Where to find and stop your recurring payments
To cancel a recurring payment on PayPal, you log into your account, go to Settings, then find the Subscriptions or Automatic Payments section. The exact name varies depending on whether you set up the payment as a subscription (a service that charges you regularly) or as an automatic payment (a one-time authorization you gave someone to charge you on a schedule). Both live in the same place, but PayPal labels them differently.
Once you are in that section, you will see a list of every recurring charge connected to your account. Click on the one you want to stop, then select Cancel or Remove. PayPal will ask you to confirm, and the cancellation takes effect when ready — no more charges will go through after that point.
The process takes about two minutes. You do not need to contact PayPal support or the merchant unless something goes wrong.
Key Takeaways
- Recurring payments on PayPal are found under Settings > Subscriptions or Automatic Payments, depending on how the merchant set it up.
- Cancelling a recurring payment stops future charges when ready, but does not refund money you already paid.
- If you cancel after a charge has already posted but before it settles, you may still need to contact the merchant to reverse it.
- Some merchants require you to cancel through their own website instead of PayPal, so check your confirmation email if the PayPal cancellation does not work.
The difference between subscriptions and automatic payments
PayPal treats these two types of recurring charges slightly differently, which matters when you are looking for where to cancel them. A subscription is a service you signed up for directly — a streaming service, a gym membership, a software tool that charges you monthly. A automatic payment is a standing authorization you gave to a specific merchant to charge you on their schedule, often for things like insurance premiums or loan payments.
Both show up in your PayPal account, but subscriptions usually appear under a "Subscriptions" tab and automatic payments under "Automatic Payments" or "Recurring Payments." If you are not sure which one you are looking at, the merchant name and the charge amount will tell you. Either way, the cancellation process is the same: find it, click cancel, confirm.
What happens to charges that already posted
When you cancel a recurring payment, PayPal stops future charges from going through. But if a charge already posted to your account — meaning the merchant has already requested the money — cancelling the subscription does not automatically reverse it. The charge will still settle unless you take another step.
If you cancel after a charge has posted but before it settles (usually within a few business days), contact the merchant directly and ask them to cancel the pending transaction on their end. If the charge has already settled, you will need to request a refund from the merchant or file a dispute with PayPal if the merchant refuses.
For this reason, the best time to cancel is right after you notice the charge, before it has time to settle.
When the merchant controls the cancellation instead
Some merchants do not let you cancel through PayPal. Instead, they require you to log into their own website or app and cancel the subscription there. PayPal will show you the recurring payment in your account, but the Cancel button may not work, or it may tell you that the merchant controls the subscription.
Check your original confirmation email from the merchant — it usually says whether you need to cancel through PayPal or through their website. If you try to cancel on PayPal and it does not work, go to the merchant's website, log in, find your account settings or subscription page, and cancel from there. Once you cancel with the merchant, the charge should disappear from your PayPal recurring payments list within a day or two.
Cancelling a payment you did not authorize
If you see a recurring charge on your PayPal account that you do not recognize or did not authorize, cancel it when ready through the Subscriptions or Automatic Payments section. Then contact PayPal to report the unauthorized charge. You can do this through the Resolution Center in your account or by calling PayPal's customer service.
PayPal offers protection against unauthorized transactions, but you need to report it within 60 days of the charge. Keep a record of when you cancelled the subscription and when you reported it, in case PayPal asks for proof.
Timing and when the cancellation takes effect
Cancelling a recurring payment on PayPal takes effect when ready in your account — you will no longer see it listed under your subscriptions. However, if a charge is already in process (posted but not yet settled), that charge will still go through. PayPal cannot stop a transaction that has already been requested by the merchant.
Most recurring charges post on the same day each month or billing cycle. If you cancel a few days before that date, you should be safe. If you cancel after the charge has posted, expect to see it settle within three to five business days, even though you cancelled the subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will cancelling a recurring payment refund the charges I already paid?
No. Cancelling stops future charges only. If you want money back for past charges, you will need to request a refund from the merchant or file a dispute with PayPal if the merchant refuses. Refunds are handled separately from cancellation.
What if I cancel but the merchant keeps charging me?
First, check that the cancellation actually went through by looking at your Subscriptions list again — it should be gone. If it is still there, try cancelling again or contact the merchant directly. If the merchant continues to charge you after you have cancelled, report the unauthorized transaction to PayPal through the Resolution Center within 60 days.
Can I pause a subscription instead of cancelling it?
PayPal does not have a built-in pause feature for most subscriptions. You either cancel or keep it active. Some merchants offer their own pause option through their website, so check their account settings before you cancel if you think you might want to restart it later.
Do I need to contact PayPal to cancel, or can I do it myself?
You can cancel yourself through your PayPal account in about two minutes. You only need to contact PayPal if the cancellation does not work, if you want to dispute a charge, or if you need to report an unauthorized transaction.
What if the merchant's website says I need to cancel through PayPal, but PayPal says the merchant controls it?
This sometimes happens when there is confusion about who set up the subscription. Try cancelling through both places — PayPal first, then the merchant's website. If one does not work, the other usually will. If neither works, contact PayPal support with the merchant's name and the charge amount, and they can investigate.