To get a YouTube Premium refund, sign in to the account that pays for Premium and request a refund from YouTube's refund page, or contact YouTube support if you want to cancel immediately and get a refund. Just cancelling won't refund you. And if you pay through Apple, YouTube can't refund you at all: you have to ask Apple.
Most people who search for this have cancelled already and are wondering why the charge is still on their statement. The answer is that cancelling and refunding are two separate things on YouTube. Here's how each one works, using YouTube's own help pages.
Cancelling is not the same as a refund
YouTube says you can cancel a paid membership at any time. Cancelling turns off auto-renewal, so you won't be charged again, and your Premium benefits carry on until the end of the billing cycle you've paid for. What you don't get is a refund for the days between cancelling and the end of that cycle.
A refund is the other route. If you want Premium to end now and get a refund, YouTube tells you to contact its support team. If the refund goes through, your Premium benefits stop straight away. So it's one or the other: keep the days you've paid for, or give them up for a refund.
| What you do | When benefits stop | Do you get a refund? |
|---|---|---|
| Cancel | End of the billing cycle | No, not for the rest of that cycle |
| Request a refund (and it's granted) | Straight away | Yes, to your original payment method |
How to request a YouTube Premium refund
- Work out who bills you. The name on the charge in your bank statement usually tells you whether it's Google, YouTube or Apple.
- If YouTube or Google bills you, sign in to the account that has the Premium membership and use the refund request on YouTube's help page for Premium refunds.
- If you want to cancel straight away and get a refund, contact YouTube support from the same help page and explain why.
- If Google Play bills you, you can also request the refund through Google Play.
- If Apple bills you, skip YouTube and go to Apple, as below.
YouTube also says you may be eligible for a refund if videos or features tied to your purchase don't work. That's worth mentioning in your request if it's the reason you're leaving. If you're cancelling as well, the steps for each device are in my guide to cancelling YouTube Premium.
If you pay through Apple
This is the part that trips people up. If you joined Premium in the YouTube app on an iPhone or iPad and Apple bills you, YouTube says it can't grant refunds for those purchases. They're subject to Apple's refund policies.
- Sign in to reportaproblem.apple.com with the Apple Account that paid.
- Choose I'd like to, then Request a refund.
- Pick your reason, choose the YouTube subscription and submit.
- Apple says to wait 24 to 48 hours for an update on your request.
Can't find the charge? Apple suggests searching your email for a receipt from Apple, because the payment may have gone through a different Apple Account or a Family Sharing organiser.
Refunds YouTube won't give
- Partial refunds on annual memberships. YouTube's troubleshooting page says it doesn't offer them, so check the terms before you pay for a year up front. My page on the YouTube Premium annual plan explains who can get it.
- Super Chat, Super Stickers, Super Thanks and donations. YouTube calls these voluntary payments and they're non-refundable.
- Channel memberships are handled separately from Premium, with their own refund page.
How long a YouTube refund takes
Refunds go back to the payment method you used. YouTube says most are processed within 5 business days, with these exceptions:
| Payment method | How long YouTube says it takes |
|---|---|
| Most payment methods | Within 5 business days |
| Carrier billing, prepaid | 1 to 30 business days |
| Carrier billing, contract | 1 to 2 monthly statements |
| Online banking | 4 to 10 business days |
| iTunes (Apple) | Check with Apple support |
If it's taking longer, check the order in your Google payments account. A status of Refunded means a credit is on its way to your card. A status of Canceled means you were never charged for that order, so there's nothing to come back.
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If you didn't make the payment
A charge you don't recognise is a different problem from a refund. Report it as an unauthorised purchase on your Google Account instead. Google Play's policy page says to report unauthorised charges within 120 days of the transaction, and if a family member used your account by accident, request a refund rather than reporting fraud.
My verdict
If you only want to stop paying, cancel and enjoy the days you've already paid for. Ask for a refund only when you've been charged for something you didn't want or a feature isn't working, and say so plainly in the request. And if your statement says Apple, don't waste time with YouTube support: Apple is the only one who can refund that charge.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a refund on YouTube Premium?
You can request one. Cancelling alone doesn't refund you, but YouTube support can cancel immediately and refund you, and a refund may be granted if features you paid for don't work.
Does cancelling YouTube Premium give a refund?
No. Cancelling stops future charges and your benefits last until the end of the billing cycle, but YouTube doesn't refund the time between cancelling and the end of that cycle.
How do I get a YouTube Premium refund on iPhone?
If Apple bills you, YouTube can't refund you. Request it from Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com, and Apple says to allow 24 to 48 hours for an update.
How long does a YouTube Premium refund take?
YouTube says most refunds are processed within 5 business days, though carrier billing and online banking can take longer.
