Unsubscribe With Ease—How To Manage Google Subscriptions
Google is an internet titan that provides digital products and services like cloud computing, online search and advertising, and software. As of December 2023, the platform boasts over 83.8 billion monthly visits, making it the largest search engine in the world. Some popular Google subscriptions include YouTube Premium, Google Drive storage plans, and Google Pay, which offers additional features and storage space for a fee.
As convenient as these subscriptions may be, it's easy to lose track of them and keep paying for services you no longer need or use. This practical guide explains how to manage your Google subscriptions and unsubscribe effortlessly. You'll learn how to find, cancel, pause, change, and resubscribe to various Google services, along with tips to avoid unexpected charges in the future.
The content in this guide is valid as of December 2023. Visit the official Google website or contact a customer representative for updates.
How To Find Your Subscriptions on Google
Before you can manage your Google subscriptions, you need to know which services you're subscribed to. Here's how to find your subscriptions on Google using your Android or iOS device and a computer:
If you're a parent with Family Link, you can find purchases made by other family members through Google Play's billing system as follows:
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap the profile icon at the top right corner of the screen.
- Select Payments & subscriptions, then Budget & history.
- Tap Purchase history.
- Scroll through your purchases or search for a specific one. You'll see Purchased by and the name of the family member who made the purchase below each entry.
How To Cancel Subscriptions on Google
The cancellation process for Google subscriptions varies depending on the device you're using. Know that uninstalling the app doesn't automatically cancel the subscription—you still have to follow the official process. Here's how to cancel subscriptions on Google using an Android device or a computer:
| On Android |
On Computer |
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How To Pause Subscriptions on Google
If you don't want to cancel a Google subscription permanently but need some time off from it, you can pause the service by taking these steps:
- Go to Google Play on your computer or mobile browser.
- Click or tap your profile picture at the top right corner.
- Navigate to Payments & subscriptions, then click Subscriptions at the top of the page.
- Locate the subscription you want to pause and click Manage.
- Select Pause payments.
- Pick the time period you want to pause your subscription for.
- Click or tap Confirm and follow the prompts to complete the process.
How To Change Subscriptions on Google
If the developer allows, you can change your Google subscriptions from a prepaid plan to a recurring subscription and vice versa. Note that payments are processed immediately after you switch, and any days left on your current plan are added to your new subscription.
Follow the instructions in the table below to change Google subscriptions on Android and computer:
Resubscribe To Canceled Subscriptions
If you wish to resubscribe to a Google service you previously canceled, proceed as follows on your Android device or computer:
- Go to Google Play subscriptions on your computer or Android device.
- Click or tap Resubscribe for the subscription you want to restart.
- Follow the prompts to confirm your choice.
Can You Get a Refund for Canceled Google Subscriptions?
You may be eligible to get a refund for some Google purchases depending on the Google Play refund policy. Below, you can learn more about the instances when you may get a refund:
- Accidental purchases—If a family member or friend makes an accidental purchase using your device or account, you may get an automatic refund if you uninstall the paid subscription app minutes after purchasing it.
- Google Play purchases not made by you or someone you know—If there are purchases on your card statement or another payment method that you don’t recognize, you're advised to report unauthorized charges to your payment method within 120 days.
Google makes refund decisions in 1–4 business days. If Google approves your refund request, you can check its status through the Google Play Help Center.
Virtual Cards—Your Protection Against Tricky Subscriptions
While most companies provide simple cancellation options, some providers may go out of their way to make the process difficult and keep you as a paying customer for as long as possible. These companies resort to various tactics, such as:
- Designing their web pages in a way that makes it difficult to find the cancel button
- Requiring you to contact their customer service
- Asking you to send a handwritten letter to cancel
If you forget or don’t notice a key step, you may end up paying for another month of service you don't want. In some cases, unwelcome charges can occur by accident even after you've followed all the steps to cancel your subscription.
To reduce the chances of such things happening, the next time you sign up for a subscription service, consider using Privacy Virtual Cards. Virtual cards are connected to a real funding source but mask your actual financial information with unique random card numbers at checkout, adding an integral layer of security around your online transactions. A dedicated virtual card provider like Privacy allows you to set spending limits to specify exactly how much a subscription service can charge you.
Steer Clear of Unwelcome Charges With Privacy
After adding your debit card or bank account to Privacy, you can generate multiple virtual cards for various purchases. You can choose between two card types—Single-Use and Merchant-Locked.
- Single-Use—These cards close a few minutes after you complete the first transaction. They are perfect for purchases on websites you don’t plan on shopping from again.
- Merchant-Locked—These cards “lock” to the first merchant you use them with. They can be used repeatedly and are ideal for your favorite websites and subscriptions, such as Shopify, Dropbox, and NordVPN.
Privacy Cards can also help you manage your subscriptions with the following features:
- Card pausing/closing—Once you decide to cancel a subscription, you can pause or close the associated card, and Privacy will decline any charge attempts on that card. This allows you to proceed with the cancellation process without the anxiety of unwelcome charges.
- Spending limits—After setting a spending limit on your virtual card, Privacy blocks all charges that exceed the preset limit. This feature helps you avoid intentional and accidental charges, such as double billing or price increases that you weren’t aware of.
You can use Privacy Virtual Cards on popular gaming platforms like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus and for magazine subscriptions such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
Privacy Virtual Cards—Unparalleled Convenience at Your Fingertips
Privacy’s benefits don't end at secure transactions and subscription management. Your online shopping experience can be even more convenient thanks to these two features:
Browser extension—With Privacy's Browser Extension, you can enjoy fast and seamless checkouts. The extension autofills your virtual card information at checkout, eliminating the need to memorize your card details. It is available on:
Mobile app—The Privacy mobile app for iOS and Android allows you to manage your virtual cards on the go. You can view transactions, pause or close cards, and change spending limits with a few taps on your phone.
How To Setup Privacy
Getting started with Privacy is easy—you only need to complete these four steps:
- Register
- Provide the information needed to verify your identity
- Connect a bank account or debit card
- Request your virtual cards
Privacy Virtual Cards are accepted at most websites and merchants that accept U.S. Mastercard® or Visa® card payments, including LinkedIn Premium, Tinder Gold, and streaming platforms such as Apple TV, Philo, and Amazon Music.
The Personal plan is free for domestic transactions, includes 12 virtual cards per month, and gives you access to the browser extension, mobile app, spending limits, and card pausing or closing feature. You can upgrade to Pro ($10/month) or Premium ($25/month) if you need more virtual cards (up to 60 cards per month) and additional features such as:
- Fee-free international transactions
- Priority support
- 1% cashback on eligible purchases (totaling up to $4,500 a month)
