Cancelling Spotify Premium isn’t complicated—yet many users get stuck because the cancellation process depends on how they originally subscribed. If you signed up through Spotify directly, cancellation is straightforward. But if you subscribed through the App Store, Google Play, a mobile carrier, or even a broadband bundle, the steps change significantly. This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know to cancel Spotify Premium in 2026, avoid unexpected charges, and keep access to your playlists and listening history.
Why People Cancel Spotify Premium
There are dozens of reasons listeners decide to pause or cancel their memberships. Some of the most common include:
- Switching to another streaming service (e.g., Apple Music, YouTube Music, Tidal)
- Wanting to reduce monthly subscription costs
- Using Spotify less often than before
- Removing duplicate music subscriptions
- Switching to family or student plans
- Pausing temporarily due to travel or financial reasons
- Wrapping up a free trial before billing starts
The good news: cancelling does not delete your account, playlists, followers, Wrapped data, or saved songs. It simply downgrades you to Spotify Free at the end of your current billing cycle.
What Happens After You Cancel Spotify Premium?
Once cancellation is successful:
- Your plan stays active until the cycle ends (you won’t lose Premium instantly)
- Downloads are removed from your device (offline mode disappears)
- Ads return between tracks
- Shuffle-only playback may apply on mobile for some playlists
- Wrapped data remains intact, and your listening history continues
Importantly, your music library, playlists, liked songs, and followers remain untouched.
How to Cancel Spotify Premium in 2026 (Direct Subscription)
If you pay Spotify directly with a credit/debit card, PayPal, or similar, follow these steps:
Desktop / Laptop (Browser)
- Open browser and go to spotify.com/account
- Log in to your account
- Navigate to Your Plan
- Click Change Plan
- Scroll down to Spotify Free
- Click Cancel Premium
- Confirm cancellation
Spotify will immediately show your downgrade date.
Mobile (iOS & Android Browser)
Spotify does not allow Premium cancellation through the app; however, you can cancel from a browser:
- Open mobile browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.)
- Go to spotify.com/account
- Sign in
- Tap Your Plan
- Select Change Plan
- Choose Cancel Premium
- Confirm
This process works internationally.
How to Cancel Spotify Premium via Apple (App Store / iTunes Billing)
If you see “Managed by Apple” in your Spotify account, the process changes. Here’s how to cancel through Apple:
On iPhone / iPad
- Open Settings
- Tap your Apple ID name
- Select Subscriptions
- Find Spotify
- Tap Cancel Subscription
Through Mac (App Store / iTunes)
- Open App Store
- Click your Apple ID
- Choose Account Settings
- Click Subscriptions
- Find Spotify
- Click Cancel
Apple will email a cancellation confirmation.
How to Cancel Spotify Premium via Google Play Store
If your billing shows “Managed by Google Play,” do this:
- Open Google Play Store
- Tap profile icon
- Go to Payments & Subscriptions
- Tap Subscriptions
- Select Spotify
- Tap Cancel Subscription
- Confirm
Your plan will remain active until the billing period ends.
Cancelling Premium Through Mobile Carriers & Broadband Bundles
Many telecom companies bundle Spotify Premium into their plans, such as:
- Vodafone
- Verizon
- AT&T
- T-Mobile
- Rogers
- O2
- Telia
- Turkcell
- BT Broadband
- Sky Broadband
To cancel, you must cancel through your carrier account, not Spotify. Typically:
- Log into your carrier app/portal
- Find Add-ons / Subscriptions
- Select Spotify
- Remove or disable the add-on
Carriers may have special cycle dates different from Spotify’s.
How to Cancel Spotify Premium Family, Duo & Student Plans
Family Plan Owner
Only the owner can cancel:
- Go to account dashboard
- Navigate to Plan
- Click Change Plan
- Cancel
Members automatically revert to free.
Premium Duo
Same cancellation structure; both members revert to free.
Student Discount Premium
Student plans last 12 months with annual verification. Cancelling works the same, but you can reapply later if eligible.
How to Cancel Spotify Premium Free Trial Before Billing
If you're in a trial period, cancellation prevents future charges. Follow the same cancellation steps depending on billing method.
Trials often switch to regular Premium if not cancelled before renewal.
Troubleshooting: “Why Can’t I Cancel Spotify Premium?”
Common issues include:
1. Wrong Login Method
Many users have multiple accounts tied to:
- Facebook login
- Apple login
- Email login
- Google login
You may be cancelling the wrong account.
2. Managed by Third-Party Billing
Check at spotify.com/account — if it says:
Your plan is managed by Apple / Google / Carrier
You must cancel through them.
3. Shared Family or Duo
Members can’t cancel—only owners can.
4. Pending Charges
Some banks hold pre-authorizations even after cancellation.
Will I Lose My Playlists If I Cancel Spotify Premium?
No. Playlists, followers, likes, and Wrapped data persist. Only offline downloads disappear.
Can I Pause Spotify Premium Instead of Cancelling?
Spotify doesn’t offer a traditional pause feature yet, but workarounds include:
- Switching to monthly billing
- Downgrading to Duo or Family
- Using a free account temporarily
- Taking advantage of trial promos later
Re-Activating Spotify Premium After Cancelling
You can re-upgrade anytime via:
- Individual Premium
- Student
- Duo
- Family
- Annual discounts
- Carrier bundles
Spotify often sends reactivation promotions, especially around Black Friday and Wrapped season.
Final Thoughts
Cancelling Spotify Premium in 2026 is easy once you determine your billing provider. Direct subscriptions cancel fastest, while third-party billing requires extra steps. The key is to check spotify.com/account first to identify how you’re being billed. Even after cancelling, you retain your entire music library—making it simple to come back whenever you want.