Can You Cancel YouTube TV and Keep NFL Sunday Ticket?

You can cancel YouTube TV, but you will lose NFL Sunday Ticket unless you switch to a different way to watch it

YouTube TV and NFL Sunday Ticket are sold as a bundle — if you cancel your YouTube TV subscription, your Sunday Ticket access ends at the same time. There is no way to keep Sunday Ticket through YouTube TV after you cancel the main service. However, you have other options: you can move your Sunday Ticket to a different platform, or you can pause your YouTube TV subscription instead of canceling it outright.

The key difference is between canceling (which ends everything) and pausing (which freezes your subscription for up to three months without losing your Sunday Ticket). If you only want to step away from YouTube TV temporarily, pausing is the faster route. If you want to cancel permanently but keep football, you will need to transfer your Sunday Ticket to another provider or purchase it separately.

Key Takeaways

Canceling YouTube TV ends your Sunday Ticket access when ready — the two are linked and cannot be separated.
Pausing your YouTube TV subscription for up to three months lets you keep Sunday Ticket without paying the full YouTube TV fee.
You can transfer an active Sunday Ticket subscription to YouTube's standalone app, Roku, or Amazon Prime Video if you want to watch football without YouTube TV.
If you cancel and later want Sunday Ticket back, you will have to purchase it again as a new subscription on whatever platform you choose.
Sunday Ticket pricing and availability vary by year, so check the current terms before you cancel.

Pausing instead of canceling preserves your Sunday Ticket

If you need a break from YouTube TV but want to keep your Sunday Ticket, pausing your account is the simplest option. When you pause, your YouTube TV subscription freezes — you stop being charged, but your account and all its settings remain intact. You can pause for up to three months at a time, and your Sunday Ticket stays active during that pause.

To pause, log into your YouTube TV account, go to Settings, select Membership, and choose Pause Membership. You will see the option to pause for one, two, or three months. Your next billing date will be pushed back by however long you pause. When the pause ends, your subscription automatically resumes unless you cancel before the pause expires.

This route works well if you are stepping away temporarily — for example, if you are traveling, cutting expenses for a few months, or waiting for a specific show to return. It avoids the hassle of canceling and restarting, and it keeps your Sunday Ticket running without interruption.

Transferring Sunday Ticket to another platform

If you want to cancel YouTube TV permanently but keep Sunday Ticket, you can move your subscription to a different platform. YouTube allows you to transfer an active Sunday Ticket to the YouTube TV app (the standalone version, not the full YouTube TV service), Roku, or Amazon Prime Video. The transfer process takes a few minutes and does not interrupt your service.

To transfer, go to your YouTube TV account settings, find the Sunday Ticket section, and select the option to move your subscription. You will choose your new platform from the list, and your Sunday Ticket will be ready to use there within a few hours. Your billing information and subscription dates carry over — you are not starting a new subscription, just moving the existing one.

The standalone YouTube TV app (sometimes called YouTube TV Lite or just the YouTube app) gives you Sunday Ticket without the full cable-style channel lineup. Roku and Amazon Prime Video also offer Sunday Ticket as an add-on, so you can watch through those devices or apps instead. This is the best option if you want to keep football but do not need the other YouTube TV channels.

What happens to your account when you cancel

When you cancel YouTube TV, your access ends on your next billing date. You will lose YouTube TV channels, cloud DVR storage, and Sunday Ticket all at once. Any recordings you made will be deleted, and you will not be able to recover them. Your account information is kept for 90 days in case you want to restart, but after that it is removed.

If you had a promotional rate or discount on YouTube TV, canceling ends that deal. If you restart later, you may not get the same price. YouTube occasionally offers new-customer promotions, but existing customers who cancel and return are not always may be able to access for the same terms.

Purchasing Sunday Ticket separately after canceling

If you cancel YouTube TV without transferring your Sunday Ticket first, you can still purchase Sunday Ticket again later — but you will be starting a new subscription from scratch. You will not have access to your previous account or billing history, and you will pay the full current price rather than any rate you may have had before.

Sunday Ticket is available through YouTube TV, the standalone YouTube app, Roku, Amazon Prime Video, and sometimes through your cable or satellite provider if you have one. Pricing and availability change year to year, so check each platform's current terms before you decide. Some platforms offer free trial periods, which can be useful if you want to test the service before committing.

Timing your cancellation around the NFL season

Sunday Ticket is only available during the NFL regular season and playoffs — roughly September through early January. If you cancel YouTube TV during the off-season, you lose nothing by waiting until the season ends anyway. If you cancel during the season, you lose access to remaining games.

If you are canceling for cost reasons, pausing for three months during the off-season is a low-risk way to save money without losing your Sunday Ticket when football returns. You can pause in February, March, and April, then resume in time for the next season. This approach costs less than canceling and restarting, and it keeps your subscription active.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep Sunday Ticket if I downgrade to a cheaper YouTube TV plan?

YouTube TV does not offer tiered plans — you get the same channel lineup and Sunday Ticket access at one price. You cannot downgrade to a cheaper version. Your only options are to pause, cancel, or transfer Sunday Ticket to another platform.

What if I cancel YouTube TV mid-month?

You will have access through the end of your current billing cycle. If you cancel on the 15th of a month and your billing date is the 1st, you will keep YouTube TV and Sunday Ticket until the 1st of the next month. You will not be refunded for the unused portion of your subscription.

Can I transfer Sunday Ticket back to YouTube TV after I move it?

Yes. If you move Sunday Ticket to Roku or Amazon Prime Video and later want it back on YouTube TV, you can transfer it again through your account settings. The process is the same — you choose YouTube TV as your new platform, and the subscription moves within a few hours.

Do I lose my YouTube TV DVR recordings when I cancel?

Yes. All cloud DVR recordings are deleted when you cancel. If you have shows you want to keep, read or save them before you cancel. Once your account is closed, the recordings cannot be recovered.

Will I get a refund if I cancel mid-billing cycle?

No. YouTube TV does not issue refunds for unused time. You will have access through the end of your current billing period, but you will not receive money back for the days after you cancel.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.