Let’s be honest—sometimes life gets in the way of your audiobook habit. Maybe you’re drowning in work, moving to a new place, or just need a financial breather. The good news? How to pause Audible membership is way simpler than canceling outright, and it takes about five minutes. You don’t lose your library, your credits don’t vanish, and you can pick up right where you left off whenever you’re ready.
This guide walks you through every step, from logging in to confirming your pause, plus answers to the questions that actually matter (like whether your credits stick around and what happens to your wishlist).
Why Pause Instead of Cancel?
Before we jump into the mechanics, let’s talk strategy. Pausing your Audible membership is the middle ground between staying subscribed and nuking the whole thing. Here’s what makes it worth considering:
- Your library stays intact. Every audiobook you’ve purchased or claimed with credits? Still yours. No downloads lost, no licenses revoked.
- Credits don’t expire immediately. Active Audible members get one credit per month. When you pause, those credits don’t vanish on day one—they stick around for a bit (we’ll cover the exact timeline below).
- No cancellation fee. Audible doesn’t charge you to pause. It’s free, full stop.
- You can resume anytime. Need to jump back in next month? Three months? A year? No problem. Your account is waiting.
- Your wishlist and bookmarks survive. All those books you marked “want to read” and your progress in half-finished titles? Still there.
Compare this to canceling, which can feel like burning a bridge. If you think there’s even a chance you’ll want audiobooks again in the next few months, pausing is the smarter move. It’s like putting your membership on hold instead of saying goodbye forever.
Pro Tip: If you’re on the fence about whether to pause or cancel, pause first. You can always cancel later if you decide you’re done with audiobooks entirely. But once you cancel, restarting means starting fresh—no library recovery.
Step-by-Step: How to Pause Audible Membership
The process differs slightly depending on whether you’re using a computer or phone. Both are straightforward, but let’s break them down separately so you don’t get lost.
The key thing to remember: how to pause Audible membership always starts in your account settings. Audible doesn’t bury this feature, but it’s not on the homepage either. You need to know where to look.
Pausing on Desktop (Web Browser)
This is the most reliable method because you get the full account dashboard.
- Go to Audible.com and log in. Use your Amazon account credentials. If you’re already logged in, skip this step.
- Click the account icon (top right corner). It usually shows your name or a generic avatar. A dropdown menu appears.
- Select “Account Details.” You’re now in your account hub.
- Look for “Membership” or “Subscription” in the left sidebar. The exact label varies slightly depending on your region and account type, but it’s always there.
- Click “Manage Your Membership.” This opens your subscription status page.
- Find the “Pause Membership” button or link. It’s usually near the top of the page, sometimes in a blue or highlighted box. If you see “Cancel Membership” instead, you might be in the wrong section—go back and recheck the sidebar.
- Click “Pause Membership.” A dialog box pops up asking you to confirm and possibly select a reason for pausing.
- Choose a pause duration. Audible typically offers options like 1 month, 3 months, or 6 months. Pick what works for you.
- Confirm the pause. Click the final confirmation button. You’ll see a success message.
- Check your email. Audible sends a confirmation email within minutes. Keep this for your records.
Pausing on Mobile App
The mobile app (iOS and Android) has the same feature, but the navigation is different because screens are smaller.
- Open the Audible app and tap the profile icon. On most phones, this is in the bottom right corner (looks like a person silhouette or your avatar).
- Tap “Account Settings” or “Settings.” The exact wording depends on your app version.
- Scroll down to “Membership” or “Subscription.” You might need to scroll past other options like “Library,” “Preferences,” or “Help.”
- Tap “Manage Membership.” This takes you to a page showing your current subscription status.
- Look for “Pause Membership” or “Pause Subscription.” It’s usually a button or link near the top.
- Tap it and follow the prompts. Select your pause duration (1, 3, or 6 months).
- Confirm the pause. The app will show a success message, and you’ll get a confirmation email shortly.
Safety Warning: If the Audible app is acting glitchy or you can’t find the pause option, switch to the desktop method. The web version is always more stable for account changes because you’re accessing Amazon’s full servers, not a mobile app’s limited interface.
What Happens When You Pause
This is where a lot of confusion happens, so let’s be crystal clear about what actually occurs when you pause how to pause Audible membership.
Your library: Every audiobook you’ve ever purchased or claimed with a credit stays in your library. You can still download them and listen to them offline. You can still read reviews, leave ratings, and access your bookmarks. Nothing changes here.
