Reminder: Apple's Holiday Return Policy in Effect Until December 25 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Reminder: Apple's Holiday Return Policy in Effect Until December 25

by

With the holiday shopping season underway, it is worth a reminder that Apple's annual extended return policy is now in effect on the Apple Online Store and at Apple Retail Stores in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, Germany, Sweden and other countries.

Apple-Gifts-2015
Most products and accessories purchased between November 1 and December 25 of this year are eligible for return until January 8, 2016, including the new Apple TV, Apple Watch, iPad Pro, iPhones, Macs and more. See a list of ineligible items.

The return date appears to extend to January 20, 2016 in some European countries, including Germany, Sweden and the U.K.

Apple products can be opened and used prior to the return date, but must be returned undamaged with the original packaging and all other items included in the box, such as charging cables, wall chargers, headphones and regulatory information.

When making a purchase at an Apple Retail Store, it is recommended that you ask for printed and emailed copies of your receipt. The printed receipt will indicate the return date for each product, which may vary depending on the product, store or location.

Apple also lists the return cutoff date on emailed receipts and under the Account section on the Apple Online Store. Some products purchased with Personal Pickup may not list a return date, in which case contacting Apple is recommended.

Jan-8

Apple's holiday policy allows returns until January 8, 2016 (Image: MacRumors/iPhone1)

Apple has not officially posted its holiday return policy online, so we cannot guarantee its availability everywhere, but we can confirm an iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard purchased November 12 in Canada are eligible for return until January 8, 2016.

All purchases made before November 1, 2015 or after December 25, 2015 are subject to Apple's standard 14-day return policy.

Top Rated Comments

135 months ago
It is even better in the UK - 20th January


Attachment Image
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Joe Rossignol Avatar
135 months ago
Probably the most interesting fact about this is that the iPad Pro doesn't need to be returned until January 8, 2016.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
122 months ago
I haven't seen any word on their 2016 holiday return policy. I've searched Apple's website and found nothing, and I've asked Apple employees who say that they haven't heard anything. I'd like to buy gifts early from Apple, but I'll wait until close to 12/25 without that extended return window.
Same here! This is key to buying many of the Apple presents for my family. I wish apple would give us a straight answer.
I too am waiting for holiday return policy. I think I'd like to go ahead and order a new MacBook Pro wo touch bar, but I'm willing to wait as long as it takes for the extended return policy. In the mean time, Amazon already has extended returns on anything they ship.

How did Apple handle it in years past? So far this is the first year since 2006 where I haven't bought anything from Apple. No phone, no watch, so far no MacBook.
https://www.geekwebguides.com/2016/11/10/apple-holiday-return-policy-2016/
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jethrox Avatar
123 months ago
I haven't seen any word on their 2016 holiday return policy. I've searched Apple's website and found nothing, and I've asked Apple employees who say that they haven't heard anything. I'd like to buy gifts early from Apple, but I'll wait until close to 12/25 without that extended return window.
Same here! This is key to buying many of the Apple presents for my family. I wish apple would give us a straight answer.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Pipper99 Avatar
123 months ago
I haven't seen any word on their 2016 holiday return policy. I've searched Apple's website and found nothing, and I've asked Apple employees who say that they haven't heard anything. I'd like to buy gifts early from Apple, but I'll wait until close to 12/25 without that extended return window.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
135 months ago
The receipts in U.S. Apple Stores (at least the Somerset Apple Store in MI) were printing the January 8th return date on the day the iPad Pro was released (November 11th). Store staff (sales and management) confirmed that this would be true on-line too.

On-line orders to be picked up in stores did not state this date, but chatting with on-line Apple support confirmed the return date would be January 8th. While waiting for them to confirm this, I noticed if I click on-line to return my iPad Pro it also gives me the Jan. 8th return date.

BUT if I click on my Apple Watch charging cable that shipped on November 2nd (ordered Oct. 30), it says that it is ineligible for return (contradictory to the Nov. 1 start of this policy stated in this article). Even though I've always been under the impression that return dates started on the day of arrival.

Also, cannot return AppleTV that arrived on Nov. 1 (ordered on Oct. 26).

Sorry I didn't share this info earlier, didn't realize it was headline news...

I was concerned that since the pencil wasn't coming in, I'd need longer than 2 weeks in case I hated the pencil and didn't want the iPad Pro because of this. (I love it regardless!)

Gary
Return period should be starting from the date that you receive your order, but the policy that dictates that return period and any other terms is the one that was in place when the order was made.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 Adds Two New Features to CarPlay

Tuesday March 24, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps. To update your iPhone 11 or newer to iOS 26.4, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. CarPlay will automatically offer the new features so long as the iPhone connected to your vehicle is running iOS 26.4 or later....
Apple Business hero

Apple Unveils 'Apple Business' All-in-One Platform

Tuesday March 24, 2026 8:53 am PDT by
Apple today announced Apple Business, a new all-in-one platform that unifies device management, productivity tools, and customer outreach features. The service is designed to be a consolidated replacement for several of Apple's existing business-focused offerings, including Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple Business Connect. It provides organizations with a single...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Tuesday March 24, 2026 12:31 pm PDT by
Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods 4. The firmware has a version number of 8B39, up from 8B34 on the AirPods Pro 3, 8B28 on the AirPods Pro 2, and 8B21 on the AirPods 4. There is no word on what's included in the firmware, but Apple has a support document with limited notes. Most updates are limited to bug fixes and performance...