Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2021 Holiday Shopping Season

Monday November 1, 2021 8:14 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Apple today announced that its extended return policy is now in effect for the holiday shopping season. The policy applies to most products that Apple sells, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, AirPods, HomePod mini, and more.

iphone in box
In the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the Netherlands, and select other countries, most items purchased between November 1, 2021 and December 25, 2021 may be returned through January 8, 2022:

Items purchased at the Apple Online Store that are received between November 1, 2021 and December 25, 2021, may be returned through January 8, 2022. Please note that all other terms and conditions provided in the Apple Online Store Sales and Refunds Policy are still applicable with respect to such items purchased. All purchases made after December 25, 2021 are subject to the Standard Return Policy.

In some countries like Italy and Spain, most items purchased between November 1, 2021 and December 25, 2021 may be returned through January 20, 2022.

More details are available on Apple's returns and refunds page.

Following its earnings report last week, Apple said supply constraints would continue to affect availability of its products through the holiday shopping season, so we recommend shopping for gifts early to ensure timely delivery.

(Thanks, Jeff!)

Tag: Apple Store

Popular Stories

Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue

Friday October 30, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol

In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue. If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures....

• 294 comments

Apple Stores Reportedly Rolling Out New Anti-Theft System for iPhones

Sunday October 25, 2026 8:18 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today reported that Apple is facing a growing problem where some people will buy iPhones or other products and either remove accessories from the box, open up the device and remove components, and/or remove the entire device, and then attempt to return the box hoping that the employee will not notice. When a customer seeks to return an iPhone, he said that Apple's...

• 58 comments

Apple Says iPhone Duo Not Available on Walk-In Basis in Three Countries

Monday October 19, 2026 11:00 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

For a limited time, the iPhone Duo and the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be limited to customers with a pickup reservation at Apple Stores in Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, according to notices posted on Apple's localized websites for those countries. The notices suggest that the iPhone Duo will not be available for walk-in customers at Apple's retail locations in Japan, South...

• 34 comments

Top Rated Comments

sw1tcher

65 months ago

YouTubers rejoice. You now have almost an extra 2 months to test and review your Apple products (i.e. MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max) before returning them for a full refund. :rolleyes:

Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Total Respray

65 months ago

Great! Two whole months to decide if I like I using the polishing cloth… ;)

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

imnotthewalrus

65 months ago

I would normally be happy to hear this, but I'm sorry. It irks me that this becomes a "thing" only for holiday shopping with Apple. I mean, let's be honest. Xmas is the one time of the year when you're going to have the most returns or exchanges. So for Apple to temporarily lift the usual 15-day return policy and make a more "industry-typical" 30 day one over the holidays is more like them trying to dodge a bunch of criticism and anger from customers than any gift to people.

I bought a new iPhone 13 Pro on launch day, ordered from Apple direct. 1TB model, even. It took me a little time to use features on it like the camera for video recording and to see how it charged on two different inductive charging pads I had in my car and at home, etc. etc. As I learned more about it, I realized I could have done just fine with the "Max" version (unwarranted initial fears it wouldn't fit on the inductive charging pad in my car and so forth), and really started missing the larger screen size of my XS Max this phone replaced. When I finally found a local store with a 1TB Max version of the 13 in stock, I was already 1 day past my time limit to do an exchange -- AND, it was a long workday that meant I couldn't even get over there that night before they closed.

So ... living with my 13 Pro and a little miffed I couldn't swap for the Max. (But had this been a "holiday purchase" instead, I would have easily had time to do that swap.)

Did you ask the store manager, and if so explain your situation? I worked in an Apple store over 7 years, and I never saw a customer turned down on an appeal like that.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

johnyslats

65 months ago

Does the return clock start ticking from the date you ordered the product -or- is it from the date the product is delivered? My Apple Watch Series 7 was ordered on 10/26 but the estimated delivery date is 11/27-11/24.

Date received