We’ve all had buyer’s remorse at one time or another, whether it’s skinny jeans that make you look ridiculous or a new TV that fails to wow when you turn it on. With physical items, you simply arrange a return or take them back to the store for a refund, but what do you do when you want to return a digital purchase? In this guide, we’re going to explain how to get a refund for something you bought through the Google Play Store.
Whether you bought a new app that doesn’t work how you imagined, a new album that you later realized you already have, or an in-app purchase that you didn’t really mean to buy, we’re going to lay out your options for getting your money back.
How to get a refund for apps or games
You can get an app or game refund from the Google Play Store easily if you ask for it within two hours of purchase. Here’s how to do it:
Open the Google Play Store app.
Tap the three horizontal lines at the top left to open the menu.
Choose Account > Purchase History.
Find the app or game you want to return and tap Refund.
Tap Yes, the app will be uninstalled, and your money will be refunded.
You should get an email about the refund and it will say Canceled next to the app in your Order History.
If you’ve gone past the two-hour limit, but you’re still within 48 hours of purchase, then you can request a refund via your browser. Make sure that you’re signed into your Google account and then visit this Google link to fill out a form.
If it has already been more than two days since you bought the app or game, then you’re going to have to go directly to the developer to request a refund.
Open the Google Play Store app.
Tap the three horizontal lines at the top left to open the menu.
Choose Account > Purchase History.
Find the app or game you want to return and tap View.
Scroll down until you find Developer Contact and tap Email. This should open a new email in your email program.
Explain that you want a refund and why.
It’s best to be polite and explain your reasons fully, because it’s up to the developer whether to grant the refund or not.
How to get a refund for an in-app purchase
Google may help you get a refund for an in-app purchase, but you must submit a refund request through this Google form.
Make sure that you’re signed in to your Google account and then visit the link and fill out the form. You’ll need to select which in-app purchase you’d like a refund for and select a reason for your request. You will generally get a decision quickly, but it can take up to 48 hours.
If you want a refund on an in-app purchase and it has been more than 48 hours since you bought it, then you’ll need to go directly to the app developer.
Open the Google Play Store app.
Tap the three horizontal lines at the top left to open the menu.
Choose Account > Purchase History.
Find the app or game in question and tap View.
Scroll down until you find Developer Contact and tap Email. This should open a new email in your email program.
Explain that you want a refund and why.
It’s a good idea to be polite and explain your reasons in full. If it was a subscription that you set up, then make sure you cancel it as well. Here’s how:
Open the Google Play Store app.
Tap the three horizontal lines at the top left to open the menu.
Choose Subscriptions.
Find the right one and tap Cancel.
It’s worth noting that uninstalling an app or game won’t cancel any subscriptions you signed up for.
How to get refunds for movies, TV shows, music, or ebooks
The rules for returning movies, TV shows, music, and e-books in the Google Play Store are broadly similar. Generally speaking, you can return anything within seven days of purchase for a full refund, provided that you haven’t downloaded it or played it. Unfortunately, you can’t request a refund through the Play Store app, so you’ll have to do it through your browser. Here’s how:
Visit your Play Store account in your browser and log in to your Google account, if you aren’t already logged in.
Scroll down to Account in the left-hand menu and select Order History from the top menu, then find the content you want to return.
Select Request a Refund.
Select the reason from the drop-down menu and click Submit.
You’ll get an email about your refund request, usually within 48 hours.