Apple today updated its website to reflect that its annual extended holiday return policy is now active. Items purchased from the Apple Online Store received between November 15, 2019 and December 25, 2019 can be returned through January 8, 2020.

These dates apply to the United States and multiple other countries, but there are some countries where the return periods are different, so it's worth looking into if you plan to buy an Apple gift during the holidays.

apple gift wrap
In Spain, for example, Apple is allowing holiday returns until January 20, 2020 for items purchased between November 15, 2019 and January 6, 2020.

Items purchased at the Apple Online Store that are received between November 15, 2019 and December 25, 2019, may be returned through January 8, 2020. 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, 2019, are subject to the Standard Return Policy.

There are some items that are excluded from the return policy, such as Apple and App Store gift cards. Aside from that, most products can be returned, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and more. Purchased devices can be opened and used prior to being returned, but they must be in their original packaging.

With holiday purchases, it's a good idea to hold on to a receipt when buying from Apple.com or an Apple retail store to make sure that your purchase falls within the timeframe of the extended holiday period.

Purchases made prior to November 15, 2019 or after December 25, 2019 will be subject to the standard 14 day return policy.

Top Rated Comments

Donnation Avatar
68 months ago
FYI if you purchased your 16” MBP on the 13th and received it on the 15th or later you are still eligible for the Holiday Return period. It’s based on the day you received the item, not the day you actually ordered it online.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shadowbech Avatar
68 months ago

Does it matter if you buy and item on store? Or does it have to be on line to qualify for the extended holiday return policy?
Doesn’t matter, you still qualify for an extended holiday returns on in-store Purchases. It will say on the receipt when you can return the items by and will state 1/8/20.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Donnation Avatar
68 months ago
Technically, it’s based on when your credit card was charged which is the day it SHIPS! Not the day you receive it! Managers at Apple Stores can make return exceptions and they usually will if you can show them the date it was received/picked up from the mail carrier.
Nope. My card was charged on the 14th, which is the day my 16” MBP shipped. I just checked my return window and if i was returning the MBP it would have to be returned by Jan 8th.

And even under Apple’s normal return policy, the 14 day window starts the day you receive the item not the day it ships. Not sure where you got your information but it is WRONG!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lars666 Avatar
68 months ago

My last invoice for an item that I shipped - not an in-store pickup - shows the order date and the invoice date. The invoice date is when it was charged, ie when it was shipped. Delivery was actually the next day but the invoice does not say anything about delivery date. So how would Apple know when it was “received”?
And what does “received” mean?
What if the carrier tried to deliver at my home and I’m not there and they try the next day and I’m still not there and I change pickup to the carrier warehouse and I pick it up 5 days later? It was received BY ME a week later it was first delivered. Which date is used to count the 14 days return policy?
I’m just saying the “received” date is very subjective.
It is received when you've signed for it. And yes – if you pick up your parcel five days later (because you were not home when they tried to deliver it or whatever), your 14 day return policy gets those five days "credited".
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Donnation Avatar
68 months ago
Not sure about that. It may be different in other countries, but I'm pretty sure here in Germany, the day of receiving the item counts. Just think about (rare, but possible) cases when parcels are lost and arrive very late, one week or so after posting ... Would reduce your (normal) give-back time to half or more ...
He isn’t right, not sure where he got his info. Even under normal returns with Apple the 14 day period starts the day you receive the item not the day it ships.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

airpods 4 blue

Apple Finally Explains How to Install New Firmware on Your AirPods

Monday January 27, 2025 11:17 am PST by
Apple regularly releases new firmware for the AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max, but the company has historically provided limited information on how to initiate an update. That changed today, and Apple updated its AirPods firmware support page with more specific instructions. Prior to today, here's what Apple said on the subject: Firmware updates are delivered automatically while your...
iOS 18

iOS 18.3 Available as Soon as Today With These New Features

Monday January 27, 2025 6:35 am PST by
Update: Apple has released iOS 18.3. In its press release unveiling a new Black Unity Sport Loop for the Apple Watch today, Apple confirmed that iOS 18.3 is "upcoming." According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple Stores are being instructed to update the software on demo devices today, so iOS 18.3 should be released either today or within the next few days. Below, we recap everything new...
iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Horizontal 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching This Year With These 8 New Features

Tuesday January 28, 2025 11:48 am PST by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. iPhone 17 Pro concept based on rumors Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of January 2025: More aluminum: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models ...
tvOS 18 Thumb 3

Apple Releases tvOS 18.3

Monday January 27, 2025 10:00 am PST by
Apple today released tvOS 18.3, the newest version of the tvOS 18 operating system that came out in September. tvOS 18.3 comes more than a month after Apple released tvOS 18.2, and it is available for the Apple TV 4K and the Apple TV HD models. tvOS 18.3 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌Apple TV‌. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software....
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.3 With Visual Intelligence and Notification Summary Improvements

Monday January 27, 2025 10:04 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, the third major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 software that came out last year. iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 come six weeks after Apple released iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iPadOS 17.7.4 for...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

5 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's MacBook Pro

Monday January 27, 2025 4:25 am PST by
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the MacBook Pro is now several years away, think again. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small...
ipad january sale

Amazon's New iPad Sale Has Up to $300 Off M4 iPad Pro, M2 iPad Air, and iPad Mini 7

Tuesday January 28, 2025 7:32 am PST by
Today we're tracking a few iPad discounts on Amazon, including the new iPad mini 7, M2 iPad Air, and M4 iPad Pro. These deals include multiple all-time low prices on Apple's tablets, matching the prices we tracked over the holiday season in many cases. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us...