What you can change in your YouTube TV account

YouTube TV lets you pause your subscription, change your plan, update payment methods, and cancel whenever you want. You make these changes directly in your account settings, not by calling customer service. Most changes take effect immediately or on your next billing date, depending on what you're changing.

The account holder — the person who created the subscription — controls all of these settings. If someone else set up your YouTube TV account, you'll need their login or account access to make changes. YouTube TV doesn't transfer subscriptions between accounts, so if you need a different person to manage it, you'll need to cancel and start over with a new account.

Key Takeaways

  • You pause, resume, change plans, or cancel YouTube TV directly through your account settings on any device or at tv.youtube.com.
  • Pausing your subscription stops charges but keeps your account and settings intact for up to four months.
  • Plan changes (like adding or removing add-ons) take effect immediately, but billing changes happen on your next billing date.
  • Cancellation is permanent — YouTube TV does not store your settings or library after you cancel, so you lose access to saved shows and recordings.
  • If you share your account with family members, they can watch but only the account holder can manage the subscription.

How to pause your subscription

Pausing stops your charges without canceling your account. Your settings, saved shows, and recordings stay in place while paused. You can pause for up to four months total, and you can resume at any time during that window.

To pause: Open YouTube TV on any device or go to tv.youtube.com. Select your profile icon in the top right corner, then go to Settings. Choose Membership and select Pause subscription. Pick how long you want to pause (one, two, three, or four months), then confirm. Your pause starts immediately, and you won't be charged for that period.

When your pause period ends, YouTube TV automatically resumes charging you. If you want to resume before the pause ends, go back to Settings > Membership and select Resume subscription.

Changing your plan or adding channels

YouTube TV offers a base plan that includes most major networks and cable channels. You can add premium channels like HBO Max, Showtime, or Starz as add-ons. You can also remove add-ons at any time.

To change your plan: Go to Settings > Membership. Under "Plan," you'll see your current plan and any add-ons. Select "Manage plan" to add or remove channels. When you add an add-on, the charge appears on your next bill. When you remove an add-on, the charge stops on your next billing date — you don't get a refund for the current month.

The base plan price varies by location and changes periodically. Add-on prices are set by the channel provider, not YouTube TV. If a price increases, YouTube TV sends an email before the change takes effect.

Updating your payment method

You can change the credit card, debit card, or other payment method linked to your YouTube TV account at any time. The new payment method takes effect on your next billing date.

To update payment: Go to Settings > Membership > Manage payment method. Enter your new card details or payment information, then save. If your current payment method fails, YouTube TV will try again a few times before pausing your subscription. You'll receive an email if a payment fails, and you can update your payment method immediately to restore service.

Canceling your subscription

Cancellation is permanent. YouTube TV does not save your account, settings, library, or recordings after you cancel. If you cancel and want to return later, you'll start as a new account with no history.

To cancel: Go to Settings > Membership and select Cancel membership. YouTube TV will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discount to stay. If you proceed, your subscription ends at the end of your current billing period. You keep access to YouTube TV until that date, then your account closes.

If you cancel mid-month, you don't get a refund for the unused portion. Your access continues through the end of the billing period you already paid for.

Managing family members and shared access

YouTube TV allows multiple people to watch on the same account, but only the account holder can manage the subscription. Family members can create their own profiles, set parental controls, and customize their recommendations, but they cannot change the plan, pause, or cancel.

If you want to give someone else control of the subscription, you'll need to share your account login with them. YouTube TV does not have a formal "family plan" or account transfer feature. If you want a family member to have their own separate subscription, they need to create their own YouTube TV account with their own payment method.

Troubleshooting common issues

If you can't access your account settings, make sure you're logged in as the account holder. If you're using a shared account, only the person who created it can change settings. If you're on a device, try logging out and back in, or try accessing settings from a different device or from tv.youtube.com on a web browser.

If your subscription paused unexpectedly, check your payment method. YouTube TV pauses your account if a payment fails and you don't update your payment information within a certain time. Go to Settings > Membership to see your payment status and update your card if needed.

If you see a charge you don't recognize, check your billing history in Settings > Membership > Billing history. YouTube TV shows every charge, the date, and what it was for. If you see a charge after you canceled, contact YouTube TV support through the Help Center at support.google.com/youtubetv.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pause my subscription if I'm in the middle of a billing cycle?

Yes. When you pause, your subscription stops immediately, and you won't be charged for the pause period. Your current billing cycle ends, and the pause begins right away. You keep access to your account and recordings until the pause starts.

What happens to my recordings if I cancel?

All your recordings are deleted when you cancel. YouTube TV does not store them after your account closes. If you want to keep recordings, you need to download or screen-record them before you cancel, though this depends on your device and the content's copyright restrictions.

Can I change my plan without affecting my current billing date?

Plan changes take effect immediately, but billing changes happen on your next billing date. If you add an add-on, the charge appears on your next bill. If you remove an add-on, the charge stops on your next billing date. Your billing date itself doesn't change.

What if I share my account and someone else cancels it?

Only the account holder can cancel. If someone else has your login, they could cancel your account, so only share your password with people you trust completely. If your account is canceled by someone else, you'll need to contact YouTube TV support to see if it can be restored, though this is not may provide.

Do I get a refund if I cancel mid-month?

No. YouTube TV does not refund unused portions of your billing period. Your subscription remains active through the end of the month you paid for, then closes on the cancellation date.