Apple's extended holiday return policy took effect on Friday, giving shoppers well into the new year to send back gifts, according to MacRumors.
Under the policy, most products bought from Apple online or in its retail stores between November 6 and December 25, 2026 can be returned through January 8, 2027. MacRumors cites Apple's returns page for those dates. The window applies in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, along with many other countries.
Purchases made after December 25 fall back to Apple's standard return period, which MacRumors says is 14 days, or 15 days in Canada.
A longer window in four markets
Customers in Mexico, Italy, Spain and Japan get a somewhat longer holiday period, MacRumors reports. In those countries, eligible products purchased between November 6, 2026 and January 6, 2027 can be returned through January 20, 2027.
Some exceptions apply
The extended window does not cover everything. MacRumors notes that a few products are excluded, including some carrier-financed iPhones and iPads, which typically follow the carrier's own terms. The report does not list any other excluded categories, so buyers with an unusual purchase should check Apple's returns page before relying on the longer deadline.
Timing with new hardware
The policy arrives as Apple's new Macs and tablets reach customers. According to MacRumors, the iMac with M6, the OLED iPad mini and the touchscreen MacBook Pro models went on sale on November 6, the same day the extended returns period began, so buyers of those products fall inside the longer window. MacRumors also reports that the HomeView smart home hub and the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K are set to be released on Friday, November 13, which would likewise qualify for the extended period for purchases made through December 25.
For gift buyers, the practical takeaway is that a present bought in early November has roughly two months of return flexibility, while one purchased on December 24 effectively gets just over two weeks. The details can vary by country and by how a product was bought, so the terms on Apple's own returns page are the ones that apply to any given order.
Apple has not issued a separate newsroom announcement about the policy; the dates come from its website, as relayed by MacRumors.
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