on mobile, and no offline listening
Everything else stays: your YouTube subscriptions, playlists, watch history, liked videos, and channel content are all unchanged.
Alternatives to full cancellation
If you're mainly annoyed by adverts but don't want to pay £12.99/month:
- Switch to YouTube Music Premium only (£10.99/month) if you mainly use it for music
- Wait for a returning-user offer — YouTube sometimes offers discounted re-subscription deals
- Use the free tier — YouTube with adverts is still fully functional
- Share a Family plan — at £22.99 split between 6 people, it's under £4 each
Quick FAQ
Does cancelling YouTube Premium also cancel YouTube Music?
Yes. YouTube Music Premium is included with YouTube Premium. When you cancel, you lose both. You can subscribe to YouTube Music Premium separately (£10.99/month) if you want to keep just the music service.
Can I get a refund from YouTube Premium?
YouTube/Google generally doesn't offer refunds for Premium subscriptions. If you subscribed through Apple, you'd need to request a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com. For Google billing, try Google's support page.
Why am I still being charged after cancelling?
Most likely, you cancelled in the wrong place. If you subscribed via Apple, you need to cancel through your iPhone's Settings > Subscriptions — not through YouTube. Check both platforms to be sure.
Can I cancel YouTube Premium on my phone?
On Android, yes — through the YouTube app or Google Play Store. On iPhone, you need to cancel through Settings > Subscriptions (if billed by Apple) or through the YouTube website in a browser (if billed by Google).
How do I cancel a YouTube Premium free trial?
Cancel any time during the trial using the same method you signed up. You keep full access until the trial period ends, and you won't be charged.
Whether you're on a free trial that's about to convert, or you just want to keep an eye on what you're paying each month, SubSorted can remind you before YouTube Premium charges.
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Final thoughts
YouTube Premium is a good service if you watch YouTube daily — but at nearly £156/year, it's no longer a casual expense. If you signed up for a free trial and forgot about it, or you're just not watching enough to justify the cost, cancelling takes less than two minutes.
The only real complication is the Apple vs Google billing split. Check who bills you first, cancel in the right place, and you're done.
And if you're on a free trial? Cancel now, enjoy it for free, and decide later whether it's worth keeping. That way the decision stays with you.