How to Cancel Spotify Premium Subscription in 2025

Canceling your Spotify Premium subscription is straightforward once you understand the process, but there's one crucial detail: you cannot cancel directly within the mobile app. This comprehensive guide covers every cancellation method across all platforms, ensuring you successfully terminate your subscription without unexpected charges.

Key Fact: Must Use Web Browser

The most important thing to know about canceling Spotify Premium is that you must complete the cancellation through Spotify's website, regardless of which device you use. The mobile app can initiate the process, but it ultimately redirects you to a web browser to finalize cancellation.

Primary Cancellation Method (Desktop/Web)

This is the most direct and reliable approach for canceling Spotify Premium.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Navigate to Spotify: Visit spotify.com in your web browser
Log in: Sign into your Spotify account
Access your profile: Click your profile icon (usually your name or picture) in the top right corner
Open Account settings: Select "Account" from the dropdown menu
Go to Subscription page: From the Account Overview page, click "Subscription" in the left-hand menu
Start cancellation: Click the green "Change or Cancel" button
Select cancel option: Choose "Cancel Premium"
Confirm cancellation: Click "Yes, cancel" to finalize

You'll receive a confirmation email, and your Premium access will continue until the end of your current billing cycle.

Canceling Through Mobile App (Routes to Web)

While you can't complete cancellation entirely within the Spotify mobile app, you can start the process there.

iOS (iPhone/iPad) Method:

Open the Spotify app
Tap "Your Library" at the bottom of the screen
Tap your profile icon (first initial) in the upper left corner
Select "Premium plan (View your plan)"
Tap "See available plans"
At the bottom, tap "Change your plan"
Scroll down and select "Cancel Premium" under the Spotify Free section
Complete in browser: You'll be redirected to Safari (or your default browser) to confirm

Android Method:

The process is identical to iOS:

Open Spotify app
Go to Your Library
Tap your profile icon
Select Premium plan
Tap See available plans > Change your plan
Choose Cancel Premium
Finish in browser: Confirm cancellation in the browser that opens

Alternative Cancellation Methods

Third-Party Billing Platforms

If you subscribed through a third-party service, you must cancel through that platform:

Apple App Store (iOS)

For subscriptions purchased through iPhone/iPad:

Open Settings on your device
Tap your Apple ID name at the top
Select Subscriptions
Find Spotify in your subscription list
Tap Cancel Subscription
Confirm cancellation

Google Play Store (Android)

For subscriptions through Google Play:

Open the Google Play Store app
Tap your profile icon (top right)
Select Payments & Subscriptions
Tap Subscriptions
Find Spotify
Select Cancel Subscription
Confirm your choice

Amazon

If you subscribed through Amazon:

Go to amazon.com
Navigate to Account & Lists
Select Memberships & Subscriptions
Find Spotify
Click Cancel Subscription

PayPal Billing

If you pay through PayPal:

Log into PayPal.com
Go to Settings (gear icon)
Click Payments
Select Manage automatic payments
Find Spotify
Click Cancel or Remove

What Happens After Cancellation?

Immediate Effects

Confirmation email: You'll receive an email confirming your cancellation
Billing stops: No future charges after your current period ends
Premium continues: You keep Premium features until the end of your paid period

Transition to Free Tier

Once your Premium subscription expires, your account automatically converts to Spotify Free with the following limitations:

Free Tier Restrictions:

Advertisements: Audio and video ads between songs
Limited skips: Maximum 6 skips per hour
Shuffle-only: Mandatory shuffle play on mobile for most playlists
No offline downloads: Cannot save music for offline listening
Lower audio quality: Reduced from Premium's high-quality streaming
No on-demand play: Limited control over specific song selection

Data Preservation

Good news: All your data remains intact when you downgrade:

Playlists (all of them)
Saved songs and albums
Following artists
Podcast subscriptions
Listening history
Account preferences

You can upgrade back to Premium anytime without losing anything.

Timing Considerations

Billing Cycle Details

Free trials: Premium access ends immediately upon cancellation during trial period
Paid subscriptions: Access continues until the end of your current billing cycle
No prorated refunds: Spotify doesn't refund partial months

Best Time to Cancel

Optimal timing:

Cancel just before your renewal date to maximize value
You'll retain Premium features until the paid period expires
Set a calendar reminder for 1-2 days before renewal

Troubleshooting Common Issues

"Cannot Find Cancel Button"

Possible causes:

You're on a Family Plan (only the plan owner can cancel)
Subscription through third party (must cancel through that platform)
Student plan requiring additional verification

Solution: Check your billing method in Account settings to determine where you subscribed.

