How Long Do App Store Refunds Take?

Refunds are not issued by default — you have to request one at reportaproblem.apple.com (sign in, pick the purchase, choose a reason). Deleting the app does not trigger a refund, and it does not cancel a subscription either. Apple reviews each request and emails a decision, typically within 48 hours, though busy periods can take longer.

The processing clock starts when Apple approves, not when you ask. Store credit (your Apple Account balance) posts within about 48 hours. Credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and Apple Cash can take up to 30 days to show on a statement, though the money often appears within a few business days. Refunds billed through a mobile carrier can take up to 60 days.

A refund is separate from canceling. Canceling a subscription (Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions) stops future charges but usually leaves access running until the end of the period you already paid for — most monthly plans are not prorated — and it does not refund the current period. Disputing the charge with your bank (a chargeback) is also not the same as a refund; it can take longer and may put your Apple account at risk.

Note that letting a card expire will not reliably stop a recurring charge: card networks run account-updater services that pass your new card number to merchants, so the subscription keeps billing. To actually stop it, cancel the subscription itself. Under the FTC's negative-option ("click-to-cancel") framework, canceling is meant to be at least as easy as signing up.