Q1Will cancelling YouTube Premium delete my YouTube channel or videos?
Absolutely not. YouTube Premium is a viewing subscription. Your channel, uploaded videos, playlists, subscribers, and comments are completely unaffected.
Cancel GuidesLast updated: March 2026
How to Cancel YouTube Premium — Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
Pricing reminder
You're paying $13.99/month for YouTube Premium (individual plan).
Cancel on iPhone / iPad
- 1
Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture.
- 2
Tap Purchases and memberships.
- 3
Tap Manage memberships.
- 4
Tap Deactivate next to YouTube Premium.
- 5
Follow the prompts and tap Continue to Cancel.
- 6
If you subscribed through Apple, go to Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions > YouTube Premium > Cancel.
Cancel on Android
- 1
Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture.
- 2
Tap Purchases and memberships > Manage memberships.
- 3
Tap Deactivate next to YouTube Premium.
- 4
Select a reason and tap Continue to Cancel.
- 5
Confirm the cancellation.
Cancel on Web (Desktop)
- 1
Go to youtube.com/paid_memberships and sign in.
- 2
Click Deactivate next to YouTube Premium.
- 3
Select a reason for cancelling.
- 4
Click Continue to Cancel, then confirm.
- 5
You keep Premium features until the end of the current billing period.
What happens after cancellation
You keep Premium features (ad-free, background play, downloads) until the billing period ends.
After that, ads return on all YouTube videos.
Background playback and offline downloads stop working.
YouTube Music Premium is also removed (it's bundled with YouTube Premium).
Your watch history, subscriptions, and playlists remain untouched.
Will I lose my data, playlists, or history?
All your YouTube data — watch history, subscriptions, playlists, liked videos, and comments — is permanently saved regardless of your Premium status. YouTube Premium only affects the viewing experience (no ads, offline downloads, background play). None of your content or data is deleted when you cancel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q2Can I pause YouTube Premium instead of cancelling?
Yes. YouTube offers a pause option for up to 6 months. During the pause, you won't be charged but you'll lose Premium features. Go to the memberships page and select Pause instead of Cancel.
Q3Do I also lose YouTube Music Premium when I cancel?
Yes. YouTube Music Premium is included with YouTube Premium. Cancelling one cancels both. If you only want YouTube Music, you can subscribe to YouTube Music Premium separately for a lower price.
Q4What happens to my downloaded YouTube videos?
All offline downloads become inaccessible once your Premium subscription ends. You'll need to stream videos with an internet connection (with ads) after cancellation.
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