How to cancel a Google Play Store subscription

Google Play Store subscriptions have become a lot more common in recent years, with many applications offering free trials. But if you are no longer using your subscription or weren’t impressed by what it had to offer, you can cancel any time. Not sure how to do that through the app itself? You can head to the Google Play Store instead. Here is how to cancel a Google Play Store subscription.

Here: Learn how to use the Google Play Store with this complete guide

Editor’s note: All instructions in this guide were put together using a Google Pixel 4a with 5G running Android 12. Some steps might differ depending on your device and software version.

How to find your Google Play Store subscriptions

First things first, you need to actually find your subscriptions. This is especially helpful if you’re a bit subscription-happy and don’t remember which apps you’ve subscribed to.

Find your Google Play Store subscriptions:

1. Launch the Google Play Store.
2. Tap on your profile icon.
3. Select Payments & subscriptions.
4. Go into Subscriptions.
5. You’ll be able to see both your Active and Expired subscriptions here.

How to pause a Google Play Store subscription

The first thing you need to know is that canceling is not the only available option. If you are short on cash, in some cases, you can pause payment for a month and continue your subscription on the next. Only some apps offer this, but it’s worth checking if they do.

Pausing a Google Play Store subscription:

1. Launch the Google Play Store.
2. Tap on your profile icon.
3. Select Payments & subscriptions.
4. Go into Subscriptions.
5. Select the subscription you want to pause.
6. Tap Manage.
7. If the app offers this option, you will see Pause payments. Select this option.
8. You will be able to select the time period you’d like to pause for. All that’s left to do after is tap Confirm.

However, we should note that your subscriptions will be paused at the end of your current billing period.

More: How to find purchased apps on the Google Play Store

How to cancel a Google Play Store subscription

Not satisfied with what your subscription had to offer? Then it’s time to cancel.

Cancel your Google Play Store subscription:

1. Launch the Google Play Store.
2. Tap on your profile icon.
3. Select Payments & subscriptions.
4. Go into Subscriptions.
5. Find the subscription you want to cancel and select it.
6. Tap Cancel subscription and follow the on-screen instructions.
7. You may be asked to select a reason for the cancellation. Choose one from the options and tap Continue, followed by Cancel subscription.

Don’t worry about wasting part of your subscription — you will still be able to use the app for the period you’ve already paid for or for the remainder of your free trial. The same applies to yearly subscriptions. If you signed up in June 2021, for example, and canceled shortly after, you will still be able to use the application until June 2022. It will not be automatically renewed after that.

What about refunds? Subscription refunds are a bit more complicated than app purchase refunds. Generally, you should be able to get a refund within 48 hours of subscribing. However, you will only receive money for the month you canceled. You might also need to contact the app developer directly, depending on the subscription service.

How to restart a Google Play Store subscription

Sometimes you may need to pause or cancel subscriptions because they’re not convenient or you’re too busy to take advantage of them. The good news is that restarting them is possible. So, if you’ve recently bought a new Fitbit and want to restart your Fitbit Premium subscription, for example, here is how to do that.

Restart a Google Play Store subscription:

• Launch the Google Play Store.
• Tap on your profile icon.
• Select Payments & subscriptions.
• Go into Subscriptions.
• If you recently canceled a subscription or paused it, it will appear on the list. Select it.
• Select Resubscribe and follow instructions. Your subscription will be reactivated immediately.

Next: Common Google Play Store issues and how to fix them

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