Music is an integral part of the human experience. Music streaming allows music to be played anywhere and on any device, including budget Android phones. Music streaming gives you access to almost any song you can think of without requiring a physical copy. YouTube Music is among the most popular streaming services. It uses Google's algorithms to generate playlists and recommend new artists based on your interests.

It's a great service, but it might not be for everyone. You may want to switch from YouTube Music to another service or cut the premium plan out of your monthly budget. When you're ready to ditch the service and move on, here's how to cancel your YouTube Music subscription on a phone or PC.

Don't expect a refund for YouTube Music Premium

You need to know a few things before canceling your YouTube Music account. You can only cancel a YouTube Music Premium subscription, not YouTube Music. Canceling YouTube Music Premium only removes premium features, so you can still access YouTube Music and listen to music with ads. The only way to cancel a free YouTube Music account is to delete the linked YouTube account.

According to Google's refund policy, you can't get a refund for your YouTube Music subscription. The only exception is if there was an issue with the service during the billing period for which you requested a refund. You likely won't get your money back unless something went horribly wrong.

How to cancel a YouTube Music subscription on a computer

If you aren't getting the most out of your YouTube Music subscription, canceling may be the next best option. The simplest way to do that is on a computer. If you want to skip to step 3, go to music.youtube.com/paid_memberships.

  1. Log in to the YouTube Music web player.
  2. Click your profile icon in the upper-right corner.
  3. In the drop-down menu, select Paid memberships to go to the paid memberships page.
    The YouTube Music web player with the account management dropdown expanded and the paid memberships button highlighted with a red box
  4. Click the Manage Membership button next to the subscription details.
    The YouTube Music Memberships page with the Manage Membership button highlighted with a red box
  5. Tap the Deactivate button beside your next billing date.
     The YouTube Music Membership page with the Deactivate button highlighted with a red box
  6. Select the Continue to Cancel button. You're asked if you would rather Pause membership.
    The YouTube Music cancelation pop up with the Continue To Cancel button highlighted with a red box
  7. Select Yes, Cancel to complete the cancelation. A pop-up confirms that your membership is canceled.
    The "Cancel YouTube Music Premium?" pop up with the Yes, Cancel button highlighted with a red box

Canceling your premium membership prevents your card from being charged for renewal. You continue to enjoy premium benefits until the end of the current billing period.

How to cancel a YouTube Music subscription on Android

You can cancel your YouTube Music Premium membership through the YouTube Music Android app. This process is similar to the web browser method covered above.

  1. Launch the YouTube Music app.
  2. Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
  3. Tap the Paid memberships option.
  4. Select the membership you want to cancel.
  5. Tap the Deactivate button near the listed billing cycle.
  6. Tap Continue to Cancel.
  7. Select your reason from the options provided and tap Next.
  8. Tap Yes, Cancel.

How to cancel a YouTube Music subscription on iOS

There are two ways to cancel your YouTube Music paid subscription on iOS. The simplest method is using a web browser and following the first set of steps outlined above. This is the way to cancel your subscription if you pay through Google.

If you're billed through Apple, you may have joined using one of the iOS mobile apps. If you joined using the YouTube or YouTube Music iOS app, cancel your paid membership through your Apple account settings. You'll find this option under Settings. Tap your profile picture and go to Subscriptions > YouTube Music > Cancel membership.

Find the right music streaming service for you

There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for music streaming, but you can find a service that ticks most of your boxes. Whether you're looking for a popular option like Spotify, an ecosystem-specific service like Apple Music, something that comes with a service you pay for like Amazon Prime and Amazon Music, or a Hi-Fi service like Tidal, there's an option for you.

If Spotify is your next music streaming service, here's how to set it up and use it.