[UPDATED MAY 2026]
YouTube Premium is that subscription where you pay to watch videos without ads, download them for offline viewing, and keep the audio going in the background like some sort of civilised human.
Plenty of people sign up for the lovely ad-free life.
But tastes change, money gets tight, or you realise you’re not actually using half the features.
Though who on earth would willingly go back to the adverts?
That bit still baffles me.
Whatever your reason, cancelling the thing is pleasingly straightforward.
Consider this your no-nonsense exit route.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube Premium gives you an ad-free life, offline downloads, background play and exclusive Originals, but plenty of people still decide it’s not worth the monthly fee once the novelty wears off.
- The most common reasons for cancelling are cost, not using it enough, actually not minding the ads, or finding better value elsewhere. They’re all perfectly sensible reasons in this age of endless subscriptions.
- Cancelling is genuinely straightforward on Android, iOS or the website. No hidden tricks, no marathon of menus, just a few taps or clicks and you’re free.
- You keep Premium benefits right until the end of your current billing period, so you’re not throwing money away the moment you hit cancel.
- With every business trying to squeeze every last penny out of you, regularly reviewing subscriptions like YouTube Premium is just common sense. Drop what you’re not using and stay in control.
What is YouTube Premium?
YouTube Premium is the subscription that turns watching videos from a constant battle with adverts into something almost civilised.
Ad-Free Viewing
The headline benefit is zero adverts.
No pre-rolls, no mid-rolls, nothing popping up to ruin the flow.
Long sessions suddenly feel smooth instead of like you’re being constantly interrupted by a desperate salesman.
Oh, and it’s perfect alongside YouTube’s Ambient Mode.
Offline Playback
You can download videos and entire playlists so they work without Wi-Fi.
It’s genuinely useful when you’re travelling, stuck somewhere with terrible signal, or simply trying not to torch your mobile data.
Background Play
Premium lets the audio keep running even when you switch apps or turn the screen off.
Perfect for music, podcasts or when you want to listen while doing something else instead of staring at your phone like a zombie.
YouTube Originals and Extras
You also unlock YouTube’s own exclusive shows (Youtube Originals), films and documentaries that normal users never see.
You’ll also unlock plus a much better, ad-free version of YouTube Music.
Common Reasons to Cancel YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium sounds brilliant on paper.
No ads, downloads, background play.
But plenty of people still reach for the cancel button.
Here are the reasons that actually make sense.
Cost Concerns
The biggest killer is the monthly fee – currently £12.99 a month.
When you sit down and do the maths, it starts to feel like an expensive luxury for something you might only use a couple of times a week.
For anyone watching their budget or already paying for Netflix, Disney+ and everything else, that extra subscription suddenly looks like a very easy one to drop.
Limited Usage
Lots of people simply don’t watch enough YouTube to justify it.
If your viewing is a few videos here and there rather than hours every day, the ad-free life and offline downloads stop feeling essential.
At that point, the free version with its annoying adverts becomes the more sensible choice.
Preference for Ad-Supported Experience
Believe it or not, some people actually don’t mind the ads.
They’ve grown used to them, don’t find them particularly painful, and quite like the free ride.
For these viewers, the traditional YouTube experience is perfectly fine, thank you very much.
Availability of Alternative Platforms
There’s now a ridiculous number of streaming services out there, many of them cheaper or offering better value.
If another app gives you what you want without the YouTube Premium price tag, switching makes perfect sense.
Why pay extra for a premium version of YouTube’s social media platform when something else does the job just as well?
How to Cancel YouTube Premium on Android
Cancelling YouTube Premium on Android is honestly straightforward.
No endless menus or dark patterns – just follow these steps and you’re done.
You don’t have to be a social media expert to do it.
Open the YouTube App
Launch the YouTube app on your Android phone or tablet.
Make sure you’re signed in with the exact account that has the Premium subscription attached.
Access Your Account Settings
Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
From the menu that pops up, select ‘Settings’.
Navigate to Purchases and Memberships
Scroll down until you find ‘Purchases and memberships’.
Tap it to see a list of everything you’re currently paying for.
Cancel Your Subscription
Locate YouTube Premium, tap on it, then hit ‘Cancel membership’.
Follow the simple on-screen instructions.
They may ask why you’re leaving, so pick your reason and confirm.
Your Premium benefits will keep working until the end of your current billing period, after which it reverts to the normal, advert-filled version.
How to Cancel YouTube Premium on IOS
Cancelling YouTube Premium on an iPhone or iPad is simple.
Apple, to its credit, doesn’t make you hunt through fifteen different menus to escape.
Access Your Settings
Open the Settings app on your iOS device.
Tap your name at the very top to get into your Apple ID settings.
Navigate to Subscriptions
Scroll down until you see ‘Subscriptions’ and tap it.
You’ll now see every active subscription tied to your Apple ID.
Find YouTube Premium in the list and tap on it.
Cancel YouTube Premium
On the subscription details page, look for the ‘Cancel Subscription’ button and hit it.
Confirm your decision when it asks.
That’s it. Your Premium perks will keep working until the end of your current billing cycle, after which you’ll drop back to the regular ad-filled version.
How to Cancel YouTube Premium on the Website
Cancelling YouTube Premium through the website is easy and takes about thirty seconds if you know where to click.
Access Your Account
Open your browser, go to YouTube and sign in with the account that’s actually paying for Premium.
Once you’re in, click your profile icon in the top-right corner.
Navigate to Paid Memberships
From the drop-down menu, select ‘Paid memberships’.
This page lists all your current subscriptions.
Find YouTube Premium in the list and click ‘Manage membership’ to see the full details.
Cancel the Subscription
On the subscription page you’ll see the ‘Deactivate’ option.
Click it, follow the straightforward prompts, pick a reason if it asks, and confirm.
Your subscription will end at the close of the current billing period, but you’ll still enjoy Premium perks until then.
FAQ
Will I get a refund if I cancel YouTube Premium midway through the month?
No, you won’t get a refund for the current period, but you can carry on using all the Premium features until the billing date ends.
After that, it simply reverts to the normal ad-filled version.
What happens to my downloaded videos after I cancel?
Any videos you’ve already downloaded will disappear once your Premium access runs out, so enjoy them while you still can.
Can I cancel YouTube Premium and keep YouTube Music Premium?
No – they’re tied together.
Cancelling Premium cancels the ad-free version of YouTube Music as well.
Is it easier to cancel on the website than on my phone?
They’re all pretty simple, but the website version is probably the quickest if you can be bothered to open a browser.
Can I just pause my subscription instead of fully cancelling?
Unfortunately not.
YouTube only offers full cancellation – though you can always sign straight back up later if you change your mind.
Final THoughts
There you have it – cancelling YouTube Premium really is that simple.
The service has plenty going for it, but it’s not for everyone.
Whether the monthly cost is getting on your nerves, you’re not using it enough to justify the fee, or you’ve simply decided the adverts aren’t worth avoiding, ditching it is quick and painless on Android, iOS or the website.
With so many streaming subscriptions trying to bleed you dry, it pays to regularly check what you’re actually getting value from.
If Premium no longer makes sense for you, cancel it without a second thought.
And remember, if you change your mind later, you can always sign back up.
You’re in control, not the other way round.
For more information on YouTube Premium, or any help for your business’s digital marketing needs, get in contact with us here at Neon Atlas today.
We are a digital marketing agency in Gloucester, with over 15 years experience.
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