What the law says
- Cancelling a digital purchase. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, you normally have 14 days to cancel an online purchase. For digital content you lose that right once the download or stream starts, if you agreed to it starting and accepted that you'd lose the right. Stores ask for that agreement at checkout.
- Faulty digital content. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 says digital content must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. If a game or item isn't, you can ask for a repair or replacement, and then a price reduction if that fails.
- Card protection. If you pay a store directly by credit card for a single item over £100 (and up to £30,000), Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act makes the card provider jointly responsible. Paying through PayPal usually removes that cover. For debit cards and cheaper items, your bank may be able to raise a chargeback. Our card protections guide explains both, plus unauthorised payments.
What the stores add
Most platforms offer refunds beyond the legal minimum. Their headline rules, checked September 2026, are in the table below. Rules change, so the store's own help page always has the final word.
| Store | Headline refund rule |
|---|---|
| Steam | Any reason, within 14 days of purchase and under 2 hours of play. |
| PlayStation Store | Cancel within 14 days if you haven't started downloading or streaming. |
| Microsoft Store (Xbox) | Self-service refund on eligible games within 14 days and under 2 hours of play. |
| Nintendo eShop | Generally final unless the content is faulty. Contact Nintendo support. |
| Epic Games Store | Most games within 14 days and under 2 hours. Fortnite has its own cancel and return options. |
| Battle.net | Eligibility is set out on Blizzard's support site. Check before you buy. |
| Riot Games (in client) | Riot's support site explains the window for refunding unused content. |
| EA app | Check EA Help for the current policy on each product. |
| Square Enix / Mog Station | Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time and run to the end of the paid period. |
| minecraft.net | Handled by Microsoft support for purchases made on minecraft.net. |
| Path of Exile shop | Contact Grinding Gear Games support; unused Points are handled case by case. |
| App Store | Request through reportaproblem.apple.com. |
| Google Play | Request within 48 hours in the Play Store; later requests go to the developer. |
In-game currency and items
Currency that's been spent, and consumable items that have been used, are usually not refundable. Unspent currency and unused items sometimes are, within a short window. Fortnite lets you undo some purchases shortly after buying and gives each account a few return requests. If you want the option to change your mind, it's worth buying currency close to when you plan to use it.
Before you ask your bank
A chargeback can get your purchase reversed, but many platforms restrict an account after a chargeback, sometimes locking your whole library. Ask the store first, keep screenshots and receipts, and go to your bank only if the store won't help.