How to get an app or in-app purchase refund in the App Store

The ability to cancel payments on Google Play is one of the main arguments used by Android fans in the age-old disputes with iOS fans. Few people know, but you can also get refunds for digital purchases in the App Store. Refunds are possible in situations where the purchase was made by mistake or without your consent, as well as if the application does not match the description or is incompatible with the device.

It is not difficult to get money back for a purchase, but the procedure has some nuances that a Lifehacker will understand in this article. There are two ways to return.

Method one: refund through iTunes

To get your money back, you need a computer with iTunes. On macOS, it is installed by default, Windows PC owners may need to download the program from the Apple website using this link.

Apple is scrupulous about any kind of reporting, so the history of your purchases is recorded in detail. To view this information, we must log into our account and select "Account" → "View" in the iTunes menu.

Here we find the subsection “Purchase History” and click on “See All”.

A detailed statement of all purchases made will be displayed as a list with dates and amounts, including in-app purchases in apps and games. By default, iTunes shows the ten most recent transactions, and you need to use the Previous (Next) navigation buttons to navigate to earlier records. Select the application in the list for which you want to return the money, and click on the small arrow to the left of the date.

A more detailed statement for the specified date will open. If you downloaded several applications that day, they will all be here. To request a refund, click on the Report a Problem link.

In the browser window that opens, you need to describe the reason for the return by selecting the problem from the list and leaving a small message for the support team. You will have to do this in English, but do not be alarmed, everything is extremely simple.

It is worth choosing only the first or second item (the purchase was made without my consent or was made by mistake). It is in these cases that you can get a refund, in the rest you will be asked to contact the developer to resolve problems or help you download the application.

If you are not strong in English, then you can resort to the help of a translator to describe the problem. All you need to do is clarify the essence: for example, the game was bought by a child or by mistake.

After entering the description and clicking on the Submit button, we will be shown a standard message stating that the money will be returned to the account from which the purchase was made. This can take up to five days, although it often happens faster.

If you are not denied, then after the refund you will receive a notification by mail. Also, the corresponding mark will be added to the purchase history.

Method two: refund through Apple.com

The second method of refund is, in fact, the same first, but a little simplified. Knowing the link of the Report Problem section on the Apple website, you can immediately get there, bypassing the manipulation with iTunes. Another advantage of this method is that the money can be returned directly from the iPhone or iPad, because all you need is a browser.

The algorithm of actions is the same. We follow the link and log in, then find the application, the money for which needs to be returned, and click on Report Problem, describing the essence of the problem.

The chances of a refund of the debited funds are quite high, especially if you apply for the first time or do it very rarely. Success also depends on the time elapsed since the purchase: the earlier you contact support, the better.

Remember that refunds are the exception rather than the rule, so they shouldn't be overused. Each request is processed manually, and the second or third time you may simply be denied.