How to Get a Refund for an App Store Subscription

To get a refund for an App Store subscription, go to reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, tap "I'd like to", choose Request a refund, pick your reason, select the charge and submit. Apple reviews the request and emails you with its decision.

Refunds aren't guaranteed. Apple decides case by case. But if you were charged by mistake, forgot to cancel a trial, or the app didn't work, it's worth asking, and it only takes a few minutes.

One thing first: a refund request doesn't stop future charges. Cancel the subscription in Settings → your name → Subscriptions before or right after you ask, so you don't get billed again.

Step by step: request a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com#

Apple handles refund requests for App Store purchases, including subscriptions, through one page.

1. Go to https://reportaproblem.apple.com in a browser on your iPhone, iPad or computer.
2. Sign in with the Apple ID that was charged.
3. Tap or click "I'd like to".
4. Choose Request a refund.
5. Pick the reason that best matches what happened.
6. Select the charge you want refunded. Subscriptions appear with the app name and charge date.
7. Submit the request.

You should get an email confirming that Apple received it. Apple then tells you by email once it has made a decision. The page layout changes from time to time, so if the wording looks slightly different, look for the option to request a refund.

Make sure you're on the right Apple ID#

If you can't find the charge, you may be signed in with a different Apple ID from the one that paid. Search your email for the receipt from Apple. It shows which Apple ID was used, and you can sign in with that one instead.

If the charge was made by a Family Sharing member, it appears on their account, and they'll need to request the refund.

Before you ask: gather the details#

A refund request goes faster when you have the facts in front of you. Take two minutes to collect:

• The Apple ID that was charged. It's on the receipt email from Apple.
• The charge date and amount. Check your receipt or your bank or card statement.
• The order ID. Apple's receipt emails include one, which helps if you later contact Apple Support.
• What the subscription converts to. For example, whether the charge was a monthly renewal or a full year.
• Any messages with the developer, if the app didn't work and you asked them for help.

Cancel first, then ask#

Cancel the subscription in Settings → your name → Subscriptions before you submit the request, or straight afterwards. Requesting a refund and cancelling are separate actions, and only cancelling stops the next renewal.

Cancelling first also makes your request clearer. It shows you don't intend to keep using what you're asking to be refunded for. If you want to keep the subscription and only dispute one charge, say that instead.

Don't request refunds for things you've used#

Refunds exist to fix mistakes and problems, not to get a free month after using a service fully. Keep requests to charges that genuinely went wrong. A clear, honest track record is better for everyone.

What to write in your refund request#

You'll usually choose from a list of reasons, and you may get a box to add details. Keep it short, specific and honest.

Good requests tend to include:

• What happened, in one or two sentences.
• When you noticed, especially if it was soon after the charge.
• What you've done about it, such as cancelling the subscription.
• What you're asking for, which is a refund of that charge.

Example wording#

Here's an example for a forgotten free trial:

I started a free trial and meant to cancel before it ended, but I forgot and was charged for a yearly plan. I noticed the charge the same day and have cancelled the subscription. I haven't used the app since the trial. I'd like to request a refund for this charge.

And one for an app that didn't work:

I subscribed to use the export feature, but it crashes every time I try to export on my iPhone. I contacted the developer and it still doesn't work. I've cancelled the subscription and would like a refund for this month's charge.

Don't exaggerate or make claims you can't stand behind. A plain, factual explanation is the best approach.

Reasons people commonly ask for refunds#

Apple reviews every request on its own merits, and there's no list of reasons that guarantees a refund. That said, these are situations where it's common and reasonable to ask:

Some requests are approved, some aren't. Asking promptly and explaining clearly gives you the best chance.

How long an App Store refund takes#

There are two separate waits: Apple's decision, and the money reaching you.

The decision. After you submit, Apple reviews the request and emails you with the outcome. Timing varies, so check your email (including spam) and the request status on reportaproblem.apple.com.

The money. If approved, the refund goes back to the payment method you used. How quickly it shows up depends on your bank or card. Card refunds can take several days to appear on your statement. If you paid with Apple account balance, the refund usually returns to that balance.

