Sometimes things end up in your Apple purchase history that shouldn’t be there, but there’s no reason to panic! Apple has a simple refund process that will refund your money quickly in almost every legitimate refund case. This guide explains how to request a refund for an accidental purchase.
What Types of Purchases Will Apple Refund?
Apple generally allows customers to request a refund for most media purchases made through the iTunes Store, App Store, or Mac App Store, as long as the request is made within a certain time frame. This time frame varies depending on the specific type of purchase and the country in which it was made. For example, in the United States, Apple generally allows customers to request a refund for a digital purchase within 90 days of the transaction date.
The following are specific types of media purchases that Apple may refund under certain circumstances:
- Multimedia: music, movies, TV shows, books, and other types of digital content that you have downloaded from the iTunes Store, App Store, or Mac App Store.
- Micro transactions: in-app purchases made within apps downloaded from the App Store.
- Services: subscription-based services, such as Apple Music or iCloud storage.
Apple’s refund policies may vary depending on the specific circumstances of the purchase and the country in which it was made. In some cases, Apple may decline to issue a refund if the purchase does not meet certain criteria, such as if the product has been downloaded or opened or if the purchase was made outside the allowed time frame.
Good to know: managing your iOS devices with a PC? You can still download iOS apps from iTunes on Windows, even though the latest version does not officially allow it.
Valid Reasons for Refunds
There are several reasons you may be eligible to request a refund for a media purchase made through Apple, including the following:
- You received the wrong item: if you purchased a digital item but received the wrong item (e.g. the wrong song, book, or app), you may be eligible for a refund.
- You experienced technical issues: if you experience technical issues with a digital purchase, such as an app crashing or a downloaded file being corrupted, you may be eligible for a refund.
- If you are dissatisfied with the quality of a digital product, such as a song, movie, or app, you may be able to request a refund. However, Apple’s refund policies generally do not allow for refunds simply because you changed your mind about a purchase or no longer want the product.
- You were charged for a purchase you did not make: if you were charged for a purchase you did not make, or if you believe you have been the victim of fraudulent activity, you should report the issue to Apple as soon as possible. Apple may refund the charge and take additional steps to help protect your account from future unauthorized purchases.
Note: as mentioned above, Apple can still decline refunds at its discretion depending on the specific circumstances involved.
Claiming a Refund on macOS
If you made a media purchase through the iTunes Store or Mac App Store on your Mac and would like to request a refund, follow these steps:
- Open a web browser of your choice. In this example we are using Chrome.
- Open the Report a Problem page on Apple’s website.
- Under “What can we help you with?” choose “Request a refund.”
- Under “Tell us more,” provide a reason for your refund request and click on “Next.”
- Click on the “Submit” button to submit your refund request to Apple.
After you submit your request, Apple will review it and determine whether you are eligible for a refund. If your request is approved, Apple will issue the refund to the original payment method used for the purchase. This process may take a few days to complete.
Tip: popular browsers like Safari and Chrome can help you manage your passwords with ease using Apple Passkeys or Google Password Manager.
How to Claim a Refund on iOS
If you made a media purchase through the iTunes Store or App Store on your iOS device (such as an iPhone or iPad) and would like to request a refund, follow these steps:
- Open the App Store or iTunes Store app on your iOS device and tap on your account profile at the top right of the screen.
- Select “Purchased” from the menu.
- Choose “My Purchases” or the name of the person whose purchase you want to refund as the family group owner.
- Scroll until you see the purchase in question, then tap on it.
- Scroll down to the “Information” section and tap on “Report a Problem.”
- Your default browser will open, and you may have to sign in to your Apple ID.
From here, the steps are the same as the macOS instructions above. This method simply bypasses the initial browser-based steps. You can also follow the macOS steps above on your iPhone or iPad using your mobile browser instead of going through the App Store.
Good to know: you can’t get a refund for an Apple gift card itself, but any purchases you make with a gift card can be refunded to your Apple ID balance so that you can buy something else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you request an Apple refund from a Windows computer?
Yes, you can request an Apple refund from a Windows computer for media purchases made through the iTunes Store. The steps are the same as for macOS above.
Can you request an Apple refund from a web browser?
Yes, you can request an Apple refund for a media purchase made through the iTunes Store, App Store, or Mac App Store from a web browser. This is the only way, and the steps are identical to the macOS refund instructions outlined above.
Can I refund a pending charge?
No, if the charge for your purchase is still pending, you’ll have to wait for the purchase to be finalized before you can initiate a refund request. It’s also never a bad time to review online payment safety practices!
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Sydney Butler.
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