Where to request a refund depends on which store sold you the app
The store where you bought the app — Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, or Windows Store — is the only place that can refund your money. Each store has its own refund process and time limits. You cannot get a refund directly from the app developer, and the developer cannot force the store to refund you.
The store keeps a record of your purchase and handles the refund back to your original payment method. This usually takes three to five business days to appear in your account, though some banks hold the credit for longer before showing it.
If you bought the app on a computer, you may need to request the refund on that same computer or through the store's website. Mobile purchases can sometimes be refunded through the app itself, but the store's website or app is more reliable.
Key Takeaways
- Apple App Store refunds must be requested within 14 days of purchase through your account settings or by contacting Apple Support directly.
- Google Play allows refunds within 48 hours of purchase if you request them through the Play Store app or website, with no questions asked during that window.
- After the refund window closes, the store will deny most requests unless the app is genuinely broken or does not work as described.
- Refunds go back to the payment method you used — the credit card, debit card, or store credit account — not as a new payment to you.
- If the store denies your refund request, you can appeal once, but a second denial is usually final.
Apple App Store refunds: the 14-day window
Apple gives you 14 days from the date of purchase to request a refund. After 14 days, Apple will almost always deny the request unless the app is completely broken or does not match its description in the store.
To request a refund on an iPhone or iPad, open the App Store app, tap your profile icon in the top right, select "Purchases," find the app, tap it, and choose "Report a Problem." Select the reason — usually "I would like a refund" — and submit. Apple will respond within 48 hours, usually approving refunds within the 14-day window.
On a Mac or Windows computer, go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, select "Media and Purchases," find "Purchase History," locate the app, and click the report icon next to it. Choose your reason and submit the same way.
If you bought the app using a gift card or store credit, the refund goes back as store credit, not cash. If you used a credit or debit card, the refund returns to that card.
Google Play refunds: the 48-hour rule
Google Play allows refunds within 48 hours of purchase with no explanation required. After 48 hours, Google will only refund if the app is broken, crashes on your device, or does not work as advertised.
On an Android phone, open Google Play, tap your profile icon, select "Manage apps and device," go to the "Manage" tab, find the app, tap it, and select "Refund." Confirm the refund request. The money returns to your Google Play balance or your original payment method within three to five business days.
On a computer, visit play.google.com, sign in, go to "Manage your Google Play account," select "Purchases," find the app under "Apps," click it, and choose "Request a refund." You will see the refund status when ready.
If you miss the 48-hour window, you can still request a refund by explaining why the app does not work. Google reviews these requests but denies most of them if the app functions as described, even if you straightforward changed your mind.
Amazon Appstore and Windows Store refunds
Amazon Appstore refunds must be requested within 48 hours of purchase. Go to your Amazon account, select "Your Apps and Devices," find the app under "Your Apps," and select "Return for Refund." Amazon will process the refund to your original payment method.
Windows Store (now called Microsoft Store) allows refunds within 60 days of purchase. Open the Microsoft Store app, go to your account, select "Purchase history," find the app, and choose "Request a refund." Microsoft reviews the request and usually approves it if you are within the 60-day window.
Both stores are more lenient than Apple and Google about refunds after the initial window closes, but they still require a legitimate reason — the app does not work, crashes, or does not match its description.
What happens if the store denies your refund
If your refund request is denied, you can appeal once. The appeal process is the same: go back to the store, select the app again, and submit a second request with more detail about why the app does not work or does not match its description.
Include specific information: which device you used, what version of the operating system, what the app was supposed to do, and what actually happened when you tried to use it. A second denial is almost always final, and the store will not refund you after that.
If you believe the app is genuinely broken or the developer committed fraud, you can contact the store's customer support directly. Apple, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft all have support teams, but they rarely overturn a second denial.
Refunds for in-app purchases and subscriptions
In-app purchases — items, coins, or features you buy inside an app — follow the same refund rules as the app itself. Apple allows 14 days, Google allows 48 hours, and Amazon allows 48 hours. Request the refund the same way you would for the app.
Subscriptions are different. If you cancel a subscription before the next billing date, you will not be charged again, but you will not get a refund for the current billing period. If you were charged twice by mistake or the subscription renewed after you cancelled it, you can request a refund for the duplicate charge within the store's refund window.
Some subscriptions offer a free trial period. If you cancel during the trial, you are not charged at all. If the trial ends and you are charged without cancelling, you can request a refund for that first charge.
How long refunds take to appear in your account
The store processes the refund when ready after you request it, but the money takes time to reach your account. If you used a credit card or debit card, the refund typically appears in three to five business days. Some banks hold refunds for an additional one to two business days before showing them in your balance.
If you used a gift card or store credit, the refund appears in your store account when ready, and you can spend it right away. If you used PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or another digital wallet, the refund goes back to that account, and timing depends on your wallet provider.
If 10 business days have passed and the refund has not appeared, contact the store's support team with your receipt or order number. The store can check the status and push the refund through if it is stuck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I refund an app after I have used it a lot?
Yes, as long as you are within the refund window — 14 days for Apple, 48 hours for Google and Amazon, 60 days for Microsoft. How much you used the app does not matter. After the window closes, the store will deny the refund unless the app is broken or does not work as described.
What if the app developer says they will not refund me?
The developer cannot refund you. Only the store can. If the developer tells you to contact them for a refund, they are wrong. Go directly to Apple, Google, Amazon, or Microsoft through the store's refund process.
Do I lose the app after I get a refund?
Yes. After the refund is processed, the app is removed from your device and you cannot use it anymore. If you want to use it again, you have to buy it again. Some apps let you reinstall them for free if you purchased them before, but that depends on the developer's settings.
Can I refund an app I bought as a gift for someone else?
No. Only the person who received the gift can request the refund, and only if they have access to the account that received it. If you gave someone a gift card and they bought an app, they have to request the refund themselves.
What if my payment method was declined but I was still charged?
Contact the store when ready. This is a billing error, and the store can refund the charge even outside the normal refund window. Provide your receipt or order number and explain that you were charged despite the payment failing.