Sony refunds PS Store purchases only under certain conditions. For most purchases two things decide it: whether no more than 14 days have passed since you bought it, and whether you have already started downloading or streaming the content. Below is how Sony’s policy works for games, DLC, season passes, pre-orders and in-game currency, what cannot be refunded and how to request a refund step by step. Accurate as of 20 October 2026.
A refund is not automatic
Sony’s cancellation policy sets out when a purchase can be cancelled, and requests are judged against those criteria. So it is not true that anything comes back within 14 days. Downloading is the key point: once a game has started downloading or streaming, it is refunded only if the content is faulty.
The policy also does not limit any rights you may have under local law, for example for faulty content. Those follow their own rules.
Time limits and conditions by purchase type
| Purchase type | Time limit | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Game or add-on (DLC) | 14 days from purchase | You have not started downloading or streaming it. Downloaded or streamed content only if faulty. |
| Season pass | 14 days from purchase | You have not started downloading or streaming any item in it. |
| Bundle offer (e.g. 3 for 2) | 14 days from purchase | You have not started downloading or streaming any part of it. |
| In-game currency and consumables bought on PS Store outside the game | Until you next launch the game, 14 days at most | The item is delivered the next time you start the game. Until then you can cancel. |
| In-game currency and items bought inside the game | Not possible | Delivered instantly, so they cannot be cancelled unless faulty. |
| Pre-order | Any time before release | Details in the separate section below. |
| Subscription (e.g. PS Plus) | 14 days from the first payment | First payment only, the amount may be reduced based on use. |
Sony counts in-game currencies, skins, boosts and other items used up during play as in-game consumables. Its examples are EA FC Coins, V-Bucks in Fortnite and Shark Cards in GTA V. If you buy them on PS Store and launch the game straight away, the item is delivered and the refund option is gone.
The subscription rules, including free trials that count towards the 14 days, are covered in our guide on how to cancel PS Plus.
Pre-orders and the automatic download trap
You can cancel a pre-order and get your money back any time before the release date. If you pre-ordered within 14 days of release and the release date has passed, you have 14 days from when the payment was taken, but only as long as you have not started downloading the main content.
Here is the detail people forget: if automatic downloads are switched on in your console settings, the download starts by itself. That can cost you the refund without you ever opening the game. Sony points out that you can turn automatic downloads off at any time in the system settings. If you are unsure about a pre-order, turn them off before the game comes out.
What cannot be refunded
- PSN wallet top-ups. They cannot be cancelled, so decide on the amount beforehand.
- Online ID changes. Buying a new online ID cannot be cancelled unless it was faulty. Going back to your previous ID is free.
- Purchases outside PS Store. The policy does not cover PlayStation Direct, gift cards or vouchers bought from other retailers. Their seller’s rules apply.
How to request a refund
- Open your order details, i.e. your account’s transaction history.
- Select the transaction in question.
- Select Cancel Purchase and follow the on-screen instructions.
- If that does not work, contact PlayStation Support. You can also check your eligibility with the online assistant on Sony’s site.
In the UK and the EU you can also request a refund through the form linked from the PS Store cancellation policy. Sony’s checklists for each purchase type are on its refund request page.
Once Sony approves a refund, its support page says you should receive the money within 10 days. Where possible it goes back to the payment method you used; otherwise Sony credits it to your PSN wallet.
What to have ready for support
- your online ID,
- your sign-in ID, i.e. the email address of the account,
- your date of birth,
- the name of the purchase you want refunded.
If you cannot sign in or PS Store does not respond, first check whether there is an outage. Our PSN not working guide shows how.
Prevention: children’s spending
Sony recommends a separate account for each child and parental controls to limit or block purchases entirely. How to set that up is explained in our guide to parental controls. What you can play without extra purchases as part of a subscription is summed up in our article on free games in PS Plus.
Join our Discord to swap PS Store experiences with other players: GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
Only if it is faulty. Under Sony’s policy, refunds apply within 14 days of purchase and only if you have not started downloading or streaming the game.
Only if you bought it on PS Store outside the game and have not launched the game since, within 14 days at most. Currency bought inside the game cannot be refunded unless it is faulty.
Any time before release, through your transaction history and Cancel Purchase. Watch out for automatic downloads, which can start the download on their own.
No. PSN wallet top-ups cannot be cancelled.
No. The PS Store policy does not cover PlayStation Direct, gift cards or vouchers from other retailers.
Information verified on 20 October 2026. More guides are in our PlayStation section.