How to claim a refund from Apple for a faulty media purchase

Sometimes items 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 quickly refund your money in almost every legitimate refund case. This guide explains how to claim a refund from Apple for a media purchase that went wrong.

What types of purchases will Apple refund?

In general, Apple 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 timeframe varies depending on the specific type of purchase and the country in which the purchase 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.

Below 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 you've downloaded from the iTunes Store, App Store, or Mac App Store.
• Small 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 your purchase and the country in which it was purchased. In some cases, Apple may decline to issue a refund if the purchase doesn't meet certain criteria, such as if the product was downloaded or opened, or if the purchase was made outside of the permitted timeframe.

Good to know: Managing your iOS devices using a computer? You can still download iOS apps from iTunes on Windows, although the latest version doesn't officially allow it.

Valid reasons for a refund

There are several reasons why you may be eligible to request a refund for a media purchase made through Apple, including:

• You received the wrong item: If you purchased a digital item but received the wrong item (such as the wrong song, book, or app), you may be eligible for a refund.
• I encountered technical problems: If you experience technical issues with a digital purchase, such as an app crashing or a downloaded file becoming corrupted, you may be eligible for a refund.
• If you are not satisfied with the quality of a digital product For items such as a song, movie, or app, you may be able to request a refund. However, Apple's refund policies generally don't allow 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've been charged for a purchase you didn't make, or if you believe you've 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 unauthorized purchases in the future.

Note: As stated above, Apple may still decline refunds at its discretion depending on the specific circumstances involved.

Claiming a refund on macOS

If you purchased media through the iTunes Store or Mac App Store on your Mac and want to request a refund, follow these steps:

1. Open your web browser of choice. In this example, we use Chrome.
2. Open Report a Problem Page on Apple website.
   
3. within “What can we help you with?” Choose “Refund request.”
   
4. within Tell us more Provide a reason for requesting a refund and click "the following".
   
5. Click the button "send" To submit a refund request to Apple.
   
6. After you submit your request, Apple will review it and determine if you're eligible for a refund. If your request is approved, Apple will issue a 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 easily manage your passwords using Apple Passkeys or Google Password Manager.

How to claim a refund on iOS

If you purchased media through the iTunes Store or App Store on your iOS device (such as an iPhone or iPad) and want to request a refund, follow these steps:

1. Open an app App Store Or iTunes Store On your iOS device, tap Your account profile At the top right of the screen.
   
2. Locate "bought" from the list.
   
3. Choose “my purchases” Or the name of the person whose purchase you want to refund as the owner of the family group.
   
4. Scroll until you see the purchase in question, then tap it.
   
5. Scroll down to the section "Information" and click Report a problem.
   
6. 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 an iPhone or iPad using your mobile browser instead of going through the App Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can you request an Apple refund from a Windows PC?
The answer: Yes, you can request a refund from Apple from a Windows computer for media purchases made through the iTunes Store. The steps are similar to those for macOS above.

Q2: Can you request an Apple refund from a web browser?
The answer: Yes, you can request a refund from Apple for media purchases 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 above.

Q3: Can I get a refund for the pending fees?
The answer: No, if the purchase charge is still pending, you'll have to wait until the purchase is complete before you can initiate a refund request. It's also never a bad time to review your online payment security practices!