Your monthly credit: This is the tricky part. If you pause mid-month (say, on the 15th), you don’t get a credit for that month. If you pause at the end of a billing cycle (after your credit has already been added), that credit rolls over and waits for you. When you resume, any unused credits from before the pause are still there—up to a limit. Audible typically lets you accumulate up to 6 months’ worth of credits, so if you pause for 6 months with 3 credits already in your account, you’ll have those 3 credits when you resume.
Your subscription price: You don’t pay anything while paused. Zero dollars. Your payment method isn’t charged, and you won’t see a charge on your credit card statement.
Your wishlist: All saved for later. Every book you’ve added stays there, organized exactly as you left it.
Your listening history: Not deleted. Audible keeps a record of every audiobook you’ve ever listened to, so your personalized recommendations still work when you come back.
Your account status: You’re still an Audible member. You’re just temporarily inactive. Your account isn’t closed or deleted.
Promotional pricing: If you paused during a promotional rate (like $9.99/month instead of the standard $14.99), that rate might not be waiting for you when you resume. Audible could ask you to return to the regular price. Always check your email before resuming to see if there’s a special reactivation offer.
How to Resume Your Membership
Ready to dive back in? Resuming is just as easy as pausing.
- Log into your Audible account (web or app).
- Go to Account Settings → Membership.
- Look for “Resume Membership” or “Reactivate Membership.” This button replaces the “Pause” button once your membership is paused.
- Click it. Audible might show you a special offer (like “Get one month for $9.99”) as an incentive to come back.
- Confirm the reactivation. Your membership is live again immediately.
- Your next billing date is set. If you paused for 3 months, your first charge after resuming happens on the 1st of the following month (or whenever your billing cycle normally runs).
That’s it. You’re back in the game, and your library is waiting exactly as you left it.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Can’t find the pause button? Make sure you’re in the right section. Go to Account Settings → Membership (or Subscription). If you see “Cancel Membership” but not “Pause Membership,” your account might already be paused, or there could be a technical glitch. Try logging out and back in, or switch to the web version if you’re on mobile.
The pause button is greyed out. This usually means your account doesn’t qualify for a pause right now. Reasons include: you just paused recently (Audible limits how often you can pause), your account has an outstanding balance, or your subscription type doesn’t support pausing (rare, but possible on very old grandfathered plans). Contact Audible customer service to clarify.
You paused but still got charged. If your credit card was charged after you paused, something went wrong. Check your email for a confirmation that the pause actually went through. If you see the charge but no pause confirmation, contact Audible support immediately. They can reverse the charge and pause your account properly. Don’t wait—their customer service is usually responsive within 24 hours.
Your library disappeared after pausing. This shouldn’t happen, but if it does, don’t panic. Log out, clear your app cache (if on mobile), and log back in. If books still aren’t showing, contact support. Audible has backups, and they can restore your library. This is extremely rare, but it’s happened to a few users with older Android versions.
You forgot how long you paused for. Check your confirmation email—it lists the pause end date. If you can’t find the email, log into your account and check the Membership section. It should show “Paused until [date].”
Pause duration expired but you’re not ready to resume yet. You can pause again immediately after the first pause expires. Just go back to the Membership section and pause for another 1, 3, or 6 months. No penalty, no extra steps.
Real Talk: If you’re having persistent issues with pausing or resuming, Audible’s customer service is actually one of the better ones out there. They’re reachable via email, phone, or in-app chat, and they usually sort things out quickly. Don’t suffer through technical problems—reach out to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my audiobooks if I pause my Audible membership?
– No. Every audiobook in your library stays there permanently. Pausing doesn’t delete anything. You can still listen to your books offline, leave reviews, and access your bookmarks. The only thing that stops is your monthly credit and billing.
What happens to my unused credits when I pause?
– Unused credits stay in your account for up to 6 months. If you have 2 credits saved up and pause for 3 months, those 2 credits are waiting for you when you resume. However, if you pause for 6 months with 3 unused credits, you might lose one credit after 6 months of inactivity (Audible’s policy on credit expiration can vary by region, so check your confirmation email).
Can I pause my membership multiple times?
– Yes. You can pause as many times as you want. However, there’s usually a minimum gap between pauses (you can’t pause for 1 month, resume for 1 day, then pause again). Audible’s system typically requires at least a few days of active membership between pauses, but this isn’t a hard rule. If you hit a limit, the system will tell you.
How long can I pause for?
