Cancel an automatic payment in three steps

To stop a recurring payment on PayPal, log into your account, find the subscription or automatic payment in your settings, and click the button to cancel it. The payment stops when ready — you won't be charged again. If you set up the payment through a merchant's website rather than PayPal itself, you may need to cancel through their site instead, though PayPal's cancellation usually works either way.

The exact steps depend on whether you're using PayPal on a computer or phone, and whether you set up the payment years ago or recently. Both routes take less than five minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into PayPal, go to Settings, then Payments, then find the subscription you want to stop and click Cancel.
  • Cancellation takes effect right away — you won't be charged on the next billing date.
  • If you set up the payment through a store or service's own website, you may need to cancel there instead, though PayPal's method usually works.
  • Keep a record of the cancellation confirmation in case the merchant charges you again by mistake.

Cancel on a computer

Open PayPal in your web browser and log in with your email and password. Click the gear icon in the top right corner to open Settings.

From the Settings menu, click Payments on the left side. You'll see a section called "Manage automatic payments" or "Subscriptions" — the exact name varies depending on when your account was created. Click on it.

Find the payment you want to stop in the list. Click on it to open the details. You'll see a button that says Cancel or Cancel subscription. Click that button. PayPal will ask you to confirm — click the confirmation button, and the payment is cancelled. You'll see a message saying the subscription is now inactive.

Cancel on a phone or tablet

Open the PayPal app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Tap Settings.

Scroll down and tap Payments. Look for "Manage automatic payments" or "Subscriptions." Tap it to see your list.

Find the payment you want to stop and tap it. Tap the Cancel button at the bottom of the screen. Confirm the cancellation when PayPal asks. The payment stops right away.

What happens after you cancel

Once you cancel, PayPal will not charge you again on the next billing date or any date after. You'll receive a confirmation email from PayPal saying the subscription is cancelled. Save this email — if the merchant tries to charge you again, you have proof you cancelled on your end.

If you cancelled a subscription to a service (like a streaming app or gym membership), that service may also send you a separate cancellation email. Some services stop your access right away; others let you use what you've already paid for until the current billing period ends. Check the service's cancellation policy if you're unsure.

If you can't find the payment to cancel

Sometimes a payment doesn't show up in your PayPal subscriptions list even though you set it up through PayPal. This usually means you created the payment through the merchant's website, not through PayPal directly. In that case, you'll need to cancel through the merchant's site instead.

Log into the merchant's website or app, find your account settings or billing section, and look for a subscriptions or recurring payments area. Cancel from there. You can also contact the merchant's customer service and ask them to cancel the recurring payment on their end.

If you're still not sure where the payment came from, check your PayPal transaction history. Find a charge from that merchant, click on it, and it will usually tell you whether it was set up through PayPal or through the merchant's own system.

If the merchant keeps charging you after cancellation

If you cancelled the payment but the merchant charged you again, contact PayPal right away. Log into your account, find the unwanted charge in your transaction history, click on it, and select Report a problem. Describe what happened — that you cancelled the subscription but were charged anyway — and PayPal will investigate.

You can also contact PayPal's Resolution Center directly through your account. PayPal can often reverse the charge or force the merchant to stop billing you. Keep your cancellation confirmation email handy when you report the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I get a refund if I cancel mid-billing cycle?

No — PayPal does not refund the current billing period. If you paid for a month and cancel on day 15, you've paid for the full month. However, you won't be charged again when that month ends. Some merchants offer their own refund or credit policies, so check with them directly.

Can I pause a payment instead of cancelling it?

PayPal does not have a built-in pause feature. You can only cancel or let it continue. If you want to restart the payment later, you'll need to set it up again from scratch through PayPal or the merchant's website.

Do I need to contact the merchant before cancelling on PayPal?

No. Cancelling on PayPal is enough — the payment stops. However, if you're cancelling a service subscription (like a gym or app), the merchant may want to know why you're leaving. Some offer discounts or pause options if you contact them first. It's your choice.

What if I cancelled the wrong payment by mistake?

You'll need to set up the payment again. Log back into PayPal or the merchant's website and create a new recurring payment using the same method. There's no "undo" button, but creating a new one takes just a few minutes.