How to get a refund from Apple (step by step, 2026)

What Apple actually refunds (and what it usually won't)

Apple's refund policy covers three broad buckets: digital purchases (App Store apps, in-app purchases, subscriptions, iTunes music/movies, Apple Books, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple News+, Fitness+), hardware and accessories bought from Apple (Store or online), and AppleCare plans. Digital refunds are decided case-by-case using Apple's App Store & iTunes purchase terms; hardware follows a flat 14-day return window in the US (longer during the holiday season) and a statutory 14-day right to cancel in the EU and UK.

Apple typically approves refunds for: unauthorized charges (including kids' purchases), accidental double-taps, apps that crash or don't do what's advertised, subscriptions billed after you canceled, and gifts that were never redeemed. Apple typically denies refunds for: content you've clearly used (movie watched, level completed, credit spent), buyer's remorse on subscriptions you actively used, or repeat requests on the same account.

Gift cards and Apple Cash are generally non-refundable once redeemed.

The main path: reportaproblem.apple.com

This is the single fastest route for any App Store, iTunes, Books, or subscription charge. It works from any browser and doesn't require you to call.

You'll need the Apple ID that made the purchase (check the receipt email — family sharing purchases stay tied to the buyer's Apple ID, not the user's). Refund decisions land back in your email; approved refunds credit to your original payment method in about 3–5 business days for cards, up to 30 days for some banks, and instantly to Apple ID balance.

1. Open reportaproblem.apple.com in any browser and sign in with your Apple ID.
2. Tap or click the charge you want refunded (last 90 days show by default).
3. Choose 'Request a refund' and pick the closest reason (unauthorized, didn't work as expected, accidental purchase, etc.).
4. Add a short, specific note — dates, what broke, why you didn't use it.
5. Submit. You'll get an email decision, usually within 24–48 hours.

Refunds from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac

If you'd rather stay on-device, Apple offers the same refund flow inside Settings and the App Store. It's identical to the web form, just prettier.

On iPhone or iPad: Open Settings, tap your name, tap Media & Purchases → View Account → Purchase History. Find the charge, tap Report a Problem, and follow the prompts. Or open the App Store, tap your profile picture, then Purchased.

On Mac: Open the App Store, click your name in the sidebar, hover the purchase, and click Report a Problem. That opens the web form pre-filled.

Subscriptions: Cancel first at Settings → your name → Subscriptions, then request the refund for the most recent bill. If Apple charged you within the last 48 hours for a subscription you didn't intend to renew, you have a strong case; screenshot the cancellation confirmation before you file.

Apple TV and HomePod purchases route through the same Apple ID — use any other device to file.

Hardware, AppleCare, and Apple Store orders

Physical products bought from Apple (iPhone, Mac, iPad, Watch, accessories) fall under the Apple Standard Return Policy: 14 calendar days from delivery in the US, 14 days from receipt in the EU/UK under consumer law. Personalized engraving is non-returnable in most regions. Opened software and Apple Gift Cards are non-refundable.

Start the return at your Order Status page (signed in with the Apple ID used to buy) or by calling 1-800-MY-APPLE. Apple emails a prepaid shipping label; refunds hit your card 5–10 business days after Apple receives the item and inspects it.

AppleCare and AppleCare+: Full refund within 30 days of purchase (minus any service used). After that, prorated refund based on unused months — cancel by calling AppleCare or through your Apple ID subscriptions page.

What to do if Apple denies your refund

A first denial isn't the end. Apple's automated system rejects a lot of borderline cases on the first pass — a real human reviews appeals.

Step 1: Appeal through the same portal. Go back to reportaproblem, find the charge, and you'll see a Request a refund option again with a note field. Add new information: screenshots of the bug, correspondence with the developer, proof you canceled, evidence a child made the purchase. Vague appeals get denied again; specific ones often flip.

Step 2: Contact Apple Support directly. getsupport.apple.com → Billing & Subscriptions → schedule a call or chat. A live advisor can override the automated decision, especially for unauthorized charges, family-sharing mistakes, or clear developer fraud.

Step 3: File a complaint. The FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov), your state attorney general, and the BBB all take Apple complaints. These rarely produce individual refunds but escalate patterns Apple watches.

If a developer is systematically misleading users, you may also be part of a broader case — see how to check if you're part of a class action.

Chargeback: the nuclear option

If Apple refuses and you paid with a credit or debit card, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer under the Fair Credit Billing Act (credit) or Regulation E (debit). Call the number on the back of your card or file online; most issuers give you 60 days from the statement date, and unauthorized-charge disputes often have longer windows.

You'll need: the transaction date and amount, a short description of what you bought, why it's not as described or unauthorized, and proof you tried to resolve it with Apple. Most issuers refund provisionally within a few days while they investigate.

The big trade-off: Apple frequently locks the Apple ID that initiated a chargeback until the balance is repaid. That means no App Store, no iCloud purchases, no updates to paid apps. For a $4.99 game it's not worth it. For a $999 device or a fraud case, it's the right move. Try Apple's appeal process fully before you dispute.

Unauthorized charges, kids, and family sharing

Charges made by a child on a family-shared device are one of the strongest refund cases Apple grants. Apple has a long history here — most notably the 2014 FTC settlement that forced Apple to refund at least $32.5 million for kids' in-app purchases made without informed parental consent. That case is why Ask to Buy exists in Family Sharing.

If your kid racked up a bill: file at reportaproblem, pick My child made this purchase without permission, and list every affected charge (you can select multiple). Approval rates are high for first-time requests. Then turn on Ask to Buy in Settings → Family, and require Face ID/Touch ID for every purchase under Settings → Face ID & Passcode → iTunes & App Store.

Suspected account takeover? Change your Apple ID password immediately, review devices signed in, and call Apple Support — they can flag fraudulent charges in bulk. Report identity theft to identitytheft.gov as well.

Bigger picture: refund pushes from regulators periodically become class actions or FTC redress programs. If you want to see what's currently open across companies, browse the settlements directory or read how a class action lawsuit works.

Beyond Apple: other money you may be owed

An Apple refund is one small slice of money you might have sitting in someone else's account. The average US household leaves hundreds of dollars a year on the table across unclaimed rebates, hidden-fee refunds, and class-action settlements they qualify for but never file.

A few high-value places to check while you're at it: open class-action settlements (many pay $10–$150 with no proof — see no-proof settlements and what they typically pay), state unclaimed-property databases, and eligibility rules for pending cases against companies you've used.

Owed scans the current settlement list against your inbox and shopping history, pre-fills the claim forms, and tracks each one to payout — free to file, no card required. See how the filing process works if you want to DIY.

This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Refund policies change; verify current rules on Apple's official pages before acting.

Glossary

reportaproblem

Apple's dedicated web portal at reportaproblem.apple.com for requesting refunds on digital purchases tied to your Apple ID.

Ask to Buy

A Family Sharing setting that requires a parent's approval before a child can complete an App Store or in-app purchase.

Chargeback

A dispute filed with your card issuer that forces the merchant to return the money, protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act for credit cards.

AppleCare+

Apple's extended warranty and accidental damage plan; fully refundable within 30 days and prorated after.

Standard Return Policy

Apple's 14-day return window for hardware bought from Apple in the US (statutory 14-day right in the EU/UK).

Ask Apple

The escalation path through getsupport.apple.com where a live advisor can override automated refund denials.

FAQ