"Already Canceled But Still Charged"

Check these scenarios:

Final billing cycle: One last charge is normal for the completed period
Multiple accounts: Verify you don't have more than one Spotify account
Third-party billing: May not have canceled through the correct platform
Family plan: Someone else manages the subscription

"Lost Access to Email Account"

If you can't access your Spotify account:

Use Spotify's account recovery process
Provide alternative verification (phone number, username)
Contact Spotify Support through their help center
Have payment method details ready for verification

Alternatives to Full Cancellation

Before canceling completely, consider these options:

1. Switch to a Different Plan

Student Plan ($5.99/month):

Includes Hulu and SHOWTIME
Requires valid student verification
Significantly cheaper than individual plan

Duo Plan ($14.99/month):

For two people living together
Cheaper than two individual plans
Each person gets their own account

Family Plan ($16.99/month):

Up to 6 accounts
Each member has separate account
Best value for families or friend groups

2. Pause Your Subscription

Unfortunately, Spotify doesn't offer a "pause" feature like some competitors. Your options are:

Cancel and resubscribe when ready
Downgrade to free tier temporarily
Keep subscription but reduce listening

3. Use Free Tier Strategically

The free version provides:

Access to entire music catalog
Personalized playlists (Discover Weekly, etc.)
Podcast listening
Basic social features

Free tier works well for:

Desktop listening (fewer restrictions)
Background music while working
Podcast consumption
Discovering new music

4. Look for Promotional Offers

Spotify frequently offers:

3 months for $0.99 (periodic promotions)
Free Premium trials (for new or returning users)
Bundle deals with other services
Carrier bundles (included with phone plans)

Check Spotify's promotions page before canceling—you might find a deal.

Comparing Alternatives

If you're considering switching to another music streaming service:

Apple Music

Price: $10.99/month (individual)
Pros: Better iOS integration, lossless audio, larger library
Cons: Less personalized recommendations, smaller social features

YouTube Music

Price: $10.99/month (included with YouTube Premium)
Pros: Includes ad-free YouTube, music videos, user-uploaded content
Cons: Interface less intuitive, smaller curated playlist selection

Amazon Music Unlimited

Price: $9.99/month ($8.99 for Prime members)
Pros: Alexa integration, included with some Prime plans
Cons: Smaller music selection, less social integration

Tidal

Price: $10.99/month (HiFi at $20/month)
Pros: High-fidelity audio, exclusive content, better artist compensation
Cons: Smaller catalog, fewer users for social features

Money-Saving Strategies

Annual Subscriptions

While Spotify doesn't offer annual billing, consider:

Discounted gift cards: Buy Spotify gift cards during sales
Cashback credit cards: Use cards that offer streaming rewards
Family plan splitting: Share costs with friends/family

Strategic Resubscription

Many users employ this approach:

Cancel when you're listening less (summer, busy work periods)
Use free tier or other services temporarily
Resubscribe during high-use periods
Take advantage of returning user promotions

Compare Total Entertainment Costs

Use subscription tracking apps like Vexly to:

Monitor all streaming service costs
Identify overlapping services
Set cancellation reminders
Track promotional periods

Privacy and Data After Cancellation

Data Retention

Spotify retains your account information indefinitely, including:

Listening history
Playlists
Saved content
Personalization data

This allows instant reactivation of Premium features when you resubscribe.

Account Deletion

To permanently delete your Spotify account:

Cancel your Premium subscription first
Visit Spotify's Account Privacy Settings
Request account closure
Confirm via email verification
Allow 30 days for complete deletion

Warning: Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. You'll lose all playlists, saved music, and followers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund after canceling?

No, Spotify doesn't offer refunds for unused time. You retain access until your billing period ends.

How long does cancellation take?

The cancellation is immediate, but your Premium access continues until the end of your paid period.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes, Spotify subscriptions are month-to-month with no long-term commitments.

Will I lose my playlists?

No, all playlists and saved music remain on your account when you downgrade to free tier.

Can I reactivate Premium later?

Yes, you can upgrade to Premium anytime with a few clicks. Your previous settings and data are preserved.

What happens to downloaded music?

Downloaded songs become unavailable immediately upon Premium expiration. You'll need to stream them on the free tier.

Can I cancel during a free trial?

Yes, but your Premium access ends immediately rather than at the trial's end.

Final Recommendations

Cancel Spotify Premium if:

You primarily listen on desktop (free tier is less restricted)
You're not using it regularly (less than a few times per week)
Budget constraints require cutting expenses
You want to try competing services

Keep Spotify Premium if:

You listen frequently on mobile devices
Offline downloads are important to you
Ad-free listening is essential
You use personalized playlists heavily
You're on a shared Family or Duo plan

Conclusion

Canceling Spotify Premium is straightforward once you understand the web-based requirement. The key is using a web browser for final confirmation rather than relying solely on mobile apps. With no long-term commitments and seamless reactivation, you have complete flexibility to manage your subscription based on usage and budget.

Remember that Spotify preserves all your data when you downgrade to the free tier, making it easy to pick up where you left off if you decide to resubscribe.

Ready to optimize all your subscription costs? Track and manage your recurring payments with Vexly to take control of your entertainment spending.