Spotify recently came under fire for running recruitment ads for ICE, which asked users to “join the mission to protect America” and “fill [their] mission”, in the United States. Although music labels have called on the streaming service to stop showing ICE recruitment ads, Spotify has doubled down. A company spokesperson said The Independent that the ads are “part of a broader campaign” by the US government across various channels and do not violate its policies. The spokesperson advised users to simply mark ads with a thumbs up or down so the app can learn their preferences.
Additionally, several artists have recently removed their music from Spotify due to its CEO Daniel EK’s investments in European defense technology company Helsing. The defense company builds drones, planes and submarines, and also sells AI software that can analyze data from battlefield sensors and weapons. In recent years, Spotify has also faced backlash over its payment rates, which artists view as unfair and lower than other services.
So, if you want to cancel Spotify, whether for any of these reasons or any other, you can follow the instructions below.
How to cancel via the web:
1. Log in to your Spotify account in your browser.
2. Go to Account from the drop-down menu that appears when you click on your profile.
3. Find Cancel Subscription in the Subscription section.
4. Spotify will tell you that you will hear ads every 15 minutes on a free account, as well as when your premium access will end. Click “Continue to Cancel” at the bottom of the screen.
If you’re on mobile, be sure to request the desktop site after logging into your account on your mobile browser. Note that if you are part of a Spotify Family or Duo plan, only the plan manager will be able to completely cancel your subscription. If you follow the same steps above as a member, you will only remove your account from the plan, but the manager will continue to pay for it.
How to cancel through a third-party provider:
If you pay for your subscription through third-party providers, you can follow these instructions instead.
Cancel via Google
1. Launch the Google Play app and tap the icon of the account you are using.
2. Go to Payments & Subscriptions.
3. Tap Subscriptions.
4. Find Spotify among your subscriptions and tap it.
5. Tap Cancel subscription at the bottom of the screen, select a reason for cancellation and confirm it.
Cancel via Apple
1. Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your name and go to Subscriptions.
3. Search for Spotify and follow the cancellation process.
Cancel via carrier
Instructions on this may vary depending on your carrier. However, in general you can follow these steps.
1. Log in to your operator account on its website.
2. Look for the option to manage your subscriptions under your account.
3. Search for Spotify and follow the cancellation process.
What happens after your cancellation
You will still have access to Spotify’s premium features until the start of your next billing cycle. This means you still won’t encounter ads and will have access to offline downloads, as well as unlimited skips and premium audio quality. You’ll be able to access your Spotify library even with a free account, but if you want to find another paid streaming service, you can check out Engadget’s list of the best music streaming services in 2025.
