Where to find and turn off automatic payments

Open PayPal on a web browser or the mobile app and go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right on web, or the menu icon on mobile). From there, select Payments, then Manage automatic payments. You will see a list of every subscription and recurring charge linked to your account — merchants you have authorized to charge you on a schedule.

Find the payment you want to stop. Click or tap on it to open the details. You will see the merchant name, the amount charged, and how often the charge occurs. At the bottom of that screen is a Cancel button. Tap it, confirm the cancellation, and the automatic payment stops when ready. PayPal will not process another charge on that schedule.

The cancellation takes effect right away, but the merchant may still send you a confirmation email or show the cancellation in their own system within a day or two. If you are cancelling because you no longer use the service, you may also want to contact the merchant directly to confirm they have received the cancellation on their end.

Key Takeaways

  • Automatic payments are found in PayPal Settings under Payments, then Manage automatic payments — not in your transaction history.
  • Cancelling an automatic payment stops future charges when ready, but does not refund charges that have already been processed.
  • The merchant receives notification of the cancellation, though it may take a day or two to appear in their system.
  • If you cancel a subscription but the merchant continues to charge you, contact PayPal's Resolution Center to dispute the charge.

What happens after you cancel

Once you cancel, PayPal will not process any more charges from that merchant on that schedule. If the merchant tries to charge you after cancellation, the charge will be declined. You will see the failed transaction in your PayPal activity, and the merchant will receive a notification that the payment method is no longer authorized.

Some merchants automatically retry a failed charge a few days later. If that happens and you do not want the charge, you can dispute it through PayPal's Resolution Center. Go to Settings, then Resolution Center, and report the charge as unauthorized. PayPal will investigate and may refund you if the merchant charged you after you cancelled.

Cancelling through the merchant's website instead

Many merchants — streaming services, gyms, subscription boxes — also let you cancel directly through their own website or app. This is often faster than going through PayPal, because you can cancel when ready without waiting for PayPal and the merchant to sync. Log into the merchant's account, find the subscription or billing settings, and look for a Cancel subscription or Manage billing option.

Cancelling through the merchant's site does not automatically remove the authorization from PayPal. If you want to fully revoke the merchant's access to charge you, you should also remove the automatic payment from PayPal's Manage automatic payments page. This prevents the merchant from re-authorizing the charge if they change their billing system or if you accidentally reactivate your subscription.

The difference between cancelling and removing authorization

Cancelling an automatic payment stops the recurring charge, but the merchant still has permission to charge your PayPal account if they choose to. Removing authorization is more complete — it tells PayPal that the merchant can no longer charge you at all, even if they try.

To remove authorization entirely, go to Settings, then Apps and websites, find the merchant in the list, and click Remove. This revokes all permission for that merchant to access your PayPal account. The merchant will no longer be able to charge you, even if they attempt to restart a subscription. Use this option if you no longer do business with a merchant and do not want them to have any access to your account.

If a charge goes through after you cancel

Contact PayPal's Resolution Center within 180 days of the charge. Go to Settings, then Resolution Center, and report the transaction as unauthorized or as a billing error. Describe what happened: that you cancelled the automatic payment on a specific date, and the merchant charged you anyway. PayPal will contact the merchant and ask them to explain the charge.

If the merchant cannot provide proof that you authorized the charge after cancellation, PayPal will refund you. The process usually takes 10 business days. Keep a record of the cancellation date — you can find it in your PayPal activity or in an email confirmation if PayPal sent one.

Automatic payments that renew without your action

Some subscriptions renew automatically on a set date each month or year. Before the renewal date, the merchant should send you a reminder email. If you do not want to renew, cancel the automatic payment before that date arrives. If you cancel after the renewal has already processed, you will need to dispute the charge to get a refund.

A few merchants offer a grace period after renewal — usually 24 to 48 hours — during which you can cancel and receive a refund. Check the merchant's refund policy or contact their support team to see if this applies. If the grace period has passed and you want your money back, use PayPal's Resolution Center to dispute the charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will cancelling an automatic payment affect my account or credit?

No. Cancelling an automatic payment does not affect your PayPal account, your credit score, or your relationship with the merchant. It straightforward stops future charges. If you owe the merchant money for services already provided, that is a separate matter between you and them.

Can I pause an automatic payment instead of cancelling it?

PayPal does not have a built-in pause feature. You can cancel the automatic payment and restart it later by going back to the merchant's website and re-authorizing the charge. Some merchants offer their own pause option in their billing settings — check their app or website first.

What if I do not see the automatic payment in my list?

The payment may be listed under a different merchant name than you expect. Search your PayPal activity for recent charges from that merchant to find the exact name. If you still cannot find it, the merchant may be charging a different payment method, not PayPal.

How long does it take for a cancelled payment to stop showing up?

The cancellation is when ready on PayPal's end. The merchant may take a day or two to update their records. You should not see another charge after cancellation, but if you do, report it to PayPal's Resolution Center within 180 days.