Key takeaways
- Google may refund some Google Play purchases, depending on what was bought, when, how it was paid for and where you live.
- Google's help says to contact the app's developer if you want a refund and more than 48 hours have passed since the purchase.
- Google usually decides a refund request within one day, but it can take up to four days; money can take up to 10 business days to reach a card.
- Report a charge you did not make, and nobody you know made, within 120 days.
- Uninstalling an app does not cancel its subscription; cancel in Google Play's subscriptions page.
Bought the wrong thing, or bought something that did not work? Google Play has a refund process, but it has two routes, Google and the app's developer, and which one you use depends partly on timing. This guide sets out the steps and time limits from Google Play's own help pages. Policies can change and differ by country, so check the linked pages for the current rules where you live.
Who handles the refund
Google's refund policy page makes two points that shape everything else:
- Google may give refunds for some purchases made through Google Play's billing system, and the policy differs depending on what you bought, when and how you paid, and where you are located.
- Most apps on the Play Store are made by third-party developers, not Google, and the developer can help with purchase issues and process refunds under its own policies and applicable laws. Google says contacting the developer is often the quickest way to resolve a refund request.
The 48-hour line
Google's help on requesting a refund says you should contact the app developer if you have a question about an app, if an in-app purchase was not delivered or does not work as expected, or if you want a refund and it has been more than 48 hours since the purchase. In practice:
| Situation | Where to go first |
|---|---|
| A recent purchase you want refunded | Google Play's refund request |
| More than 48 hours since the purchase | The app's developer |
| An in-app item that did not arrive or work | The app's developer |
| A charge you did not make and no one you know made | Report it to Google within 120 days |
| A purchase made by mistake by a family member on your account | Google Play's refund request |
Asking Google for a refund
Google's help describes the route through the Google Play website:
- Go to Google Play on the web and select your profile picture.
- Choose Payments & subscriptions, then Budget & order history.
- Find the order and select Report a problem.
- Pick the option that describes your situation and complete the form, noting that you would like a refund.
If the order is missing, Google suggests it may have been bought on a different Google Account. Google adds that it usually makes a decision within one day, but it can take up to four days, and that sending multiple requests for the same transaction will not speed it up.
When the money arrives
Approved refunds go back to the payment method used for the purchase, and timing depends on how you paid. Google's refund timeline page estimates 3–5 business days for a credit or debit card, noting that the card issuer can affect processing and it sometimes takes up to 10 business days, and that if the card is no longer active, the refund goes to the bank that issued it. Mobile carrier billing on a contract usually shows within two monthly statements; Google Play balance refunds take about one business day, occasionally up to three.
A worked example: a subscription you no longer want
You subscribed to an app's yearly plan on 1 January for $10 and decide on 1 July that you do not want it. Google's subscription help gives exactly this example: after cancelling, you keep access until 31 December and are not charged the next $10 on 1 January. Cancelling does not by itself refund the months already paid; whether a refund applies depends on Google's refund policies or the developer. And note one trap Google spells out: uninstalling the app does not cancel the subscription. Cancel it in Google Play under your subscriptions.
When a refund is unlikely
Google's policy page lists cases where it usually cannot issue a refund, including when someone has given their account or payment details to another person, appears to be abusing the policies, or has not protected the account with authentication. It also notes that donations to nonprofits are non-refundable. People in the European Economic Area and the UK have separate refund rules for purchases from 28 March 2018 onwards.
Avoiding the problem
Reading a listing before buying helps. Google Play shows whether an app contains ads and in-app purchases; what "in-app purchases" means explains that label, and Google Play content ratings the age ratings beside it.
Our own apps, such as PDF All in One Tool No Limit, one of our video and utility apps, are free to download, and Google Play lists in-app purchases for several of them. Google's help points you to the developer when an in-app purchase was not delivered or does not work, or when more than 48 hours have passed; for our apps, that developer is us.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How do you get a refund on Google Play?
Can I get a Google Play refund after 48 hours?
How long does a Google Play refund take to arrive?
Does uninstalling an app cancel its subscription?
Sources
- Learn about Google Play refund policies (opens in a new tab)Google Play Help — accessed
- Request a refund on Google Play (opens in a new tab)Google Play Help — accessed
- Refund timelines for Google Play purchases (opens in a new tab)Google Play Help — accessed
- Cancel, pause, or change a subscription on Google Play (opens in a new tab)Google Play Help — accessed
About the author
Reign Creative LLC — The independent app studio that builds the apps covered on this site and publishes every article here. On Google Play it publishes as Reign Collective Apps.
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