You can transfer a YouTube membership, but the process depends on which account owns it

YouTube memberships are tied to the account that paid for them. If you want the membership on a different account, you have two main routes: transfer the payment method to a new account and start a fresh membership there, or cancel the existing membership and buy a new one under the account you want to use. Neither option moves the membership itself — you end the old one and create a new one. The faster choice depends on whether you want to keep your current payment method active.

The account that holds the membership is the one that receives member-only perks like custom badges, exclusive videos, and early access to uploads. If you switch to a different account, that new account becomes the member instead. Your old account loses those perks immediately when the membership ends.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube memberships cannot be transferred directly — you must cancel the old membership and start a new one on the account you want to use.
  • The account that pays for the membership is the account that receives all member benefits, including badges and exclusive content.
  • You can use the same payment method on multiple accounts, so you can keep your card on file and start a new membership right away.
  • If you cancel a membership, you keep access to member perks until the end of your current billing cycle, even though the membership is no longer active.
  • YouTube does not refund partial months, so cancelling mid-cycle means you lose the unused portion of that payment.

How to cancel your current membership

Open YouTube on the account that currently has the membership. Click your profile icon in the top right corner, then select Purchases and subscriptions. Find the channel membership you want to cancel and click the three-dot menu next to it. Select Cancel membership. YouTube will ask you to confirm — once you do, the membership ends at the end of your current billing cycle.

You will keep access to all member perks (badges, exclusive videos, member-only chat) until that billing cycle ends. After that date, the membership is gone and the account no longer has member status. YouTube does not issue refunds for the unused portion of a cancelled membership, so if you cancel on day one of a monthly cycle, you lose the rest of that month's payment.

How to start a membership on a different account

Sign into the account where you want the new membership. Go to the channel you want to join as a member. Click the Join button (it usually appears below the channel name or in the video description). Select your membership tier and payment method. If you use the same card you used on your other account, YouTube will recognize it — you do not need to re-enter all the details.

Complete the purchase. The new account is now a member of that channel. You can have memberships on multiple accounts at the same time using the same payment method, so there is no technical barrier to being a member on both accounts if you want to keep both active. The cost is simply the membership price multiplied by the number of accounts.

What happens to your member status during the switch

When you cancel a membership, your member status does not disappear immediately. You keep all member perks through the end of your current billing period. If you are on a monthly membership and cancel on the 15th, you stay a member until the end of that month. This gives you time to set up the membership on your new account without losing access in between.

Once your old membership's billing cycle ends, that account loses member status. At the same time, if you have already started a membership on your new account, that account gains member status. There may be a brief gap of a few hours while YouTube's systems update, but you should not lose access to member content for more than a few minutes.

Using the same payment method on both accounts

You can add the same credit card or payment method to multiple YouTube accounts. This means you can start a new membership on your second account without removing the card from your first account. YouTube does not prevent you from being a member on multiple accounts at once — it only charges you for each active membership.

If you want to avoid paying for two memberships, cancel the old one first and wait for the billing cycle to end before starting the new one. If you do not mind paying for both temporarily, you can start the new membership right away and cancel the old one whenever you are ready. The choice depends on your budget and how much you value keeping member perks active without a gap.

Switching between accounts you own

If you own both accounts and want to move the membership between them, the simplest approach is to cancel on the old account and start on the new one in the same billing cycle. You will lose the unused portion of that month's payment, but you avoid paying for two memberships at once. If you want to minimize waste, wait until the end of your current billing cycle to cancel, then start the new membership on your other account the next day.

Keep in mind that YouTube tracks membership history per account. The new account will not have the same member history as the old one — it starts fresh as a new member. If the channel offers perks that depend on how long you have been a member (like special badges for long-term supporters), your new account will not have those yet.

If someone else owns the account with the membership

If the membership is on an account you do not own or control, you cannot transfer it to your own account. The person who owns that account would need to cancel the membership themselves, and then you would need to start a new membership on your own account. YouTube does not allow membership transfers between accounts, even with permission from both account holders.

If you are sharing an account with someone else and want your own membership, the account owner can cancel the shared membership and you can start a new one on your personal account. This means you will each pay for your own membership separately, but you will each have your own member status and perks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my member badge and perks when I switch accounts?

Yes. Your member badge, custom emotes, and exclusive content access are all tied to the account that holds the membership. When you move to a new account, that new account starts as a fresh member with no history. The old account loses all member status once the billing cycle ends.

Can I get a refund if I cancel mid-month?

No. YouTube does not refund unused portions of a membership. If you cancel on day five of a 30-day cycle, you lose the remaining 25 days of payment. To avoid this, cancel at the end of your billing cycle instead of in the middle.

What if I want to be a member on two accounts at the same time?

You can do this. Add the same payment method to both accounts and start a membership on each one. YouTube will charge you for both memberships separately each month. There is no limit to how many accounts you can have memberships on, as long as you pay for each one.

How long does it take for the new membership to show up on my other account?

The membership usually activates within a few minutes of purchase. You should see the member badge and access to exclusive content right away. If it takes longer than an hour, try refreshing the page or signing out and back in.

Can I transfer my membership if the channel owner approves it?

No. YouTube does not offer membership transfers under any circumstances. The only way to move a membership to a different account is to cancel it on the old account and start a new one on the new account. The channel owner cannot override this policy.