Stop a recurring payment by going to your PayPal settings
To cancel a recurring payment on PayPal, log into your account, go to Settings, then select Payments and Manage automatic payments. Find the subscription or recurring charge you want to stop, click it, and select Cancel. The payment stops immediately — no further charges will go through after you confirm the cancellation.
The exact wording and button placement varies slightly depending on whether you're using PayPal on a computer or mobile app, but the path is the same. If you're on mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, then navigate to Settings > Payments > Manage automatic payments.
Cancelling through PayPal stops the authorization on PayPal's end. The merchant cannot charge you again through that agreement. However, you should also contact the merchant directly to confirm they have received notice of the cancellation, especially if you're cancelling a service subscription — some merchants have their own records separate from PayPal's system.
Key Takeaways
- Log into PayPal, go to Settings > Payments > Manage automatic payments, find the recurring charge, and click Cancel to stop it immediately.
- Cancelling through PayPal prevents future charges, but you should contact the merchant separately to confirm they know the subscription is ended.
- If you cancel a subscription but are still charged, you can dispute the transaction through PayPal's Resolution Center within 180 days.
- Some merchants allow you to cancel directly through their website or app, which may be faster than going through PayPal.
- If you cannot find the recurring payment in your PayPal settings, check your email for the original subscription confirmation to identify the merchant.
Finding the recurring payment if you don't remember the merchant
If you have a recurring charge but don't remember which company is billing you, check your email for the original subscription confirmation. Search your inbox for "PayPal" and "subscription" or "recurring" to find the merchant's name and the date the subscription started.
You can also look at your PayPal transaction history. Log in, go to Activity, and scroll through recent transactions to find charges from the merchant. The transaction details will show the merchant name and the amount charged each time.
Once you've identified the merchant, go back to Settings > Payments > Manage automatic payments. The list there shows all active recurring payments with the merchant name and the amount charged. If you still don't see it listed, the subscription may have already ended, or it may be set up through a different payment method (not PayPal).
What happens to refunds if you've already been charged
Cancelling a recurring payment stops future charges, but it does not automatically refund money you've already paid. If you were charged for a period you don't want to pay for, you'll need to request a refund separately.
Contact the merchant first and ask for a refund. Many companies will issue one if you cancel within a certain window — often a few days to a week after the charge. If the merchant refuses or doesn't respond, you can dispute the charge through PayPal's Resolution Center.
To dispute a charge in PayPal, go to Activity, find the transaction, click it, and select Report a problem. Choose Unauthorized transaction or I don't recognize this charge, depending on the situation. PayPal will investigate and may reverse the charge if the merchant cannot prove you authorized it. You have up to 180 days from the charge date to open a dispute.
Cancelling through the merchant's website instead
Many subscription services let you cancel directly through their own website or app without going through PayPal. This is often faster and gives you immediate confirmation from the company itself.
Log into the merchant's account, look for a section called Subscription, Billing, Account Settings, or Manage Membership, and find the option to cancel or downgrade. Some merchants will ask you to confirm your reason for cancelling or offer a discount to keep you as a customer.
If you cancel through the merchant's site, PayPal's automatic payment authorization will eventually expire on its own, but it's still a good idea to cancel it through PayPal's settings as well to remove the authorization completely. This prevents any accidental charges if the merchant's system glitches or if your account information is compromised.
When a recurring payment won't cancel
If you've clicked Cancel in PayPal but the merchant continues to charge you, the issue is usually a delay in the system or the merchant not receiving the cancellation notice. Wait three to five business days after cancelling to see if the next scheduled charge is skipped.
If you're charged again after cancelling, contact PayPal's customer service immediately. Go to Help in your PayPal account, select Contact Us, and choose Billing and subscription issues. Explain that you cancelled the recurring payment but were still charged. PayPal can investigate whether the merchant ignored the cancellation and may reverse the charge.
You can also contact the merchant's customer service with proof that you cancelled through PayPal. Include a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation from PayPal's settings. Most merchants will refund an unauthorized charge once they see evidence that the subscription was ended.
Recurring payments set up outside PayPal
If a merchant has your bank account number or debit card number and charges you directly (not through PayPal), cancelling in PayPal won't stop those charges. You'll need to contact the merchant or your bank to stop them.
If the merchant is charging your bank account directly, call your bank and ask them to revoke the authorization. Your bank can place a stop on the recurring charge, though you may need to provide the merchant's name and the amount charged. If the merchant continues to charge after you've revoked authorization, your bank can dispute the charges as unauthorized.
If the merchant is charging a debit or credit card you've linked to PayPal, you can cancel the recurring payment through PayPal as described above. However, if the merchant has your card number on file separately from PayPal, they may still be able to charge you. Contact the merchant to ensure they've removed your card from their system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will cancelling a recurring payment hurt my credit?
No. Cancelling a recurring payment or subscription has no effect on your credit score. Your credit is only affected by late or missed payments, not by ending a service you were paying on time.
Can I pause a subscription instead of cancelling it?
Some merchants offer a pause or suspension option that temporarily stops charges without cancelling the subscription. Check the merchant's website or app for this option. If they don't offer it, you'll need to cancel and re-subscribe later if you want to use the service again.
What if I cancelled but the merchant says I still owe money?
Cancelling a recurring payment stops future charges but does not erase any balance you already owe. If the merchant claims you owe money for a period you already paid for, ask them to provide proof of the charge. If you were charged twice for the same period, dispute it through PayPal or your bank.
How long does it take for a cancelled recurring payment to stop showing up?
The authorization is removed immediately when you click Cancel, but it may take one to two billing cycles for the charge to disappear from your PayPal activity. If the merchant's next scheduled charge date passes without a charge, the cancellation was successful.
Can I cancel a recurring payment if I don't have access to my PayPal account?
If you've lost access to your PayPal account, contact PayPal customer service and explain the situation. They can help you regain access or cancel the recurring payment on your behalf. You can also contact your bank or credit card company and ask them to revoke the authorization to PayPal.