– Audible usually offers pause options of 1 month, 3 months, or 6 months. You can’t pause indefinitely. If you need a longer break, you’d have to cancel instead. But honestly, if you’re not using Audible for more than 6 months, canceling and restarting later might make more sense anyway.
Will my subscription price change when I resume?
– It depends. If you were on a promotional rate, Audible might ask you to return to the standard price ($14.99/month in the US, but varies by region). However, they often send a “welcome back” offer with a discounted rate for your first month back. Check your email for any reactivation offers before you resume.
Can I pause my membership on the mobile app?
– Yes, the mobile app has the same pause feature as the web version. Navigate to Account Settings → Membership and look for the pause option. If you run into issues on the app, try the desktop version instead—it’s more stable.
What if I pause but need to resume before my pause period ends?
– You can resume anytime, even if your pause period hasn’t ended. Just go to Membership and hit “Resume.” Your pause will be canceled, and you’ll be charged for the next month. There’s no penalty for resuming early.
Does pausing affect my Audible Plus membership differently?
– Audible has different subscription tiers (basic membership with credits, Audible Plus with a catalog of included titles, and Audible Premium Plus with both). Pausing works the same way for all tiers—your library stays, you don’t get charged, and you can resume whenever. However, the Audible Plus catalog (the titles included with your subscription) won’t be accessible while paused. Once you resume, the catalog is available again.
Can I pause if I have an outstanding balance on my account?
– Usually not. If you owe Audible money (from an unpaid charge or a returned book, for example), you’ll need to settle that balance first. Pay what you owe, then pause. If you’re unsure about a balance, contact support before attempting to pause.
Will my pause affect my Audible Plus catalog access?
– Yes. If you’re subscribed to Audible Plus (which includes access to a rotating catalog of audiobooks), that access pauses too. You can still listen to audiobooks you’ve purchased, but the included catalog titles won’t be available until you resume.
How do I know if my pause was successful?
– You’ll see a confirmation message immediately after clicking the pause button, and Audible sends a confirmation email within minutes. Check that email—it includes the exact date your pause ends and your next billing date if you resume. If you don’t get an email within 15 minutes, log back into your account and check the Membership section to confirm the pause status.
Can I change my pause duration after I’ve already paused?
– Not directly. You can’t extend or shorten a pause that’s already active. However, you can resume early and then pause again for a different duration. For example, if you paused for 1 month but need 3 months, resume and immediately pause again for 3 months. There’s usually a short gap (a few days) required between pauses, but it’s not a big deal.
What happens to my Audible wishlist when I pause?
– Your wishlist stays exactly as it is. Every book you’ve saved for later is still there, organized the same way. When you resume, you can pick up right where you left off and start adding new books to your wishlist again.
Is there a fee to pause my Audible membership?
– No. Pausing is completely free. Audible doesn’t charge you anything for pausing, and you don’t get billed while paused. Your credit card won’t be charged, and there are no hidden fees.
Can I pause if I’m on a family plan?
– If you’re the account owner on a family plan, pausing affects the entire plan—all family members’ access pauses too. If you’re a family member (not the owner), you can’t pause the plan yourself. The account owner would need to do it. If you want to pause just your individual usage without affecting the whole family, you’d need to switch to a personal plan instead.
Final Thoughts
Pausing your Audible membership is the smart move when life gets busy or your budget tightens. You keep your library, your credits stick around, and there’s zero financial penalty. The process takes about five minutes, whether you’re on desktop or mobile.
If you’re also managing other subscriptions and wondering how to handle them, check out our guide on how to cancel Fubo subscription—same philosophy applies: understand your options before you make a move.
The key takeaway: how to pause Audible membership is easier than canceling, more flexible than staying subscribed, and gives you the breathing room you need without burning bridges. If you’re even slightly unsure about whether you’ll want audiobooks again in the next few months, pause. You can always cancel later if you change your mind, but you can’t get a paused account back to life as easily as you can resume one.
For more account management tips and subscription strategies, explore resources like Family Handyman (for life management hacks) and This Old House (for broader how-to guidance). And if you’re dealing with other tech account issues, we’ve got guides on how to create an out of office reply in Outlook, how to hide following list on Instagram, how to unblock a number on iPhone, and how to hide apps on Android.
Questions about pausing? Hit up Audible’s support team—they’re responsive and genuinely helpful. And if you get stuck at any step, come back to this guide. We’ve covered every scenario and every platform.
