Apple Return Policy, Explained
Apple takes back items bought directly from Apple within 14 calendar days of receipt, in original condition with every part, online or at any US Apple Store.
By Olivia HarperContributing writer. Policy checked .
On this page
Store policies change. This is a summary in our own words of Apple's US Returns and Refunds page and the sales policy on the same page, read on October 26, 2026. The official page is the one that applies; check it before you send anything back.
How long you have
Apple gives 14 calendar days from the day you received the item. The same 14 days apply to an iPhone, a Mac, an Apple Watch or an accessory, whether you bought it on apple.com or in an Apple Store.
Two conditions come first:
- Bought from Apple only. Apple takes back only items bought directly from Apple. An iPhone or MacBook bought at another retailer goes back under that store's rules, for example Target or Best Buy.
- Complete and in original condition. Repack the item with all the cords, adapters and documents it came with. Apple says returns may be inspected, and it recommends the original packaging when you ship a computer.
Apple's sales policy also says you need a receipt, returns are accepted only in the country of purchase, and ten or more of the same product must go back to the Apple Store where they were bought.
iPhone and iPad returns
Returning an iPhone or a cellular iPad does not automatically cancel your wireless plan. Apple says you remain responsible for the carrier agreement and its fees, so call your carrier as well. Apple may also refuse a return when security features such as an activation lock are on and the person returning the device cannot turn them off.
What you cannot return
| Item | Returnable? |
|---|---|
| Opened software | No, unless it was never installed; software with a printed license cannot go back once the seal is broken |
| Electronic software downloads | No |
| Software Up-to-Date upgrades | No |
| Apple Gift Cards, including App Store and iTunes cards | No |
| Apple Developer products (membership, support incidents, WWDC tickets) | No |
Engraved items such as an iPad or AirPods, and custom-configured Macs, cannot be exchanged in a store. They can still be returned for a refund to the original payment method.
How to return
- By mail: sign in to your Order Listing page, choose the item, select Start a Return, then print the return label. Schedule a carrier pickup or drop the box at a carrier location.
- In store: take the item to any US Apple Store. The refund is processed during the visit.
- Exchanges: any US Apple Store can swap an item bought from Apple in the US, depending on what is in stock.
- Gifts: use Apple's Gift Returns page with the serial number or order number; the refund comes as an electronic Apple Gift Card.
Damaged or wrong items ordered online can go back to a store or through Customer Service at 1-800-676-2775.
When the refund arrives
Apple starts the refund once it receives the item. Card refunds go to the bank within five business days of receipt, and the bank sets when they post. Apple Gift Card payments come back as an Apple Gift Card, and Apple Account balance payments go back to that balance. Cash or cash-equivalent returns over $750 are refunded by check within 10 business days.
If the price drops
If Apple cuts the price of an Apple-branded product within 14 calendar days of delivery, you can ask for the difference within 14 days of the change, in store or at 1-800-MY-APPLE. Limited-time sales such as Black Friday are excluded, and it is capped at 10 units per product.
Source
Returns and Refunds, Apple. Policy checked October 26, 2026.