How to Cancel Spotify Premium: A Step-by-Step Guide

Spotify Premium offers a fantastic ad-free listening experience, offline downloads, and higher audio quality. However, there might come a time when you need to downgrade back to the free version, whether due to budget constraints, exploring other music streaming services, or simply not using Spotify as much as you used to. Canceling Spotify Premium is a straightforward process, but the exact steps can vary slightly depending on how you initially subscribed. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of canceling your Spotify Premium subscription, covering different scenarios and providing troubleshooting tips along the way.

Why Cancel Spotify Premium?

Before diving into the how-to, let’s briefly explore some common reasons why users choose to cancel their Spotify Premium subscription:

* **Cost:** Spotify Premium subscriptions cost money, and if you’re looking to cut expenses, downgrading to the free version can be a significant saving.
* **Limited Usage:** If you’re not listening to Spotify as frequently as you once did, the cost of Premium might not be justified.
* **Exploring Alternatives:** The music streaming landscape is constantly evolving, and you might want to try out other services like Apple Music, YouTube Music, or Tidal.
* **Switching to Family Plan:** You might be planning to join a Spotify Family plan with friends or family, making your individual Premium subscription redundant.
* **Technical Issues:** In rare cases, persistent technical issues with the Spotify app or service might lead you to cancel your subscription in frustration.

Before You Cancel: Important Considerations

* **Billing Cycle:** Keep in mind your billing cycle. Canceling Spotify Premium will revert your account to the free version *after* your current billing period ends. You’ll continue to enjoy Premium benefits until that date.
* **Offline Downloads:** Once you revert to the free version, you’ll lose access to any music you’ve downloaded for offline listening. These downloads will be removed from your device.
* **Ad-Supported Listening:** The free version of Spotify includes advertisements. Be prepared to hear audio ads between songs and see banner ads within the app.
* **Lower Audio Quality:** Spotify Free has a lower audio quality compared to Premium. You might notice a difference in the sound quality, especially if you’re using high-quality headphones or speakers.
* **Limited Mobile Features:** The free version of Spotify has some limitations on mobile devices, such as shuffle-only playback and limited skips.

Step-by-Step Guide to Canceling Spotify Premium

The cancellation process differs slightly depending on how you subscribed to Spotify Premium. Here’s a breakdown of the most common scenarios:

Method 1: Canceling Through the Spotify Website (Most Common Method)

This is the most common method for canceling Spotify Premium, especially if you signed up directly through Spotify.

1. **Open a Web Browser:** Use a computer or mobile device to open a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.).
2. **Go to the Spotify Website:** Navigate to the official Spotify website: [https://www.spotify.com](https://www.spotify.com).
3. **Log In to Your Account:** Click the “Log In” button in the top-right corner of the page. Enter the email address or username and password associated with your Spotify account. If you signed up using Facebook or Apple, use the corresponding login option.
4. **Go to Your Account Page:** After logging in, click on your profile name in the top-right corner. A dropdown menu will appear. Select “Account.” This will take you to your account overview page.
5. **Find “Your Plan”:** On your account overview page, scroll down until you see the “Your plan” section. This section displays your current subscription type (e.g., Spotify Premium).
6. **Click “Change Plan”:** Within the “Your plan” section, look for a button or link that says “Change plan.” Click on it.
7. **Scroll to Spotify Free:** On the “Change plan” page, you’ll see various subscription options. Scroll down to the bottom of the page until you find the “Spotify Free” option. It might be labeled as “Cancel Premium” or something similar.
8. **Click “Cancel Premium”:** Under the “Spotify Free” section, click the “Cancel Premium” button. This will initiate the cancellation process.
9. **Confirm Your Cancellation:** Spotify will likely present you with reasons to stay and try to dissuade you from canceling. Read the information carefully and click “Continue to cancel” to proceed.
10. **Final Confirmation:** You might be asked to confirm your cancellation one last time. Click the confirmation button (e.g., “Yes, Cancel”) to finalize the cancellation.
11. **Confirmation Email:** You should receive a confirmation email from Spotify confirming your cancellation. Keep this email for your records.
12. **Downgrade Date:** The confirmation message and email will clearly state the date your Premium subscription will end and your account will revert to the free version. You can continue enjoying Premium benefits until that date.

Method 2: Canceling Through iTunes (Apple App Store Subscriptions)

If you subscribed to Spotify Premium through iTunes (Apple App Store), you’ll need to manage your subscription through your Apple account.

