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Here’s how to pause your YouTube TV subscription

Here’s how to pause your YouTube TV subscription

Need to take a break from your YouTube TV account? We’ll explain how to do it here!

Known for breaking major streaming stories, he’s covered everything from Netflix policy shifts to Peacock’s ad-tier changes. A sci-fi fan and Toshiba Fire TV user, he brings sharp analysis and a love for the genre to his reporting.

Having a live TV streaming subscription generally means you can watch the best that TV has to offer, including live sports, news, and entertainment. A YouTube TV subscription can give you all of that content in a single channel package, but the streamer also allows its customers to choose between several smaller-sized channel packages called Genre Plans. Even YouTube TV Genre Plans cost more than $50 per month; however, that expense can add up quickly. If you value your YouTube TV subscription and don’t want to cancel, but need to take a break for a while, we’ll explain everything you need to know about pausing YouTube TV below.

Everything you need to know about pausing a YouTube TV subscription

Can you pause a YouTube TV subscription?

Yes, YouTube TV will let you pause your subscription instead of canceling if you want to stop being billed by the service for a time. The pause will take effect at the end of your current billing cycle, and while paused, you will not be able to watch live or recorded content with YouTube TV. Existing recordings will be saved during the pause.

How long will YouTube TV let you pause?

YouTube TV subscribers can pause a membership for as few as four weeks or as long as six months.

How to pause a YouTube TV subscription

On an Android device

  • Open the YouTube TV app.
  • Select your profile icon.
  • Tap Settings, then Membership.
  • Use the slider to determine your pause duration.
  • Click Pause.

On a web browser

  • Open YouTube TV on a web browser.
  • Click your profile photo.
  • Scroll to the Settings menu.
  • Click Membership.
  • Choose Manage.
  • Use the slider to select how many weeks you want to pause.
  • Click Pause.

On an iPad or iPhone

  • Open YouTube TV on your mobile web browser.
  • Select your profile icon.
  • Open Settings.
  • Click Membership.
  • Tap Manage > Pause membership.

Can you reactivate a paused YouTube TV subscription early?

Yes, you can resume your membership at any time before you’re scheduled to restart your paused YouTube TV service. Just log back into YouTube TV and follow the prompts to resume your service. Keep in mind, however, that resuming a paused YouTube TV subscription moves your billing date to whichever day you restarted it.

Why you might want to pause a YouTube TV subscription

Pausing a YouTube TV subscription instead of canceling it gives you the best of both worlds — at least for a limited time. You won’t have to pay for YouTube TV while paused, but the service will still preserve your personalized settings, digitally recorded titles, and viewing recommendations.

There are plenty of reasons to pause a YouTube TV subscription. You may decide there isn’t enough of the right kind of content on YouTube TV for you to keep watching for a month or two; football fans who have a YouTube TV subscription may want to pause after the Super Bowl in February, then resume in August when the preseason begins, for example.

Financial concerns are another valid reason to pause YouTube TV. If you are feeling a temporary budget crunch, you can always pause YouTube TV instead of canceling, keep your account intact, then resume your service when discretionary funds are more easily available.

Frequent travelers who find themselves leaving the United States for a month or more will also value the chance to pause YouTube TV. Pausing is a convenient way to stop being billed for YouTube TV for a chosen period without seeing your account vanish, and hopefully, our guide has made the process of pausing a YouTube TV subscription simple!

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is a live TV streaming service with more than 60 channels for $82.99/month. This plan includes local channels 32 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs) in select markets. The base plan includes more than 100 live channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as popular cable channels such as ESPN, CNN, FX, USA Network, and TNT. Local channels are included in most markets, making YouTube TV a full replacement for traditional cable for many viewers.

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Sports are a major focus for YouTube TV, with access to national and regional coverage, league networks, and marquee events. The service also serves as the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket, available as an add-on, giving fans access to out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. YouTube TV also offers a smaller sports plan, allowing subscribers access to 30+ sports-oriented channels, including local networks in select markets.

YouTube TV includes unlimited cloud DVR storage at no extra cost, allowing subscribers to record as many shows as they want and keep recordings for up to nine months. The service is available across a wide range of devices, including smart TVs, streaming players, mobile devices, and web browsers. New subscribers can typically start with a free trial, though the trial length may vary by promotion.

With its broad channel lineup, strong sports offerings, unlimited DVR, and wide device support, YouTube TV remains one of the most comprehensive live TV streaming services for viewers who want a traditional TV experience without a cable contract.

Free Trial

New customers can save $15 per month for 5 months.


David Satin has been a dedicated News Writer at The Streamable since 2022, covering a wide range of stories in the entertainment and streaming industries. With years of experience writing online, David previously worked as a list writer for Screen Rant, where he gained recognition for his extensive coverage of sci-fi and fantasy genres. His ability to break and analyze major stories has made him a trusted voice in the streaming world. Over the course of his career, Satin has become an integral part of The Streamable team, contributing to some of the most impactful stories in the industry.

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