My friend won an iPad mini at work. He took the unopened box to the Apple store and "upgraded" it for an iPad mini Retina by simply paying the difference. Answer from plazman30 on reddit.com
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255361945
Exchange without receipt? - Apple Community
Does the email contain an invoice/receipt? If not, it will not do. Besides, you cannot "exchange" for one with more RAM.
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Apple
apple.com › help › returns & refunds
Returns & Refunds - Shopping Help - Apple
For any undamaged product, simply return it with its included accessories and packaging along with the original receipt (or gift receipt) within 14 days of the date you receive the product, and we’ll exchange it or offer a refund based upon ...
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Macworld
macworld.com › home › apple › how-to
Apple Exchange Policy: How To Get Refunds Or Exchange Apple Products | Macworld
January 9, 2023 - Items purchased at the Apple Online Store received between 1 November 2021 and 25 December 2021 may be returned until 8 January 2022. These need to conform to the normal conditions listed above, but the extra time does make it easier to buy ...
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Apple
apple.com › legal › sales-support › sales-policies › retail_us.html
Apple Legal - Apple - Legal - Sales Policies - U.S. Retail Sales
... We believe you will be thrilled with the products you purchase from the Apple Store. In the unlikely event a product is not what you expected, you can return or exchange it with a receipt within 14 days ...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/apple › return unopened 11" macbook air for refund with no receipt?
r/apple on Reddit: Return unopened 11" MacBook Air for refund with no receipt?
November 19, 2014 -

Is there any store that would accept a unopened 11" MacBook Air for a cash refund? I got it for Christmas but already have a MacBook Pro, I guess my grandma didn't know that the MacBook Pro is much better haha.

Top answer
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14

Ex-Apple employee here (4 years).

Yes, you can absolutely return it to any Apple Store (without the receipt) within 30 days of the purchase (14 days is the standard policy, but this is a guideline rather than a rule, though sometimes the return date is longer than 30 if it was purchased around a holiday. Apple is pretty flexible). They can look it up via serial number or email address (which older people generally don't use/have/remember).

As long as the product was in the original box/packaging undamaged and with everything it came with, you should be fine.

As for the return currency, it'll go back to your grandmothers original card, or if she paid cash, you could get the cash, though that high amount will likely go to a gift card so they can track the return for safety of all parties. This varies in the employee doing the return and the manager working that day, however.

If they picked it up at Best Buy, the above should be possible, however I can't confirm as I never worked there. Many have apple designated representatives that should be able to process the no-receipt return the same way though.

Hope this helps!

Edit: It should be noted that this is true for nearly all serialized products as apple has a database to keep track of all serialized purchases. Their system even allows them to verify if the product was purchased outside of apple retail (the system shows if it was purchased at Target, Best Buy, Mac Mall, etc.). With the above said, the same is not true for products without serial numbers, as there would be no way to prove if it was purchased at an Apple Store and thus no way to track it.

TL;DR - I am known for unnecessary long-winded answers.

Edit: it should also be noted that the 14-day policy is a guideline, and that 30 days is typically the cutoff point. Keeping that in mind, many employees can make exceptions beyond 30 days depending on the circumstances. I personally returned products that were well-over 30 days if I felt it was necessary, though not all employees have this ability as its a system override/trust granted to them via the managers. 14-day is a guideline, not a rule.

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Your grandmother bought you a $900+ machine without knowing you already have a machine already?!

WTF?

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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255368355
Can I exchange MacBook Pro case without a… - Apple Community
... If you are dissatisfied with an item, you can request a return through Order Status. For eligible iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and third-party products, you have up to 15 calendar days from the time you receive your item(s) to initiate a return. ... Did you get it as a gift?
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Receiptor AI
receiptor.ai › home › guides › return policies › apple's return and exchange policy: a complete guide
Apple's Return and Exchange Policy: A Complete Guide | Guides | Receiptor AI
August 28, 2025 - If you don’t have a receipt, you may still be able to process a return using delivery and shipping confirmation emails, your Apple account information, or credit card statements.
Find elsewhere
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 253431085
Apple Gift no receipt exchange policy/pro… - Apple Community
I received imac 24" as gift with no receipt, but it is not the configuration I want. I entered serial number on box and it's eligible for return... Can I exchange it instead for the imac 24" configuration I need?
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The Krazy Coupon Lady
thekrazycouponlady.com › tips › store-hacks › apple-return-policy
Apple Return Policy: Everything You Need to Know to Make Returns at Apple - The Krazy Coupon Lady
January 4, 2024 - But, if for whatever reason, you need to make a return and you don’t have a receipt, you can return the item as a gift and get store credit. You can also do an exchange for an Apple product of equal value.
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Shop Your Way
shopyourway.com › home › apple return policy in store: details on refunds, holiday, and gift returns in 2024
Apple Return Policy In Store: Details on Refunds, Holiday, and Gift Returns In 2024 - Shop Your Way Blog
December 4, 2024 - Receipt Importance: Having a receipt simplifies the return process, ensuring a refund to the original payment method. Without a receipt, refunds may be provided as store credit or a gift card.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255238272
Refund an IPhone after it has been gifted - Apple Community
“Gift items purchased at a retail ... days of the date of purchase. If the item is returned in the original box with the original packaging, we will exchange it or offer you an Apple Gift Card equal to the purchase price of the gift.” ... I just got sent the IPhone in ...
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255612064
Upgrade a gift without a receipt - Apple Community
387 1 ... In most countries, if purchased directly from Apple, you have 14-days within which to return an unwanted item for exchange or refund - however, you will require a receipt to prove (a) the purchase date, and (b) that the item was actually purchased directly from Apple.
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Quora
quora.com › Can-I-return-an-Apple-watch-without-a-receipt
Can I return an Apple watch without a receipt? - Quora
If you don’t have your receipt - but bought your Watch from an Apple Store, there should not be a problem. A Product Zone Specialist will the scan the serial number in the box - you did bring the box, charger, etc. didn’t you?
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Apple
apple.com › help › returns & refunds
Returns & Refunds - Shopping Help - Business - Apple (SG)
For any other undamaged product (not purchased in volume), simply return it with the original receipt (or gift receipt) and original packaging within 14 days from the date you received the product.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 7744462
Exchange Apple Watch with no receipt fo… - Apple Community
November 12, 2016 - If this is the case and you do not have the receipt, I suggest contacting your local store to ask whether you can exchange the watch: ... If your Apple Watch was from purchased from another retailer, it must be returned in accordance with their own return and refund policy.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254995144
Can return without receipt? - Apple Community
I want my receipt because I lost it Can I get my receipt again 156 1 · Returning An Item How do I return an item, do I ship it or do I take it to an Apple store? 1622 2 ... Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities. We'll be happy to help out. The return and refund policy that applies to most device and accessories purchases can be found here: Returns & Refunds - Shopping Help - Apple
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The Mac Observer
macobserver.com › home › how to return apple products: full guide to refunds & exchanges
How to Return Apple Products: Full Guide to Refunds & Exchanges
August 27, 2025 - Apple’s return policy is straightforward: 14 days, original condition, and include everything in the box. Start your return online or head to an Apple Store, and expect refunds to flow back to your original payment method.
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iPhone Life
iphonelife.com › how-to › shopping
Everything You Need to Know about Returning Apple Products
January 16, 2024 - If you exchange a product, you will need to bring the original receipt, packaging, and any included accessories within 14 days of the date you received the product. Remember that when exchanging Apple products, the availability of items is not ...