If you made a purchase in the App Store and now regret the decision, you can request a refund directly from Apple using your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You deal with Apple, instead of the individual developer, because Cupertino doles out funds to the people who made the apps.
Apple allows you to request a refund for standalone purchases, in-app purchases, subscriptions, or movies purchased through the iTunes Store. Here’s how to ask for your money back and check if the request has been approved.
How to Request a Refund
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Apple funnels all refund requests through a central website(Opens in a new window). Whether you’re using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you will be redirected to this site to handle the claim.
From the App Store app on iPhone or iPad, tap the Apps section and scroll to the bottom of the page. Select Request a Refund, which takes you to Apple’s website. If you’re on a Mac, scroll to the bottom of the App Store desktop app and click the Report a Problem link.
You can also request a refund right from the app’s page on the App Store. Click the Report a Problem link and you are taken to an Apple website to request a refund for that specific app.
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You will then need to sign in with the same Apple ID you used to make the purchase. Once signed in, the page will show you a list of your digital purchase history. Tap the What can we help you with? text box at the top and select Request a refund to get started.
When you select this option, a new box will appear that allows you to give a reason for the request. These are the options Apple provides:
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I didn’t mean to buy this
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A child/minor made purchases without permission
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I didn’t mean to sign up for a subscription
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I didn’t intend to renew a subscription
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My purchase doesn’t work as expected
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In-app purchase not received
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Other
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Depending on the refund reason you select, you will see any purchases that may apply. For instance, if you select a subscription as the problem, you will see all your paid subscriptions (and not individual app purchases). Select the app or service in question.
Apple will warn you that you may lose access to the app, or its in-app service. You will also see more information relevant to your issue. For example, a link for how to enable parental controls will be shown if you select that a child made a purchase without permission. Hit Submit when you’re ready to submit your request for a refund.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Refund?
Once you submit the request to Apple, it can take up to 48 hours to know if your request has been granted. Check the status of your refund from the status tracker(Opens in a new window).