**On Your iPhone or iPad:**

1. **Open the Settings App:** Locate and open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. **Tap Your Name:** At the top of the Settings app, tap on your name (Apple ID, iCloud, Media & Purchases).
3. **Tap “Subscriptions”:** On the Apple ID page, tap on “Subscriptions.” If you don’t see “Subscriptions,” tap “iTunes & App Store” instead, then tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen, tap “View Apple ID,” sign in if prompted, and scroll down to “Subscriptions.”
4. **Select Spotify:** You’ll see a list of your active subscriptions. Find and tap on “Spotify.”
5. **Cancel Subscription:** Tap the “Cancel Subscription” button. If you don’t see a “Cancel Subscription” button, the subscription is already canceled and will not renew. If you see an expiration date instead, the subscription has already been canceled.
6. **Confirm Cancellation:** You might be prompted to confirm your cancellation. Tap “Confirm” to proceed.

**On Your Mac:**

1. **Open the App Store App:** Open the App Store application on your Mac.
2. **Click Your Name or the Sign-In Button:** In the sidebar, click your name or the sign-in button. If you are not signed in, sign in with your Apple ID.
3. **Click “View Information”:** At the top of the window, click “View Information.” You might be asked to sign in.
4. **Scroll to “Subscriptions”:** Scroll down to the “Subscriptions” section and click “Manage.”
5. **Select Spotify:** Find the Spotify subscription in the list and click “Edit.”
6. **Cancel Subscription:** Click “Cancel Subscription.” If you don’t see a “Cancel Subscription” button, the subscription is already canceled and will not renew.
7. **Confirm Cancellation:** You might be prompted to confirm your cancellation. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Method 3: Canceling Through Google Play (Android Subscriptions)

If you subscribed to Spotify Premium through Google Play Store on your Android device, you’ll need to manage your subscription through your Google account.

**On Your Android Phone or Tablet:**

1. **Open the Google Play Store App:** Locate and open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
2. **Tap Your Profile Icon:** Tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. **Tap “Payments & subscriptions”:** In the menu that appears, tap on “Payments & subscriptions.”
4. **Tap “Subscriptions”:** On the “Payments & subscriptions” page, tap on “Subscriptions.”
5. **Select Spotify:** You’ll see a list of your active subscriptions. Find and tap on “Spotify.”
6. **Tap “Cancel subscription”:** On the Spotify subscription page, tap the “Cancel subscription” button.
7. **Choose a Reason (Optional):** Google Play might ask you to provide a reason for canceling. Select a reason or choose “Decline to answer.”
8. **Confirm Cancellation:** Tap “Cancel subscription” again to confirm your cancellation.

**On a Computer:**

1. **Go to Google Play Website:** Open a web browser and go to the Google Play website: [https://play.google.com](https://play.google.com).
2. **Log In to Your Account:** Log in to the Google account you used to subscribe to Spotify Premium.
3. **Click “My subscriptions”:** In the left-hand menu, click on “My subscriptions.”
4. **Select Spotify:** Find the Spotify subscription in the list and click on it.
5. **Click “Manage” and then “Cancel subscription”:** Click on the “Manage” button, then click on “Cancel subscription.”
6. **Choose a Reason (Optional):** Google Play might ask you to provide a reason for canceling. Select a reason or choose “Decline to answer.”
7. **Confirm Cancellation:** Click “Cancel subscription” again to confirm your cancellation.

Method 4: Canceling Through Third-Party Providers (e.g., Mobile Carriers)

If you subscribed to Spotify Premium through a third-party provider, such as your mobile carrier (e.g., Vodafone, T-Mobile) or another bundled service, you’ll need to cancel your subscription directly through that provider.

1. **Identify Your Provider:** Determine which third-party provider you used to subscribe to Spotify Premium.
2. **Contact Your Provider:** Visit the provider’s website or contact their customer support. You can usually find information on how to manage your subscriptions in your account settings or by searching their help documentation.
3. **Follow Their Instructions:** Follow the provider’s instructions to cancel your Spotify Premium subscription. The process will vary depending on the provider.

**Examples:**

* **Vodafone:** Log in to your Vodafone account online or through the Vodafone app and look for the “Entertainment” or “Subscriptions” section.
* **T-Mobile:** Log in to your T-Mobile account online or through the T-Mobile app and look for the “Services” or “Subscriptions” section.

