Cancel YouTube TV before your trial ends to avoid being charged

Your YouTube TV free trial lasts a set number of days—usually seven, but sometimes longer during promotions. When that period ends, YouTube will charge your payment method automatically unless you cancel first. You can stop the trial at any point: on day one, on the last day, or anywhere in between. Cancelling does not give you a refund of the trial period itself, but it does prevent the first paid charge.

The cancellation happens in your YouTube TV account settings on any device with internet access. You do not need to call anyone or contact support unless something goes wrong. The process takes about two minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Cancel in your account settings under "Membership" or "Billing" before your trial end date to stop automatic charges.
  • You can cancel on any device—phone, tablet, or computer—as long as you are signed into the same Google account you used to start the trial.
  • Cancelling when ready does not cut off your service; you keep access until the trial period officially ends.
  • If you miss the end date and are charged, you can request a refund within a short window by contacting YouTube support.
  • YouTube will send you reminder emails as the trial end date approaches, but do not rely on them—set your own calendar alert.

Steps to cancel on a phone or tablet

Open the YouTube app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Tap Purchases and memberships or Memberships (the exact wording varies by device and app version). You should see YouTube TV listed with a status showing your trial end date. Tap on YouTube TV.

Look for a button that says Cancel membership, Cancel trial, or Manage. Tap it. YouTube will ask you to confirm the cancellation and may show you a discount offer to keep you as a customer—you can ignore this if you want to cancel. Confirm the cancellation. You will see a message saying your membership is cancelled, and you will receive a confirmation email within a few minutes.

Steps to cancel on a computer

Go to tv.youtube.com and sign in with the Google account linked to your trial. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select Settings. On the left side, click Membership or Billing. You should see YouTube TV listed with your trial status and end date.

Click Manage membership or Cancel membership. YouTube will show you a summary of what you are cancelling and may offer a discount to stay. Click the button to confirm cancellation. You will see a confirmation message on screen and receive an email confirmation shortly after.

What happens after you cancel

Your YouTube TV service continues to work until the trial period officially ends. You do not lose access when ready. On the day after your trial ends, you will no longer be able to watch live TV or use the DVR, and the YouTube TV app will show a message asking you to restart your membership.

If you change your mind and want to restart before the trial ends, you can reactivate your membership in the same settings menu. YouTube will not charge you again until the original trial period is over.

If you were charged after cancelling

If you cancelled but YouTube still charged you, contact YouTube support through your account settings. Go to Settings > Help & feedback > Contact us. Explain that you cancelled before the trial ended and were charged anyway. YouTube can usually process a refund if you request it within a few days of the charge.

Check your bank or credit card statement to confirm the charge amount and date. Have this information ready when you contact support. Refunds typically appear in your account within three to five business days after approval.

Preventing accidental charges in the future

Set a phone reminder for two days before your trial ends. This gives you time to cancel without rushing and without relying on YouTube's reminder emails, which do not always arrive on time. Write down the exact end date of your trial when you sign up—YouTube shows this in your account settings and in your confirmation email.

If you think you might want YouTube TV later, cancelling now does not prevent you from starting a new trial in the future. YouTube's policies on how often you can restart a trial vary, so you may be able to sign up again after a waiting period, but there is no penalty for cancelling early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I cancel in the middle of my trial?

No. Cancelling stops future charges but does not refund the trial period you already used. The trial is free only if you cancel before it ends. If you were charged by mistake, contact YouTube support and they may refund the charge if you ask within a few days.

Will I lose my saved shows and settings if I cancel?

Your library and watch history stay in your Google account, but you will not be able to watch anything on YouTube TV once the trial ends. If you restart your membership later, your saved shows and settings will still be there.

Do I have to cancel on the same device I used to start the trial?

No. As long as you sign into the same Google account, you can cancel on any device—phone, tablet, or computer. YouTube TV is tied to your account, not to a specific device.

What if I cannot find the cancel button in my settings?

The button location and name vary slightly between the YouTube app and the website, and between Android and iPhone. Try going to tv.youtube.com on a computer and signing in—the web version usually has the clearest menu. If you still cannot find it, contact YouTube support through your account settings.

Can I pause my YouTube TV trial instead of cancelling?

YouTube TV does not have a pause feature for trials. You can only cancel or let it continue. If you want to use it again later, you will need to restart your membership, which may or may not may have access to for another free trial depending on YouTube's current policy.