---
title: "How to cancel a subscription through PayPal (automatic payments)"
description: "To cancel a subscription through PayPal: Settings, Payments, Subscriptions and saved businesses, pick the merchant, cancel. App and web steps."
url: "https://impause.com/blog/cancel-paypal-automatic-payment"
author: "Cam Eddy"
published: "2026-10-21"
tags: "Practical Tools"
---

# How to cancel a subscription through PayPal (automatic payments)

To cancel a subscription through PayPal on the website, go to Settings, click Payments, open Subscriptions and saved businesses (or Automatic Payments), select the merchant and cancel. In the app, open the menu, tap Subscriptions or Linked Businesses, pick the merchant and unlink it. This stops PayPal from paying; cancel with the merchant too so the account itself closes.


## Cancel on the PayPal website

- Go to [PayPal Settings](https://www.paypal.com/myaccount/settings/payments).
- Click **Payments**.
- Select [**Subscriptions and saved businesses**](https://www.paypal.com/myaccount/autopay/) or **Automatic Payments**.
- Select the merchant and cancel the automatic payment.

## Cancel in the PayPal app

- Tap **Menu**.
- Tap **Subscriptions** or **Linked Businesses**.
- Tap the merchant, then **Account**.
- Tap **Unlink**, then **Unlink** again to confirm.

## Why these are easy to forget


On your bank or card statement, these charges say PayPal, not the merchant. That's why a game, VPN or app you tried once can keep billing for a year without standing out.


> 💡 Cancelling in PayPal removes PayPal as the way you pay. It doesn't always close your account with the merchant, which may try another payment method or send a past-due notice. Cancel on the merchant's site as well; their contact details are on the automatic payment page in PayPal.


## See through the "PayPal" line on your statement


impause connects to your bank and cards, finds every recurring charge, including the ones hiding behind PayPal, flags the ones you haven't used, and cancels them when you tap approve. See [the app that cancels subscriptions for you](https://impause.com/blog/app-that-cancels-subscriptions-for-you), or read our full guide on [how to cancel subscriptions](https://impause.com/blog/how-to-cancel-subscriptions).


## Frequently asked questions


### Where do I find my PayPal subscriptions?


Settings, Payments, then Subscriptions and saved businesses or Automatic Payments on the website; Menu, then Subscriptions or Linked Businesses in the app.


### Will cancelling in PayPal refund my last payment?


No. It stops future payments. For a refund, contact the merchant first; if that fails, you can open a dispute in PayPal's Resolution Center.


### Does closing my bank account stop PayPal automatic payments?


Not reliably. PayPal may switch to a backup payment method. Cancel the automatic payment itself.


## Sources

- [PayPal Help: What is an automatic payment and how do I update or cancel one?](https://www.paypal.com/us/cshelp/article/what-is-an-automatic-payment-and-how-do-i-update-or-cancel-one-help240)
- [PayPal: How to cancel recurring payments in 4 ways](https://www.paypal.com/us/money-hub/article/how-to-cancel-recurring-subscriptions)

Steps checked October 21, 2026.