Cancel YouTube Music the easy way

Service overview

YouTube Music is a music streaming service that offers on-demand audio streaming, background play, offline downloads and a library that includes official tracks plus many user-uploaded or rare recordings. The product launched in 2015 and is operated by YouTube under Alphabet Inc.

Main plans and positioning

YouTube Music Premium provides ad-free audio, background listening and downloads. A separate upgrade, YouTube Premium, adds ad-free video across YouTube plus full access to YouTube Music Premium.

Company facts

Further official terms are available at YouTube Paid Services terms and background on the service at YouTube Music on Wikipedia.

Web cancellation (recommended)

1. Go to YouTube and sign in with the account that holds the subscription.
2. Click your profile picture, choose Paid memberships.
3. Find YouTube Music or YouTube Premium and click Manage.
4. Choose Continue to cancel, select a reason and confirm by tapping Yes, cancel.
5. Keep the on-screen confirmation and wait for the confirmation email.

Android cancellation

1. Open the YouTube app on your Android phone.
2. Tap your profile picture, select Paid memberships.
3. Select the membership to cancel and tap Manage.
4. Follow the prompts: Continue to cancel, choose a reason, then Yes, cancel.
5. Check your Google account email for cancellation confirmation from Google Play.

iOS cancellation (if billed by Apple)

1. Open iOS Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions.
2. Find YouTube Music or YouTube Premium in the list and tap it.
3. Tap Cancel Subscription and confirm the cancellation.
4. Apple will send a confirmation; YouTube cannot cancel Apple-billed subscriptions for you.

Google Play billing cancellation

1. Open Google Play Store on your device or web.
2. Go to Account > Subscriptions, select YouTube Music or YouTube Premium.
3. Tap Cancel subscription and follow the prompts.
4. Keep the Google Play confirmation email as proof.

Phone, email or post

1. YouTube does not publish a dedicated phone number for direct cancellations; use the Help Center and contact options inside your account.
2. For postal cancellation, send a registered letter to: YouTube Music, 6 Pancras Road, N1C 4AG London, United Kingdom and keep the postal receipt.
3. For Apple or Google-billed subscriptions, contact Apple Support or Google Play support respectively for cancellation and refunds.

Moving abroad or change of residency

If you move, you may cancel to avoid future billing. Cancellation follows the standard process above; there is no automatic pro rata refund unless explicitly granted by support.

Applicable law: Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 where relevant for UK online contracts.

Price increase

If YouTube Music raises prices and you cancel, your right depends on the contract terms and YouTube notifications. The service terms at YouTube Paid Services terms control price changes and notice. If the change breaches the contract, you can challenge it under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Death of the subscriber

For the death of an account holder, cancellation can be requested by the executor or family via YouTube support. Provide a death certificate and proof of authority when requested by support.

Legitimate ground - defective or unavailable service

YouTube Music accepts complaints where digital content is defective, unavailable or does not perform as stated. In that case you may request a refund and cancellation; provide proof such as error messages, timestamps, and correspondence. Applicable law: Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 digital content provisions.

End of commitment

There is no long-term mandatory commitment for UK monthly plans. If you are on a limited prepaid plan, cancellation prevents future renewal but access remains until the end of the paid period.

Cooling-off (14 day right)

Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 consumers have a 14-day cooling-off period for many online purchases. For digital content like streaming, a consumer can waive that right by consenting to immediate performance. When you consent to immediate access at purchase you typically lose the 14-day automatic right to a refund. If you did not consent or the service was not provided, you retain the 14-day right.

Before you cancel: negotiate

Research does not show public reports of automated retention discounts offered by YouTube Music. If you want a retention offer, contact YouTube Support from your account via the Help Centre and request a retention offer. Provide your subscription details and state you are considering cancellation due to price. Keep the chat transcript or ticket number.

What cancelling saves you

Calculate yearly cost for common plans:

• YouTube Music Premium Individual: £10.99 x 12 = £131.88 per year
• YouTube Premium Individual: £12.99 x 12 = £155.88 per year
• YouTube Premium Family: £22.99 x 12 = £275.88 per year
• YouTube Premium Student: £7.99 x 12 = £95.88 per year

Cheapest competitor listed in research: Spotify Premium at £12.99 per month. Spotify yearly cost: £12.99 x 12 = £155.88 per year. If you cancel YouTube Music Premium and switch to Spotify Premium you would pay more per year; cancelling completely saves £131.88 per year.

Key UK laws that apply

Consumer Rights Act 2015 - services must be performed with reasonable care and skill. Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 - 14-day cooling-off period for online contracts with a digital content exception when the consumer consents to immediate performance.

Auto-renewal and unfair terms

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) treats hard-to-cancel subscriptions and unclear auto-renewal terms as potentially unfair. If you face unclear renewal terms, gather screenshots of the offer and billing history and challenge the charge.

How to escalate

1. Complain to YouTube Support from your account and keep ticket numbers. 2. If unresolved, get guidance from Citizens Advice. 3. For card payments paid by credit card, consider a Section 75 claim with your card issuer or a chargeback for debit cards. 4. If the issue sits with a regulated sector ombudsman, use that route; otherwise escalate complaints via Citizens Advice and the CMA where appropriate.

Check access and final billing

Your cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. You will retain membership benefits until that date. Check your payment method and final billing date in Paid memberships.

Data and downloads

Offline downloads and ad-free features stop when the subscription ends. Your account and saved items remain associated with your Google account; downloads are removed from the device after the subscription expires.

Re-activation and receipts

You can re-subscribe at any time using the same account. Keep the cancellation confirmation email and the original payment receipts for reference in case of billing disputes.

Follow this checklist before and after cancelling to protect your money and account.

• Log in and open Paid memberships to cancel.
• Take screenshots of the cancellation confirmation screen.
• Save the cancellation confirmation email or Google Play/Apple confirmation.
• Note the end date of the paid period so you know when benefits stop.
• If you want a refund request, prepare evidence: timestamps, error messages or proof of non-performance.
• If billed by Apple or Google Play, contact Apple Support or Google Play support for refunds.
• If you plan to send a postal cancellation, use registered post to: YouTube Music, 6 Pancras Road, N1C 4AG London, United Kingdom and keep the receipt.