How to Get a Refund for a Google Play Game or In-App Purchase

Within 48 hours you can ask Google Play directly; after that, the developer decides. The exact steps from Google's help pages, what happens to the item, how long it takes and what to write.

To get a refund for a game or an in-app purchase on Google Play, request it from your order history within 48 hours of buying. Google says that within 48 hours you may be able to get a refund depending on the details of the purchase. After 48 hours, contact the game's developer, who can process refunds under their own policy.

Step by step: request a refund from Google Play

These are the steps from Google's help page, on the web:

1. Go to play.google.com and sign in with the account you bought with.
2. Select your profile picture at the top right.
3. Choose Payments & subscriptions, then Budget & order history.
4. Next to the purchase, click Report a problem.
5. Select the option that describes your situation.
6. Complete the form and say that you would like a refund.
7. Click Submit.

In the Play Store app, the order history is in the same place: tap your profile icon, then Payments & subscriptions, then Budget & history.

Google says you will usually get a decision within one day, and it can take up to four days. Sending several requests for the same purchase does not make it faster.

What you should know before asking

• You lose the item. If a refund is issued, you lose access to what you bought. A refunded game is removed; a refunded in-app item is taken back.
• One refund per app. Google only lets you return an app or game for a refund once.
• Bundles go back together. Several items bought in one transaction can only be refunded as a whole.
• Most purchases are not refundable after the window. Google's policy states plainly that it doesn't give refunds for most Google Play purchases, which is why the 48 hours matter.

After 48 hours: contact the developer

Once the 48-hour window has passed, the developer decides. You will find the developer's email on the game's Google Play page, under App support. Write a short, clear message:

• the name of the game and the item;
• the order number from your Google Play receipt (it starts with GPA.);
• the date of the purchase and the Google account used;
• what went wrong: bought by accident, bought by a child, the item did not arrive, the game did not work.

Developers can see and refund orders in their Play Console, and many help with honest mistakes, especially when the item has not been used yet.

If a child made the purchase

Request the refund as soon as you notice, and say that the purchase was made by a family member without your permission. Then make sure it cannot happen again: require verification for every purchase and, for a child's own phone, use Family Link approvals. Our guide to stopping in-app purchases on Android has the exact steps.

If the item did not arrive

Sometimes a purchase goes through but the game does not deliver it, usually because the connection dropped at the wrong moment. Before asking for a refund:

1. Close the game completely and open it again while connected. Most games check for undelivered purchases when they start.
2. Make sure you are signed in with the same Google account you paid with.
3. For permanent items, look for a Restore purchases button in the game's settings.

If it still does not appear, contact the developer with the order number. All purchases in our games go through Google Play billing, and permanent items such as No Ads come back automatically when you start the game with the Google account you bought them with.

FAQ

Can I get a refund on Google Play after 48 hours?

Not through Google in most cases. Contact the developer: they can refund an order from their side under their own policy.

How long does a Google Play refund take?

Google usually decides within one day, and at most in about four. The money then goes back to your payment method, which can take longer depending on your bank.

Will I lose my progress if I refund an in-app purchase?

You lose the item you refunded. The rest of your progress stays, but if you already used the item, the game may take back what it gave you.

Can I get a refund for an accidental purchase?

Often yes, if you ask quickly. Within 48 hours, use Report a problem in your order history and explain that it was accidental.

Sources

• Google, Refund policies for apps, games and in-app purchases, Google Play Help.
• Google, Request a refund on Google Play, Google Play Help.
• Google, Google Play refund policies, Google Play Help.