iTunes offers refunds for purchases made through the iTunes Store, App Store, iBooks Store, and Mac App Store. The refund policies vary slightly depending on the type of content purchased, but in general iTunes will provide refunds in certain circumstances if requested shortly after the initial transaction.
iTunes Store Refund Policy
For content purchased through the iTunes Store, such as music, movies, TV shows, and more, iTunes offers refunds under the following policy:
- Songs, albums, music videos, and radio replays: Purchases made within the last 90 days may be eligible for a refund if you have not downloaded or played more than 30 seconds of the content. Downloaded content cannot be returned after it has been played past the 30 second preview. Partial album purchases cannot be refunded individually but must be refunded as the full album purchase.
- Movies and TV shows: Movies and individual TV show episodes are not eligible for refunds once the play button has been clicked. However, “Season Pass” purchases, which allow ongoing access to a whole season of a show as new episodes release, can be refunded within the first 15 minutes of purchase, before any content has been viewed.
- iTunes U collections: Refunds are provided if the request is made within 14 days of the date of purchase and content has not been downloaded.
- Electronic books: Books purchased through the iBooks Store may be eligible for a refund within 14 days of the original purchase only if no more than 10% of the book has been accessed. Comics purchased through the app ComiXology follow a similar 14 day/10% policy.
In summary, the iTunes Store will provide refunds on most content types if requested shortly after purchase, as long as the content has not been substantially downloaded or viewed past initial previews. The timeframes for eligible refunds range from 24 hours for movies and TV, to 14 days for books, to 90 days for music.
App Store and Mac App Store Refunds
For apps purchased through the App Store for iPhone and iPad, or the Mac App Store for Mac computers, the refund policies are slightly different:
- App Store: Apps may be refunded up to 14 days after purchase, as long as they have not been downloaded. Downloaded apps are not eligible for refunds.
- Mac App Store: Same 14 day refund period applies for unused apps. For apps that have been launched, refunds are provided within 24 hours of purchase.
The key difference versus the iTunes Store refund policy is that downloaded apps are not eligible for refunds, with the exception of Mac apps which can be returned within 24 hours even if launched.
Requesting an iTunes or App Store Refund
To request a refund on iTunes or App Store purchases, you can visit https://getsupport.apple.com and select the type of content you want a refund for. You can request the refund directly from Apple Support within the required timeframes.
Alternatively, you can go through the Report a Problem process directly within your iTunes account:
- Open iTunes on your Mac or PC and go to the Account menu > View My Account.
- Click on “Purchase History.”
- Find the item you want to request a refund for and click “Report a Problem.”
- Select the reason for refund request and complete the process.
Apple will review your request against the refund policy and follow up via email with confirmation if a refund is issued back to your payment method on file.
Requirements for iTunes Refund Approval
In order for a refund request to be approved, the following requirements must be met:
- The content was purchased directly from Apple through one of their online stores – iTunes Store, App Store, iBooks Store, or Mac App Store.
- The refund request is made within the eligible time period – usually 14 or 90 days depending on content type.
- The content has not been substantially downloaded or viewed past initial previews.
- Apps have not been redeemed through an external site that provided a one-time-use code.
As long as you meet the applicable refund policy requirements, Apple will generally provide the refund back to your original payment method within the next billing cycle. Refunds back to your payment method can take 1-2 billing cycles to appear depending on your bank or card issuer.
Alternatives When a Refund is Not Available
If your iTunes or App Store purchase does not meet the requirements for a refund, Apple does provide a couple alternative options:
- Request account credit – For iTunes Store content, you can request account credit equal to the amount of the item, even if the timeframe has expired. The credit can be used for future iTunes purchases.
- Request a family sharing refund – If the purchased content was bought by someone else in your Family Sharing group, you can request they get a refund and make the content available for someone else to download.
So while iTunes and App Store refunds are limited based on timeframe and usage, Apple does try to provide some options if the content is no longer wanted or needed.
What Types of Purchases Cannot be Refunded?
While iTunes and App Store allow refunds in many cases, there are some types of purchases that are not eligible for refunds:
- Gift cards or iTunes gift certificates – Since these represent cash value already credited to your account, they cannot be exchanged back for the original payment.
- Subscriptions – Ongoing subscriptions like Apple Music cannot be cancelled retroactively after already being used. You can only cancel the automatic renewal for the next billing cycle.
- In-app purchases – Digital goods purchased within apps are managed by the developers and cannot be refunded by Apple.
- Apple Media Services – Purchases for additional iCloud storage or AppleCare cannot be cancelled or exchanged after purchase.
For these types of purchases, you will want to be sure before completing the transaction, as refunds are not provided even if within the normal refund window. Only actual content like apps, music, movies, and books is eligible for return under Apple’s refund policies.
Refund Policies for Other Apple Services
Outside of the iTunes and App Store, Apple does provide refund or cancellation options for some of their other services:
- Apple One bundles – These subscription bundles can be cancelled anytime to take effect at the next renewal date.
- Custom Macs – Returns or refunds may be available directly through Apple Support within 14 days of purchase.
- AppleCare+ – This protection plan must be cancelled within 30 days of activation to request a full refund.
While content purchases through iTunes and the App Store have specific limitations, for most of Apple’s own subscription services and plans, refunds are available by contacting Apple Support within the initial evaluation period, before recurring renewals begin.
Checking Refund Status
After requesting an iTunes or App Store refund, you can check the status easily:
- Refunds back to your payment card can take 1-2 billing cycles to appear depending on your bank’s processing times.
- For account credit refunds, the credit should appear immediately within your iTunes account balance.
- To view refund status, go to your Purchase History in iTunes and look under the “Report a Problem” section – it will show whether the request is Pending, Approved, or Rejected.
- You will also get an email notification from Apple confirming when the refund has been issued.
Monitoring your Purchase History and emailed notifications are the best ways to stay updated on any refunds requested from iTunes, the App Store, or other Apple services.
Why iTunes Refund Policies Are Restrictive
Compared to other software and media stores, Apple’s refund policies for iTunes and the App Store are relatively strict and unforgiving. There are a few reasons Apple may take this approach:
- iOS app ecosystem depends on app sales – Loose refunds could discourage app development.
- Content can be quickly copied or consumed – Books, music, videos need tighter limits.
- Low fraud risk – Apple customers have payment info on file which reduces refund abuse.
- Brand reputation – Stricter policies better prevent customer complaints and dissatisfaction.
The tightly controlled iOS and Apple ecosystem gives Apple more leeway to restrict refunds compared to competitors. And Apple makes the rules for any content sold through their stores on iOS or Mac devices.
Table Comparing iTunes Refund Policies to Other Services
| Service | Refund Window | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| iTunes Store | 90 days for media | Unused past 30 sec previews |
| App Store | 14 days from purchase | Unredeemed apps only |
| Steam | 14 days from purchase | Under 2 hours playtime |
| Amazon Apps | 1 year for apps | Within 7 days for media |
| Google Play | 2 hours or 14 days | 15 minutes for movies/books |
Compared to other major digital content stores, iTunes and the App Store generally have the shortest windows for refund eligibility. This highlights Apple’s tighter control and more restrictive policies around refunds.
Conclusion
iTunes and App Store purchases are eligible for refunds under certain conditions, mainly: 1) Requests are made shortly after initial purchase, 2) Content has not been used or launched, 3) Purchases were made directly from Apple’s stores. While Apple’s refund policies are relatively strict, they do try to accommodate customer requests that meet the requirements. Checking the status in Purchase History and waiting for Apple to process approved refunds is the final step to complete the iTunes or App Store refund.