Apple Return Policy

14 days

Yes

Free

None

Yes - Nov 8 to Dec 25 purchases through Jan 8

Gift cards, opened software with visible license, electronic downloads

Apple gives you just 14 days to return a product — and that clock starts the moment your order ships or you walk out of the store. This is one of the shortest return windows of any major retailer, so don't sit on it. If you bought something between November 8 and December 25, the holiday extension kicks in and gives you until January 8 to return it. Outside of that holiday window, 14 days is the hard cutoff. Before you return, make sure you've turned off Find My and signed out of iCloud, or Apple can reject the return entirely.

Apple doesn't publish a clear no-receipt return policy, but in practice your purchase is almost always tied to your Apple ID or the credit card used at checkout. If you bought online, your order confirmation email serves as your receipt. If you bought in-store, an Apple Specialist can typically look up the transaction using your Apple ID or payment method. Bringing any proof of purchase will smooth the process. If you have zero documentation and no Apple ID associated with the purchase, the return is likely to be declined — so try to locate your order history first.

No, Apple does not charge a restocking fee. Whether you bought a MacBook, iPhone, or pair of AirPods, you won't get dinged with a percentage fee just for returning it. Return shipping is also free — Apple provides a prepaid label for mail-in returns, so the return genuinely costs you nothing out of pocket. The only catch is the 14-day return window, which is tight. As long as you're within that window and the item isn't on the non-returnable list (like gift cards or opened software with a visible serial number), you'll get a full refund with no deductions.

Yes, Apple accepts returns on opened items within the 14-day window — so cracking open the box doesn't automatically void your return. However, there are important exceptions: opened software where the license number or serial code is visible cannot be returned, and electronic downloads are final sale. For hardware like iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks, opening the product is fine as long as you return it within 14 days in its original packaging. Before dropping it off or shipping it back, disable Find My, sign out of iCloud, and factory reset the device. Skipping those steps can cause Apple to refuse the return.

Apple extends its return window for holiday purchases. If you buy something between November 8 and December 25, you have until January 8 to return it — regardless of the standard 14-day window. So a gift purchased on November 8 gets well over a month of return eligibility. This is a straightforward extension with no extra hoops to jump through. The same rules still apply: free returns, no restocking fee, and the item must not be on the non-returnable list. Gift cards and electronic downloads are still excluded no matter when they were purchased. Plan accordingly if you're buying early holiday gifts.

Yes, Apple allows you to return online purchases at any physical Apple Store location — you don't have to ship it back. Just bring the item, your order confirmation or Apple ID, and the original packaging if possible. You can also return in-store purchases by mail using the prepaid return label Apple provides. Either way, return shipping is free and there's no restocking fee. The 14-day window applies regardless of which channel you use to return. Returning in person is often faster for getting your refund processed, since you skip the shipping and warehouse inspection steps involved in a mail-in return.

Yes — Apple runs the Veterans and Military Purchase Program, a dedicated storefront at apple.com/shop/browse/home/veterans_military offering 10% off Apple products and accessories. Eligible: current and veteran members of the US Military, National Guard, and Reserve, plus immediate family members in the same household. You verify your status through ID.me before the discount applies. Not eligible: ZEISS Optical Inserts–Prescription. The discount does not stack with other promotions, and Apple Card Monthly Installments (ACMI) is not available inside this storefront — to use ACMI you'd need to shop the standard Apple Store at full price. Purchases made outside the dedicated military storefront do not qualify for the discount even if you're verified.

Apple does not offer a public price-match guarantee. If you find the same product cheaper at Best Buy, Amazon, or another retailer, Apple will not match that price. Apple does occasionally run its own promotions — like education discounts, refurbished deals, or Apple Card cashback offers — but those are independent of competitor pricing. If price is a priority, compare before you buy rather than expecting a match after. One exception: if Apple itself drops the price within your 14-day return window, you can return and repurchase at the lower price, though this isn't a formal price-match policy. Third-party authorized resellers sometimes undercut Apple's own pricing.

If you received an Apple product as a gift and don't have a receipt, your options are limited but not zero. The original purchaser's Apple ID is tied to the order, and Apple can look it up if they're willing to help. Ideally, ask the gift-giver to initiate the return on your behalf through their Apple ID or order history — that's the cleanest path. Apple also offers gift receipts at checkout specifically to avoid this problem. If you have a gift receipt, you can return without involving the buyer. Without any documentation, Apple is unlikely to process a return. The 14-day window still applies, so act quickly.

If your Apple product arrives defective or breaks within the 14-day return window, you can return it for a full refund through the standard return process — free shipping label included, no restocking fee. After the return window closes, defective hardware is covered under Apple's one-year limited warranty, and you'd go through Apple Support or visit a Genius Bar for a repair or replacement rather than a refund. For major defects, AppleCare+ (if purchased) extends coverage and includes accidental damage protection. Before initiating any return for a defective device, disable Find My and sign out of iCloud — Apple requires this even for defective units to complete the return.