Ask soon. The sooner you request a refund after the charge, the easier it is to explain and the more clearly it shows you didn't use what you paid for. Don't wait for the next statement.

A worked example#

Say a fitness app's trial converted into a $59.99 yearly plan. You notice the next morning, cancel it, and request a refund.

If the refund is approved, you get the full $59.99 back. If you'd missed it, that's $59.99 for a year of an app you didn't want, or about $59.99 ÷ 12 = $5.00 a month. Compare that with a $5.99 monthly plan you could cancel any time: $5.99 × 12 = $71.88 a year. Yearly plans are cheaper per month, but a forgotten one is an expensive mistake, which is why asking quickly matters.

What to do if your refund request is denied#

A denial isn't always the end.

1. Read the email carefully. It may explain why the request wasn't approved.
2. Contact Apple Support. You can reach Apple Support through the Apple Support app, the Apple Support website or by phone. Explain what happened, calmly and with dates.
3. Contact the developer. For apps that didn't work, the developer may be able to help, even though they can't issue App Store refunds themselves. A record of contacting them can also support your case with Apple.
4. If you still believe the charge was an error, contact your bank or card issuer and ask what options they have.

Whatever the outcome, make sure the subscription is cancelled so the problem doesn't repeat next month.

Refunds for subscriptions billed directly by a company#

Not every subscription on your iPhone is billed by Apple. If you signed up on a company's website, such as for Netflix, Spotify, a news site or a software tool, the company bills you directly. Apple can't refund those charges because Apple never received the money.

Here's how to tell the difference:

• Billed by Apple: your statement usually shows Apple's name (often something like APPLE.COM/BILL), and the subscription appears in Settings → your name → Subscriptions.
• Billed directly: your statement shows the company's own name, and the subscription isn't in your Apple list.

For directly billed subscriptions:

1. Cancel first on the company's website (account, billing or membership page). Menus change, so check the service's help page if yours looks different.
2. Contact the company's support through its help center, chat or email. Explain what happened, as you would with Apple.
3. Keep records of your cancellation confirmation and your support conversation.
4. If you can't resolve it, contact your bank or card issuer.

Each company sets its own refund policy, so outcomes vary a lot. Some will refund a recent renewal you didn't use; others won't refund partial periods at all. It's still worth asking.

If you're not sure who bills you for something, see how to find every subscription you're paying for.

How to avoid needing a refund next time#

Refunds are a fix after the fact. It's easier to stop the charge before it happens.

Cancel trials early#

On iPhone, cancel at least 24 hours before a trial ends. For many apps, you can cancel right after starting the trial and keep using it until the end, though some apps end the trial as soon as you cancel. The full process is in how to cancel subscriptions on iPhone.

Get a reminder before every renewal#

A calendar alert a few days before each renewal gives you time to decide. You can set this up by hand, or use an app like Monthlee, which sends renewal reminders on the day or 1, 2, 3 or 7 days before each charge, and warns you before a free trial turns into a paid plan. You add subscriptions yourself, and it never asks for a bank login.

For more ways to set this up, read how to get reminded before every subscription renews.

Watch out for annual plans#

Annual plans renew once a year, long after you've forgotten signing up. Write the renewal date down the day you subscribe. See how to avoid getting charged after a free trial for more on trial-to-annual traps.

Turn on purchase controls for children#

If kids use your devices, Apple's Screen Time and Family Sharing settings let you require approval for purchases. That prevents a lot of accidental subscriptions in the first place.

The bottom line#

To request an App Store subscription refund, go to reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in, choose "I'd like to", then Request a refund, pick a reason, select the charge and submit. Explain what happened in a sentence or two, and ask as soon as you notice.

Refunds aren't guaranteed, so cancel the subscription separately to stop future charges. If you're denied, contact Apple Support; for subscriptions billed directly by a company, ask that company instead.

Then set reminders for your remaining trials and renewals so you're cancelling before the charge, not asking for money back after it.