Refunds

How to get an Apple refund

Apple handles refunds for apps, subscriptions and media at reportaproblem.apple.com, and product returns under a 14-day policy. Here is how each works and when the money comes back.

October 26, 20267 min read

Apple refund timeline

Apple Support and Apple Store help, checked Oct. 26, 2026

Content refund requestUpdate within 24 to 48 hours

Apple Account balanceUp to 48 hours

Card, Apple Pay, Apple CashUp to 30 days on your statement

Mobile phone billing30 to 60 days

Apple Store product return14 calendar days from delivery

Quick answer

For an app, subscription, in-app purchase or other content bought from Apple, sign in to reportaproblem.apple.com, choose I'd like to, then Request a refund, pick a reason and the item, and submit. Apple says to expect an update within 24 to 48 hours. Approved refunds go back to the payment method you used, and card refunds can take up to 30 days to show on your statement. For a product bought from Apple, you have 14 calendar days from the day you received it to return it by mail or at any US Apple Store.

Two kinds of Apple refunds

Apple handles two kinds of refunds in different places. Purchases from the App Store, iTunes Store, Apple Books and other Apple services, including subscriptions, are requested online at reportaproblem.apple.com. Apple says some of these purchases might be eligible for a refund, and eligibility can vary by country or region under the Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions.

Physical products bought directly from Apple, online or at an Apple Store, follow Apple's US return policy instead. Apple products bought from another retailer have to go back under that retailer's own return and refund policy.

How to request a refund for apps, subscriptions and media

Apple's steps on its refund help page work from any browser:

Sign in to reportaproblem.apple.com with your Apple Account.
Tap or click I'd like to, then choose Request a refund.
Choose the reason you want a refund, then choose Next.
Choose the app, subscription or other item, then choose Submit.

A pending charge cannot be refunded yet. Wait for the email receipt, then try again. If you have an unpaid order, Apple says you need to pay it before you can request a refund.

If you can't find the charge

If the purchase is not listed, you may have used a different Apple Account. Search your email for "receipt from Apple" or "invoice from Apple", find the receipt that matches the amount, and check which Apple Account made the purchase. Then try these:

If the receipt belongs to someone in your Family Sharing group and you are the family organizer, you can still request the refund. Tap or click the Apple Account button, then choose All to see purchases charged to your shared payment method.
If it belongs to a different Apple Account, sign in to reportaproblem.apple.com with that account.
If you have several Apple Accounts, sign in with each one and look for the charge.
In some countries and regions, purchases of digital goods and services might not be made through Apple at all.

Check the status and when the money comes back

To check a request, go to reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in, choose Check Status of Claims and tap or click Pending. If you do not see Check Status of Claims, you have no pending refund requests. Apple says calling or chatting with Apple Support will not speed up a request you already made, and you may lose access to items that are refunded.

If Apple approves the refund, the money goes back to the payment method you used. How long it takes to appear depends on that method:

Store credit can take up to 48 hours to show in your Apple Account balance.
Mobile phone billing can take 30 to 60 days to show on your statement, and your carrier can affect the timing.
Credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Apple Cash and all other payment methods can take up to 30 days to show on your statement. If you still do not see it after 30 days, Apple says to contact your financial institution.

Waiting on a card refund? Our guide to tracking a refund covers what to check on your statement and when to ask your bank.

Stop the next subscription charge

A refund does not stop a subscription from renewing. Under the Apple Media Services terms, subscriptions renew automatically until you cancel them in your account's subscription settings, and Apple charges no more than 24 hours before each new period starts. Apple's refund page also points out that you can cancel a subscription you were charged for and no longer want.

Our iPhone subscription cancellation guide walks through the cancel steps and how to work out what an apple.com/bill charge was for. For subscriptions billed by other companies, see the subscription cancellation guide.

Returning a product bought from Apple

Under Apple's US return policy, you have 14 calendar days from the date you received an item to return it. Repackage it with all the cords, adapters and documentation it came with. Some items cannot be returned:

Apple Gift Cards, including older Apple Store Gift Cards and App Store & iTunes Gift Cards.
Electronic software downloads and software upgrades.
Opened software, unless it has not been installed on any computer.
Apple Developer products, such as memberships and WWDC tickets.

Returning an iPhone or iPad may not cancel your wireless service. Apple says you are responsible for your carrier agreement and any fees, so check with your carrier.

How to send a return and where the refund goes

To ship an item back, sign in to your Order Listing page with your Apple Account, select the item, use Start a Return, then Get Started, confirm the items and select Initiate Your Return. Print the return label, then schedule a carrier pickup or drop the package off. You can also return the item at any US Apple Store, where the refund is processed at the time of the return. Items ordered online that arrived damaged or incorrect can be returned at any US Apple Store or through Apple Customer Service.

Apple starts the refund as soon as it receives the item. Where the money goes depends on how you paid:

If you paid by credit or debit card, Apple sends the refund to the bank that issued the card within five business days of receiving the item. Your bank decides when the credit posts.
If you paid with an Apple Gift Card, the refund comes back as an Apple Gift Card by email, or by mail if you ask.
If you paid with your Apple Account balance, the refund goes back to that balance. If the balance is at or near its maximum, Apple issues that part as an Apple Gift Card by email.
If you are returning a gift, the refund comes as an electronic Apple Gift Card.

Where Compass+ fits

Today, the Compass assistant runs inside Gerald with a read-only bank connection. It can see the original Apple charge and, later, a refund credit to your bank or card in your transactions. A refund to your Apple Account balance or an Apple Gift Card stays with Apple.

It does not request refunds, cancel subscriptions or contact Apple Support for you. Standalone Compass+ is waitlist-only while broader money-finding features are being built.

Frequently asked questions

Apple refund FAQ

How do I get a refund from Apple for an app or subscription?

Sign in to reportaproblem.apple.com, tap or click I'd like to, and choose Request a refund. Pick the reason, then the app, subscription or other item, and submit. Apple says to expect an update within 24 to 48 hours. If the charge is still pending, wait for the email receipt before you ask.

How long does an Apple refund take?

Approved refunds go back to the payment method you used. Apple says a refund to your Apple Account balance can take up to 48 hours, a card, Apple Pay or Apple Cash refund up to 30 days to show on your statement, and a mobile phone billing refund 30 to 60 days. Contacting Apple again will not speed it up.

Can I get a refund for an Apple subscription?

You can choose a subscription when you request a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com, but approval is not guaranteed and eligibility varies by country or region. Cancel the subscription as well, because Apple subscriptions renew automatically until you cancel them.

How long do I have to return an Apple product?

For products bought from Apple online or at an Apple Store in the US, you have 14 calendar days from the date you received the item. Return it with the cords, adapters and documentation it came with, either by shipping it back from your Order Listing page or at any US Apple Store.

Where does my Apple Store refund go?

Card refunds are sent to the bank that issued your card within five business days after Apple receives the item. Purchases paid with an Apple Gift Card are refunded as an Apple Gift Card by email, and anything paid with your Apple Account balance goes back to that balance. Gift returns are refunded as an electronic Apple Gift Card.

Can I return an Apple Gift Card?

No. Apple lists Apple Gift Cards, including older Apple Store Gift Cards and App Store & iTunes Gift Cards, among the items that cannot be returned. Electronic software downloads also cannot be returned.

Sources

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