Stop a PayPal subscription or recurring payment in three steps

To stop an automatic payment on PayPal, you log into your account, find the subscription or recurring payment in your settings, and cancel it. The payment stops when ready — no more charges will go through after you complete the cancellation. You can do this on the PayPal website or in the mobile app, and the process takes about two minutes.

The exact steps depend on whether you set up the payment yourself or whether a merchant set it up for you. Both routes use the same menu, but the language differs slightly. Either way, you are looking for a section called "Subscriptions" or "Automatic Payments" in your account settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Log into your PayPal account, go to Settings, then select Payments or Subscriptions to see all recurring charges.
  • Click the subscription or automatic payment you want to stop, then select Cancel or Turn Off.
  • The cancellation takes effect when ready — no further charges will process after you confirm.
  • If a merchant set up the payment and you cannot find it in your account, contact PayPal Support with the merchant's name and the charge amount.
  • Cancelling an automatic payment does not refund charges that already went through; you must request a refund separately if you were charged in error.

Finding your subscriptions and automatic payments on PayPal

Open PayPal and log in. On the website, click the gear icon in the top right corner to open Settings. On the mobile app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, then tap Settings.

Once you are in Settings, look for a section called Payments or Subscriptions. The exact name varies depending on your account type and region, but it will be near the top of the menu. Click or tap it. You will see a list of all active recurring payments — subscriptions, memberships, and automatic transfers you have set up.

Each entry shows the merchant name, the amount charged, and how often the charge occurs. Scroll through the list to find the payment you want to stop. If you have many subscriptions, you can search by merchant name or amount to locate it faster.

Cancelling the automatic payment

Click or tap the subscription or automatic payment you want to stop. A details page will open showing when the next charge is scheduled, how much it is, and when the subscription started. At the bottom of this page, you will see a button that says Cancel Subscription, Turn Off, or Cancel — the exact wording depends on PayPal's current interface.

Click that button. PayPal will ask you to confirm the cancellation, usually with a message like "Are you sure you want to cancel?" Click or tap the confirmation button. The payment is now cancelled. PayPal will send you a confirmation email within a few minutes.

The cancellation takes effect when ready. If a charge was scheduled for today or tomorrow, it will not process. If you have already been charged for the current billing period, that charge is not reversed — you keep access to the service until the end of that period, but no future charges will occur.

What to do if you cannot find the payment in your account

If you have looked through your Subscriptions or Payments section and cannot find the recurring charge you want to stop, the merchant may have set it up using a different method. Some merchants use PayPal's Reference Transactions feature, which does not always appear in the standard Subscriptions list.

Contact PayPal Support directly. Go to the Help Center on the PayPal website, select Contact Us, and choose the option for billing or subscriptions. Tell them the merchant name, the amount of the charge, and how often it occurs. Provide the date of the most recent charge if you can. PayPal can locate the payment in their system and cancel it for you, even if it does not show up in your account settings.

Keep the confirmation number PayPal gives you. If the merchant tries to charge you again after cancellation, you can use that number to dispute the charge.

Refunding charges that already went through

Cancelling an automatic payment stops future charges, but it does not refund money that has already been deducted from your account. If you were charged before you cancelled the subscription, you need to request a refund separately.

Go to your PayPal transaction history, find the charge you want to refund, and click on it. Look for a button that says Request a Refund or Report a Problem. Click it and explain why you want the refund — for example, "I cancelled the subscription but was still charged" or "I did not authorize this charge."

PayPal will review your request. If the merchant agrees, the refund will be processed back to your PayPal balance or your original payment method within three to five business days. If the merchant disputes the refund, PayPal may ask you for more information before deciding.

Stopping automatic payments set up by someone else

If someone else has access to your PayPal account and set up an automatic payment without your permission, cancel it using the same steps above. Then change your PayPal password when ready and review your account security settings.

Go to Settings, then Security, and click Change Password. Create a new password that is at least 12 characters long and includes numbers and symbols. If you think someone has accessed your account without permission, also enable Two-Factor Authentication in the Security section. This requires a code from your phone every time you log in from a new device.

If you see charges from a merchant you do not recognize and cannot cancel the subscription yourself, contact PayPal Support and report the unauthorized payment. They can investigate and may reverse the charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose access to the service when ready after I cancel?

Not always. Most merchants let you keep access until the end of your current billing period, even after cancellation. Some services cancel access right away. Check the confirmation message PayPal sends you — it will say when your access ends. If you need to know for certain, contact the merchant directly before you cancel.

Can I pause a subscription instead of cancelling it?

PayPal does not have a built-in pause feature for subscriptions. You can only cancel or let it continue. If you want to stop charges temporarily, cancel the subscription and sign up again later. Some merchants offer their own pause option through their website — check their account settings before you cancel through PayPal.

What if the merchant keeps charging me after I cancelled?

Report the unauthorized charge to PayPal when ready. Go to your transaction history, click the charge, and select Report a Problem. Explain that you cancelled the subscription and were charged anyway. PayPal will investigate and can reverse the charge and block the merchant from charging your account again.

Do I need to contact the merchant to cancel, or just PayPal?

Cancelling through PayPal is enough — the payment stops on PayPal's end. You do not have to contact the merchant. However, if you want to preserve your account with that merchant or have questions about refunds, you may want to reach out to them separately. Some merchants offer customer service that PayPal cannot provide.

How long does it take for the cancellation to show up?

The cancellation is when ready. You will see it removed from your Subscriptions list right away, and PayPal will email you a confirmation within a few minutes. If a charge was scheduled for today, it will not process. If you are not sure whether it went through, check your transaction history — it updates within minutes of any charge.