How to Cancel Amazon Music: Step-by-Step Guide
We’ve all been there—you signed up for Amazon Music with the best of intentions, but now you’re paying for a service you barely use. Maybe your music tastes have shifted, or perhaps you’ve found a streaming platform that better suits your needs. Whatever the reason, canceling your subscription shouldn’t feel like navigating a digital maze. The good news? It’s actually simpler than you might think, and we’re here to walk you through every step.
Whether you’re an Amazon Prime member trying to downgrade from Amazon Music Unlimited, or you simply want to end your standalone subscription, this guide covers all the scenarios you might encounter. We’ll break down the process for different devices and account types, troubleshoot common issues, and answer the questions that typically come up when people decide to cancel their music streaming service.
Think of this as your exit strategy—straightforward, hassle-free, and designed to get you out without unnecessary complications. Let’s get started.
Understanding Your Amazon Music Subscription
Before you hit that cancel button, it’s worth understanding what type of subscription you actually have. Amazon offers several different music options, and the cancellation process can vary slightly depending on which one you’re using.
Amazon Music Unlimited is the premium tier—it’s a standalone subscription that costs around $10.99 per month (or $109 annually if you pay upfront). This gives you access to over 100 million songs, ad-free listening, and the ability to download tracks for offline play. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you get a discounted rate of $8.99 monthly.
Amazon Music Prime is included with your Amazon Prime membership. It offers a smaller catalog—about 2 million songs—but it’s included with your $139 annual Prime subscription (or $14.99 monthly). You can’t cancel this separately from Prime itself.
Amazon Music Free is the ad-supported option. It’s free to use, so there’s nothing to cancel here—you just stop using it.
Understanding which subscription tier you’re paying for is crucial because it determines exactly how you’ll cancel. If you’re unsure, head to your Amazon account settings and check your subscriptions. This takes about 30 seconds and saves you from potential confusion later.
How to Cancel on Desktop or Web Browser
The web browser method is often the most straightforward way to cancel your Amazon Music subscription. Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Log into your Amazon account by visiting amazon.com and signing in with your credentials.
- Navigate to your account settings by clicking on the “Account & Lists” dropdown in the top right corner and selecting “Account.”
- Find the “Memberships and Subscriptions” section—this is usually located in the left sidebar menu. Click on it to expand your options.
- Locate Amazon Music Unlimited in the list of active subscriptions. You should see it displayed with your current billing date and renewal information.
- Click the “Manage” or “Edit” button next to your Amazon Music subscription. This will take you to your subscription details page.
- Select “Cancel Subscription” or “End Membership.” Amazon will typically ask you to confirm your decision and may offer you a discount to stay subscribed—feel free to ignore this if you’re certain about canceling.
- Confirm the cancellation by following the prompts. You should receive a confirmation email within a few minutes.
The entire process usually takes less than three minutes. Once you’ve completed these steps, your subscription will end on your next billing date, and you’ll retain access to Amazon Music until that date arrives.
Canceling Through the Mobile App
If you prefer to cancel through your phone or tablet, the process is equally straightforward, though the steps vary slightly depending on whether you’re using iOS or Android.
For iOS Users:
- Open the Amazon Music app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner.
- Select “Settings” from the menu.
- Scroll down and tap “Manage Your Amazon Music Unlimited Membership.”
- Choose “Cancel Membership” or “End Subscription.”
- Confirm your cancellation when prompted.
For Android Users:
- Open the Amazon Music app on your Android device.
- Tap the menu icon (three dots) in the top right corner.
- Navigate to “Settings.”
- Scroll to find “Membership and Subscriptions” or “Manage Your Subscription.”
- Select Amazon Music Unlimited from the list.
- Tap “Cancel” and confirm your decision.
One important note: if you subscribed to Amazon Music through the app store (Apple App Store or Google Play Store) rather than directly through Amazon, you may need to cancel through the app store instead. The app will usually indicate this with a message stating something like “This subscription is managed through the App Store.” If that’s the case, follow your device’s app store cancellation process rather than the in-app method.
Canceling Amazon Music as a Prime Member
If you’re an Amazon Prime member paying the discounted rate for Amazon Music Unlimited, the cancellation process is identical to the steps outlined above. You won’t lose your Prime membership—you’ll simply downgrade from Amazon Music Unlimited to Amazon Music Prime, which is included with your membership.
This is actually one of the smartest moves if you want to keep some music streaming capability without the full subscription cost. You’ll lose access to the larger music catalog and offline downloads, but you’ll still have your 2 million song library available through Amazon Music Prime at no additional cost.
Interestingly, if you’re looking to cancel other Amazon subscription services as well, the process is quite similar. For instance, if you’re tired of paying for meal delivery, you can learn how to cancel DashPass using a comparable method through your Amazon account. Similarly, if you subscribe to audiobooks, you might want to check out the guide on how to cancel your Audible membership, which follows a nearly identical process.
If you’re an avid Amazon user managing multiple subscriptions, you might also find it helpful to understand how to archive Amazon orders to keep your account organized and clean. It’s all part of maintaining a streamlined digital life.
What Happens After Cancellation
Once you’ve successfully canceled your Amazon Music subscription, here’s what you can expect:
Immediate Effects: You’ll retain full access to all Amazon Music features until your current billing cycle ends. If you canceled mid-month, you’ll still be able to listen to your full music library, create playlists, and download songs for offline listening until your subscription officially expires.
