Tired of your YouTube Premium subscription? Let’s walk through exactly how to cancel it, whether you’re on your phone or computer. It’s actually pretty straightforward once you know where to look.
Canceling YouTube Premium on Desktop
First, let’s tackle the most common way – through your computer’s web browser. Sign into YouTube and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Look for “Purchases and memberships” – that’s where all your subscription details live. Click on YouTube Premium, and you’ll see a “Deactivate” or “Cancel” button. Don’t worry if you’re hesitating – YouTube will show you exactly what you’ll lose before finalizing the cancellation.
Canceling Through Your Mobile Device
If you’re using your phone, the process is slightly different depending on whether you’re on Android or iPhone:
For Android Users:
Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture. Go to “Purchases and memberships” just like on desktop. The rest is pretty much the same – find YouTube Premium and tap “Cancel membership.”
For iPhone Users:
Here’s where it gets a bit tricky. Since you probably subscribed through the App Store, you’ll need to cancel through your Apple ID settings. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions, find YouTube Premium, and tap “Cancel Subscription.”
Important Things to Remember
You’ll still have access to Premium features until the end of your current billing period – it’s not an immediate cutoff. And here’s a pro tip: if you’re canceling because of the cost, sometimes YouTube offers a discounted rate when you try to cancel. It might be worth considering if you still enjoy the features but just want a better price.
What You’ll Lose After Canceling
Let’s be real about what you’re giving up:
– Those annoying ads will return
– No more background play (goodbye, listening while your screen is off)
– Downloads will disappear
– YouTube Music Premium access ends
– You’ll lose access to YouTube Originals
I actually went through this process myself recently when reviewing my monthly subscriptions. The most jarring change was definitely the return of ads, but if you’re not using the premium features enough to justify the cost, canceling makes perfect sense.
Remember, you can always resubscribe later if you find yourself missing the features. YouTube keeps the door open, and your watch history and preferences will still be there waiting for you.
