Apple teases new API to let developers offer refunds, subscription cancellations
What you need to know
- Apple is holding its WWDC 2021 event this week.
- An upcoming developer session could point to big changes coming to iOS for developers and users.
- It appears Apple is preparing to introduce an API that will let developers offer refunds and subscription cancellations.
Apple may be preparing to let developers offer users of iOS apply for refunds and subscription cancellations within apps, according to an upcoming WWDC 2021 session.
The support customers and handle refunds overview states:
As noted by one developer this would be a big shift in Apple's App Store policy:
This is HUGE: looks like APIs for developers to offer refunds and subscription cancellations. https://t.co/tgJ9k71d4BThis is HUGE: looks like APIs for developers to offer refunds and subscription cancellations. https://t.co/tgJ9k71d4B— Marco Arment (@marcoarment) June 7, 2021June 7, 2021
Another developer noted that Apple has also updated its human interface guide with a new native UI for requesting refunds:
They also updated the HIG with what seems to be a native UI for requesting refunds! https://t.co/k82oOmIpUX pic.twitter.com/2YabZqtlDBThey also updated the HIG with what seems to be a native UI for requesting refunds! https://t.co/k82oOmIpUX pic.twitter.com/2YabZqtlDB— Marcos Tanaka (@mactanaka) June 7, 2021June 7, 2021
The guide states:
A big complaint of developers regarding Apple's App Store has often been that they cannot deal with refund requests directly, so these upcoming changes could indicate Apple is trying to improve both the customer and developer experience in this regard.
You can find a run down of everything Apple announced at WWDC 2021 here.
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Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9