How to get a refund on the App Store: steps, wording and what to do if denied

Charges you did not expect show up all the time: a child tapping Buy, an app that does not work, a free trial that turned into a paid plan or a duplicate purchase. Apple does give refunds, but not automatically, and it decides each case. How you ask matters. This guide shows where to go, what to say, what happens afterward and how to follow up if the answer is no. It also covers a step people forget: stopping the subscription so you are not charged again.

Before you ask: find the charge

How to request a refund on iPhone or in a browser

Apple reviews the request and emails you the result. You do not need to contact support unless you are denied or you do not get an email after a few days.

What to write so the request is more likely to work

• Keep it short and factual. State the problem first: the app crashed, the charge was a duplicate, a child bought it by accident.
• Say when you noticed and what you tried, such as contacting the developer or restarting the app.
• Do not threaten or exaggerate. A calm note gets a calmer review.
• For a subscription, mention that you did not mean to renew, and that you have now canceled.
• Ask for one thing: a refund for this order.

What usually gets approved and what usually does not

• More likely: accidental purchases that you ask about quickly, duplicate charges, an app that does not work as described, purchases made by a child without permission and recent subscription renewals.
• Less likely: old purchases, items you have used heavily, content you consumed such as a movie you watched, and repeat requests for the same kind of purchase.
• Not Apple's decision: purchases made through a developer's own website or a third-party payment link are handled by that company, not Apple.

What happens after you submit

Apple usually sends an email within a day or two. If approved, the money goes back to the original payment method, or sometimes to your Apple Account balance. Banks can take several business days to show the refund. If Apple denies the request, the email gives a short reason. Approved refunds may also remove access to the app or content you bought.

If you were denied or heard nothing

Do not forget to cancel the subscription

A refund does not stop a subscription. If the charge was for a subscription, cancel it, or it will renew again next month. Open Settings › [your name] › Subscriptions, tap the subscription and choose Cancel Subscription. For the full steps and what happens after, read how to cancel subscriptions on iPhone. Do it before the renewal date, because Apple charges a day or so before the period ends.

Refund for a purchase your child made

Choose the option My child purchased this without permission when you file the request. Apple is often more willing to help in this case, especially if you act quickly. Then stop it happening again. Turn on Ask to Buy for children in Family Sharing, and set limits under Settings › Screen Time › Content & Privacy Restrictions › iTunes & App Store Purchases. You can set In-app Purchases to Don't Allow. See how to turn off in-app purchases on iPhone.

A charge you do not recognize at all

If you cannot find the purchase in your history, it may have been made under another Apple Account, by a family member or by someone who got into your account. Check your email for receipts, and look at the list of devices signed in to your account. Change your password and turn on two-factor authentication. If the charge looks like fraud, tell Apple and your bank. Be careful of emails that look like Apple receipts but ask you to call a number or click a link. They are common scams, and the real receipt never asks you to log in through a link.

If the card used for charges is wrong or has expired, you can fix it. See how to change the payment method on your iPhone.