Billing: You won’t be charged again after your current subscription period ends. If you had auto-renewal enabled (which is the default), it will be turned off, and no future charges will appear on your payment method.
Your Music and Playlists: Any playlists you created will be saved to your account. If you decide to resubscribe later, all your custom playlists will still be there waiting for you. However, any songs you downloaded for offline listening will become inaccessible once your subscription expires.
Recommendations and History: Amazon keeps your listening history and recommendations intact for up to 18 months after cancellation. This means if you resubscribe, the service will quickly remember your preferences and start making personalized recommendations again.
Downgrade Option: If you’re a Prime member, you’ll automatically be downgraded to Amazon Music Prime after your Unlimited subscription ends. You’ll get an email notification about this transition, and you’ll still have access to the included music catalog.
Troubleshooting Cancellation Issues
Most cancellations go smoothly, but occasionally you might run into a snag. Here are the most common issues and how to resolve them:
“I Can’t Find My Subscription in My Account Settings” — This usually means you subscribed through a third-party service or app store. Check your email for your original confirmation to see where you signed up. If it mentions the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you’ll need to cancel through that platform instead of Amazon’s website.
“I Keep Getting Charged After Cancellation” — If you’re still seeing charges after your cancellation date, contact Amazon Customer Service immediately. Keep your cancellation confirmation email handy. This is rare, but when it happens, Amazon’s support team can usually resolve it with a refund within a few business days.
“The Cancel Button Won’t Work” — Try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies, then attempt the cancellation again. If you’re using the mobile app, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. If the problem persists, use the web browser method instead, as it tends to be more reliable.
“I’m Not Receiving a Confirmation Email” — Check your spam or promotions folder. If it’s not there after 10 minutes, log back into your Amazon account and verify that the subscription shows as “Canceled” or “Ended.” If it still shows as active, attempt the cancellation process again.
“I Changed My Mind and Want to Resubscribe” — The good news is that resubscribing is just as easy. Simply follow the same steps to manage your subscription, but this time select “Renew” instead of “Cancel.” You’ll be back up and running within minutes, and your playlists will still be there.
Alternatives Before You Cancel
Before you completely abandon Amazon Music, consider whether one of these alternatives might better suit your needs:
Downgrade Instead of Cancel: As mentioned, if you’re a Prime member, downgrading to Amazon Music Prime is a smart middle ground. You lose the massive catalog, but you keep a solid 2 million songs for free with your Prime membership.
Pause Your Subscription: Amazon doesn’t officially offer a pause feature, but you can request one from customer service. They sometimes grant temporary pauses for a month or two if you explain your situation.
Try a Family Plan: If cost is the issue, Amazon Music Family plans let multiple people share one subscription at a lower per-person rate. This might be worth exploring if you have household members who also enjoy music streaming.
Use the Free Tier: If you want to keep Amazon Music without paying, switch to Amazon Music Free. Yes, you’ll have ads, but it’s a zero-cost option that keeps your playlists and history intact.
If you’re canceling because you’re overwhelmed by subscriptions in general, you might also want to check out how to cancel a DoorDash order or manage other recurring charges. Many people find they’re paying for services they’ve forgotten about, and taking inventory of all your subscriptions can be eye-opening.
Additionally, if you’re managing multiple devices and want to keep your digital life organized, learning how to find hidden apps on iPhone can help you identify subscriptions you might have forgotten you installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my playlists if I cancel Amazon Music?
No, your playlists are saved to your account indefinitely. Even if you cancel and don’t resubscribe for years, your playlists will still be there if you decide to come back. However, any songs you downloaded for offline listening will become inaccessible once your subscription expires.
Can I cancel Amazon Music without canceling Amazon Prime?
Yes, absolutely. If you’re paying the discounted $8.99 monthly rate as a Prime member, you can cancel Amazon Music Unlimited without affecting your Prime membership in any way. You’ll simply downgrade to the included Amazon Music Prime tier.
How long does it take for the cancellation to take effect?
Your cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle. If you cancel mid-month, you’ll still have access until your next billing date. You’ll receive an email confirmation with the exact date your access will end.
What if I subscribed through my phone’s app store instead of Amazon directly?
You’ll need to cancel through your app store. For iOS, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions > Amazon Music, then select Cancel. For Android, open Google Play Store > Account > Subscriptions > Amazon Music, then select Cancel.
Can I get a refund if I just paid for a month?
Amazon’s refund policy is typically limited to accidental charges or billing errors. If you canceled immediately after paying, contact Amazon Customer Service to explain your situation. They may grant a one-time courtesy refund, but this isn’t guaranteed. It never hurts to ask politely.
Is there any way to get a discount to stay subscribed?
When you attempt to cancel, Amazon often displays a retention offer—usually a discounted rate for your next few months. You can take advantage of this if you’re on the fence, or ignore it if you’re certain about leaving.
Will Amazon delete my account if I cancel the subscription?
No, canceling your Amazon Music subscription has no impact on your Amazon account itself. Your account, order history, and all other Amazon services remain active and unaffected.
Can I cancel for a specific reason and have Amazon respond to my feedback?
When you cancel, Amazon asks why you’re leaving. Your feedback is valuable to them. If you have specific suggestions or complaints, sharing them might actually influence how they improve the service. Plus, it gives them a chance to make a retention offer tailored to your concerns.