How to cancel a PayPal recurring payment
How to cancel a recurring payment or automatic payment on PayPal on the website or in the app, and why you may still need to tell the merchant as well.
Checked October 22, 2026
Cancel a PayPal recurring payment on the PayPal website
- Go to Settings, then Payments.
- Select Automatic payments.
- Choose the merchant.
- Cancel the payments, or manage the payment method, from there.
Cancel a PayPal recurring payment in the PayPal app
- Open the menu and choose Subscriptions or Linked Businesses.
- Select the merchant you want to change.
- Open the Account section.
- Unlink PayPal as the payment method, then confirm.
Before you cancel a PayPal recurring payment
- PayPal can cancel only payments and subscriptions that were set up through PayPal.
- PayPal says removing it as the payment method stops future charges to your PayPal account, but it typically does not cancel the underlying contract. It recommends contacting the merchant to close the account so you avoid outstanding balances or service interruptions.
- Timing varies. PayPal says most cancellations take effect immediately, but some services end at the close of the current billing cycle, so check the merchant's policy.
- A canceled subscription generally means signing up again to restart it. PayPal notes that pausing stops payments and access while keeping the account active, where the merchant offers it.
- Companies may offer a lower rate to people who try to cancel.
- The PayPal page used here does not cover refunds, so check the merchant and PayPal's Resolution Center for a charge already taken.
After you cancel
Keep the confirmation email or screenshot. Then watch your bank or card for the next billing date: if a PayPal recurring payment charges you again after you cancelled, ask a PayPal recurring payment for a refund first, and if that fails, dispute the charge with your card. The guide to disputing a charge has the steps and the deadlines.
Questions people ask
How do I cancel a recurring payment on PayPal?
On the website go to Settings, Payments, Automatic payments, choose the merchant and cancel. In the app, open Subscriptions or Linked Businesses, select the merchant and unlink PayPal.
Does canceling on PayPal cancel the subscription itself?
Not necessarily. PayPal says it stops future charges to your PayPal account but typically doesn't cancel the contract. Contact the merchant to close the account.
How do I cancel automatic payments on PayPal?
Same place: Settings, Payments, Automatic payments, then choose the merchant.
Why can't I see the payment in my PayPal account?
PayPal can cancel only payments and subscriptions set up through PayPal. If it was set up another way, ask the merchant to end it.
Can I restart a canceled PayPal subscription?
PayPal's article says a canceled subscription generally requires signing up again.
Sources
1 source · read October 22, 2026
Every number on this page comes from paypal.com. If a source has changed since, the source is right.
Wonderful gives general information. It isn't a financial or tax advisor.