Troubleshooting Common Cancellation Issues

Even with the step-by-step instructions above, you might encounter some issues during the cancellation process. Here are some common problems and how to troubleshoot them:

* **”Cancel Premium” Button Not Visible:**
* **Check Your Subscription Source:** Make sure you’re trying to cancel through the correct platform (Spotify website, iTunes, Google Play, or third-party provider) based on how you initially subscribed.
* **Log In to the Correct Account:** Ensure you’re logged in to the Spotify account that has the Premium subscription. It’s easy to accidentally log in to a different account.
* **Premium is Billed Through a Partner:** Look for a message stating that your Premium is billed through a partner. This means you need to cancel through that partner (e.g., your mobile carrier).
* **Unable to Cancel Through iTunes/Google Play:**
* **Verify Your Apple ID/Google Account:** Double-check that you’re logged in to the correct Apple ID or Google account that you used to subscribe.
* **Check Your Subscription Status:** Go to your subscriptions in iTunes/Google Play and verify that Spotify is listed as an active subscription. If it’s not listed, it might already be canceled or subscribed through another method.
* **Contact Apple/Google Support:** If you’re still unable to cancel, contact Apple Support or Google Play Support for assistance.
* **Subscription Still Active After Cancellation Date:**
* **Check Your Email Confirmation:** Review the confirmation email you received from Spotify (or the relevant platform) to confirm the cancellation date.
* **Contact Spotify Support:** If the cancellation date has passed and your subscription is still active, contact Spotify Support immediately.
* **Forgot Your Spotify Login Information:**
* **Use the Password Reset Feature:** Go to the Spotify website and click “Log In.” Then, click “Forgot your password?” and follow the instructions to reset your password.
* **Contact Spotify Support:** If you’re still unable to access your account, contact Spotify Support for assistance.

What Happens After You Cancel Spotify Premium?

Once you’ve successfully canceled your Spotify Premium subscription, here’s what you can expect:

* **Premium Benefits Until the End of the Billing Cycle:** You’ll continue to enjoy all the benefits of Spotify Premium (ad-free listening, offline downloads, higher audio quality) until the end of your current billing cycle.
* **Reversion to Spotify Free:** After the billing cycle ends, your account will automatically revert to the free version of Spotify.
* **Loss of Offline Downloads:** Any music you’ve downloaded for offline listening will be removed from your device. You’ll need a Premium subscription to download music again.
* **Advertisements:** You’ll start hearing audio ads between songs and seeing banner ads within the Spotify app.
* **Lower Audio Quality:** The audio quality will be lower compared to Premium.
* **Shuffle-Only Playback on Mobile (in some cases):** Depending on your region and the specific tracks/playlists, you may only be able to listen to music in shuffle mode on your mobile device. This limitation is subject to change by Spotify.
* **Limited Skips:** You may have a limited number of skips per hour when listening on the free version.

Alternatives to Canceling Spotify Premium

Before completely canceling your Spotify Premium subscription, consider these alternatives:

* **Spotify Family Plan:** If you have family members or friends who also use Spotify, consider joining a Spotify Family plan. This plan allows up to six people to share a Premium subscription at a lower cost per person.
* **Spotify Duo Plan:** If you live with another person, the Spotify Duo plan offers Premium benefits for two people at a reduced price compared to two individual Premium subscriptions.
* **Spotify Student Plan:** If you’re a student at an accredited college or university, you might be eligible for a discounted Spotify Premium Student plan.
* **Pause Your Subscription (if available):** Spotify occasionally offers the option to pause your subscription for a limited time. This allows you to temporarily suspend your billing without completely canceling your account. Check your account settings to see if this option is available to you.

Reactivating Spotify Premium

If you change your mind and want to reactivate your Spotify Premium subscription after canceling, you can easily do so:

1. **Log In to Your Spotify Account:** Log in to your Spotify account on the Spotify website or through the Spotify app.
2. **Go to Your Account Page:** Click on your profile name and select “Account.”
3. **Click “Get Premium”:** On your account overview page, you’ll see a prominent button or link that says “Get Premium” or “Upgrade.”
4. **Choose a Plan:** Select the Premium plan you want (Individual, Family, Duo, or Student) and follow the instructions to enter your payment information and reactivate your subscription.

Conclusion

Canceling Spotify Premium is a simple process, but it’s essential to follow the correct steps based on how you initially subscribed. By understanding the different cancellation methods, troubleshooting common issues, and considering alternatives, you can make an informed decision about your Spotify subscription and manage your account effectively. Remember to keep track of your billing cycle and the date your subscription will revert to the free version to avoid any surprises. Enjoy the music, whether it’s ad-free with Premium or ad-supported with the free version!