One thing you must know when you begin to consider canceling your Audible subscription is that Audible actually allows users to put their membership on hold. Pausing is different from canceling according to Audible. This is what most users don't know until they go to the canceling option on the Audible website. Here are some other tips for you in case you miss any important information about how does Audible membership works.
If you begin to have a second thought about your Audible subscription, you can give yourself a break from the Audible membership by putting it on hold for 1 to 3 months. If you are not familiar with pausing Audible membership, this post provides the full introduction to pausing Audible membership and a detailed guide for how to pause Audible membership easily.
Part 1. FAQs about Audible Pause Membership
Alright, so you've got two options on the table - pausing or canceling your Audible membership.
Can I pause my Audible membership?
Yes, you can. Audible allows members to put their accounts on hold once every 12 months. If you have an active monthly subscription, you can pause your membership for 1 to 3 months. However, if you're on a free trial, you can only pause for 30 days.
Why can't I pause my Audible membership?
If you can't pause your Audible membership, it might be because:
1. Your membership started before 2006 or is on an older plan without credits.
2. You've already paused in the past 12 months.
3. You have an Audible annual subscription.
4. You pay for your membership through Google Play or the Apple Store, which only allows cancellations, not pauses.
What's the point of pausing Audible membership?
Pausing your Audible membership can be a smart choice depending on your usage and future plans. Consider pausing if:
🟢 You're planning a long vacation or business trip and won't have time to listen to audiobooks.
🟢 You have a backlog of audiobooks and want to catch up before resuming your membership.
While pausing won't affect your existing books, it's a good way to manage your spending.
Can I resume Audible membership?
Yes, if you're an Audible Plus or Audible Premium Plus monthly member, you can pause your membership once a year for up to 3 months. During the hold period, you can resume your membership anytime if you want to start using Audible again. If you don't resume it earlier, your membership will automatically reactivate after 90 days.
What will happen if I pause my Audible membership?
If you pause your Audible membership, you can still use your existing credits and read your purchased books (with cash or credits). However, you won't receive new credits, and access to the Audible Plus Catalog will be temporarily suspended.
Part 2. Audible Pause VS Cancel Membership
Understanding the difference between pausing and canceling your Audible membership is essential. Let's break it down in simpler terms:
Audible Cancel Membership
When you cancel your Audible membership:
✔️ You keep all your purchased audiobooks (whether bought with cash or credits) forever.
✔️ You can still listen to free podcasts on Audible.
❌ Unused credits will be lost.
❌ You lose access to the Audible Plus Catalog.
Audible Pause Membership
When you pause your membership (for up to 3 months):
✔️ You keep all your credits and can still use them.
✔️ You can access your Library and downloaded audiobooks.
❌ You temporarily lose access to the Audible Plus Catalog.
❌ Your membership resumes automatically after the pause ends unless canceled.
In short:
Cancel if you're okay with losing unused credits but don't want to pay anymore. Pause if you want a short break without losing your credits. Choose what works best for you!
Membership Action | Cancel Audible | Pause Audible |
Unused Credits | Terminated | Preserved |
Library Access | Retained | Retained |
Monthly Fee | Not billed until resumed | Not billed during pause |
Monthly Credits | Paused | Preserved |
Audible Originals | Paused | Preserved |
Discounts | 30% off (Retained) | Not affected |
Plus Catalog Access | Lost | Retained |
Exclusive Sales | Lost | Not affected |
Locked Plus Titles | Lost | Retained |
Purchased Titles | Retained | Retained |
Download Access | Retained | Retained |
Part 3. How to Pause Audible Membership
Currently, you can't pause your Audible membership in the app. Whether you're using a phone or a computer, we recommend doing it through the Audible website for the best experience.
There are two ways to pause your membership: 1. Pause it yourself through your account settings. 2. Contact Audible support and request a pause. Below, we’ll guide you through both methods step by step.
3.1 Pause Audible Membership All by Yourself
If you prefer a more self-directed approach, you can pause your Audible membership on your own:
- Access audible.com in a browser on your PC or phone, and sign in.
- Hover your cursor over your ID and click on "Account Details" from the drop-down menu.
- On the membership details page, locate the "Cancel Membership" option.
- Click on it and indicate that you don't use Audible enough when prompted.
- After selecting the reason for cancellation, you'll be presented with two options.
- Opt for "Pause Membership" instead of canceling.
- Choose the duration of the pause: 30 days, 60 days, or 90 days, based on your preference.
3.2 Contact Audible Customer Care
- Go to Audible's Contact Us page.
- Click on the Membership button.
- Choose the "Switch, Pause, or Cancel Membership" option.
- Choose your preferred method of contact: Chat, Phone, or Email.
- Contact Audible customer service and express your desire to pause your membership.
- The customer service representative will review your account and discuss available plan options.
By following these steps, you can easily and accurately pause your Audible membership, whether you prefer reaching out to Audible's customer care or navigating the process independently on the desktop website.
Part 4. How to Resume Audible Membership
If you're eager to jump back into the Audible experience after a hiatus and your membership is on hold, follow these simple steps to quickly reactivate your benefits:
- Go to the Reactivate Page on the Audible desktop site.
- Click "Yes" on the Reactivate Screen.
- Receive confirmation on the next page that your membership is active again.
- Enjoy the reassurance that all your benefits are restored.
Part 5 How to Listen to Audible When Your Audible Membership Pauses
If you decide to cancel or pause Audible membership, you might want to delete the Audible app that occupies much storage on your device. Then you may need to back up your Audible books to another audio player or cloud. In the past, you cannot do that because Audible AA/AAX formats make it cannot be played or transferred to other apps.
Today, the problem has been solved. We would like to introduce you to a handy tool to help you back up Audible books and transfer Audible to other devices or players - ViWizard Audible Converter. It is a converter that can help you convert Audible books to any common format so that you can listen to them without a device limit. Using this tool, you can back up your Audible books safely and transfer them freely. Learn how to convert Audible books to MP3 now!

Key Features of ViWizard Audible Audiobook Converter
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- Convert Audible audiobook to unprotected audio formats like MP3
- Split Audible book into several smaller segments by chapter or by time
- Support playing Audible audiobooks on any device or media player
- Handle the conversion of Audible audiobooks up to 100× faster speed
Step 1Import Your Audible Book Files
First, add your Audible files to ViWizard. Make sure you've downloaded your purchased audiobooks beforehand. Click the Add Files button in the top left to upload multiple files. ViWizard also lets you adjust playback speed, split audiobooks, and edit tags by clicking the Edit icon next to the title.
Step 2Set the Output Preferences
Next, choose the output format. Click the Lossless panel in the bottom left to open the format settings. Here, you can customize the codec, channel, sample rate, and bit rate. Click OK to save your settings.
Step 3Start the Audiobooks Conversion
Finally, click the Convert button in the bottom right to begin. Once the process is complete, head to the Converted section to find your files. You can now play your audiobooks anytime, without needing an active Audible membership!
Conclusion
Pausing Audible membership is a great way to take a break without losing your credits. However, if you're unable to pause, it may be due to your subscription type or past usage. Whether you pause or cancel, you'll always keep your purchased audiobooks. And if you want to listen without restrictions, converting your Audible books to universal audio formats ensures you can enjoy them anytime, even when your membership is on hold or expires.
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