iPhone game payment refund: Report problem to Apple, check results and contact customer support

This is information for those who want to receive a refund for games or items purchased through the Apple App Store. First, check the actual seller of the receipt and follow the steps to submit it to the account you purchased it from. We've even outlined how to inquire when you don't see the refund button and how to check the results.

1. Check if my purchase is eligible for a refund

Apple advises that some items purchased from the App Store and elsewhere may be eligible for a refund. There is no 14-day, 2-hour approval guarantee rule that applies to all game payments. Refund availability will be reviewed depending on the country of purchase, product, and reason for request. First, make sure your purchase has an Apple receipt. If you purchased using the developer's own payment system and not Apple's payment system, contact the actual payment source.

2. Changes by game, DLC, and subscription

Distinguish between paid games, in-app items/currency, subscriptions, and family sharing payments. Even if you use an iPhone, it may be a web payment rather than an Apple payment. Canceling your subscription will prevent subsequent charges, and you must separately apply for a refund of the amount already charged. If payment is pending, there are instructions to apply after the receipt is confirmed. If you receive a refund, your rights to use the content may change.

3. Materials to prepare before application

Order number, payment date and time, product name/edition, amount/currency, actual payment destination, account country, execution/use status are organized in one note. If there is an error, write down the error code, when it occurred, and what action you have already tried. Attach only the part of the receipt screen that shows your account email and order to official private inquiries and do not post it in public comments.

4. Proceed with refund application step by step

1. Log in to Apple’s official problem reporting site reportaproblem.apple.com with the Apple account you purchased.
2. Select Refund Request under Select Issue. Depending on the website language, the text may look different.
3. Select the actual reason you want a refund and press Next.
4. Select the correct item among games, in-app purchases, and subscriptions and submit. If there are multiple payments, check the amounts and dates.
5. After submission, Apple will instruct you to wait 24-48 hours to receive an update on your request. This time does not guarantee completion of your bank deposit.
6. Check the refund request status on the problem reporting site to check the results, and after approval, check that the payment method is reflected separately.

5. When it is not on the list or the money is not visible after approval

If you don't see your purchase, search your email for an Apple receipt or Apple invoice to check the amount, game name, and Apple account. The family organizer in Family Sharing can view purchases charged to the shared payment method in the All section of the Account menu. If the receipt is from another Apple account, you'll need to log in with that account. If you have pending charges or outstanding orders, please follow the official instructions for resolution first.

6. Contact customer support

For payment/account issues that are not resolved through the application tool, Apple Support will link you to billing and subscription topics. If you have already requested one, please provide order identification, request date, status indicated, and description of the issue. Rather than using old articles that memorize domestic phone numbers, we use the chat and phone connections currently provided by the official support page. Developer account information may be required to investigate the cause of non-delivery of in-game items, but Apple payment refund results and developer inquiries must be checked separately.

7. Inquiry that can be rewritten as is

The sentence below is an example of an inquiry message sent to customer support and is not a method of bypassing approval. Replace the parentheses with actual information and erase anything that does not apply to your situation. In particular, whether it is used or when it is first run is stated truthfully.

Title: [Apple App Store] Purchase Refund / Payment Inquiry
Order number: [Order number on receipt]
Product Name/Edition: [Game / DLC / Subscription Name]
Purchase date/amount/currency: [Date and actual amount]
Purchase place/account country: [store and country]
Run/Use: [Play time / Not used]
Problem: [When it occurred and the actual reason]
Actions already attempted: [Actions and Results]
Request: [Refund availability / Confirm order / Check processing status]
Existing application number: [Enter if available]

8. Check after submission

Save the application completion screen and confirmation email and check the status of your request first. Reviewing, approval, rejection, and waiting for payment company reflection are different states. If denied, check what conditions were applied and supplement the original request as new evidence becomes available. Even if a refund is approved, check separately whether automatic renewal has been canceled. The process is completed by confirming the final return method and changes in game/item usage rights.

Source and verification criteria

Written by the TroubleMaker operations team based on the original instructions confirmed on October 7, 2026. The images below are schematics I created to explain the procedure and are not actual account screens or proof of application completion. Menu names and terms of provision may vary depending on account country, product, or update, so please check the original page as well.

Apple Korea Refund Application Guide

Check Apple Refund Status

Report/Apply an Apple Problem

Apple Official Customer Support