TermsRating
Companies / Apple / Terms of Service

Apple Terms of Service

3 serious, 3 to watch. Found 6 of 23 practices.
Compare with the other 19 consumer electronics companies we rated →
apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html (8 Oct 2026)
F

Do they refuse responsibility when things break?Yes

APPLE CANNOT ENSURE THAT ANY FILES OR OTHER DATA YOU DOWNLOAD FROM THE SITE WILL BE FREE OF VIRUSES OR CONTAMINATION OR DESTRUCTIVE FEATURES. APPLE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF ACCURACY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. APPLE DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY FOR THE ACTS, OMISSIONS AND CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND/OR ANY APPLE SERVICES. YOU ASSUME TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND ANY LINKED SITES. YOUR SOLE REMEDY AGAINST APPLE FOR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE SITE OR ANY CONTENT IS TO STOP USING THE SITE OR ANY SUCH CONTENT.
apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html, lines 42–42
In plain wordsThis clause means the company is not responsible if you encounter viruses or errors, and your only option if you are unhappy is to stop using their services. You are essentially using their site at your own risk.

Can they change the deal without asking?Yes

Apple reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to change, modify, add or remove portions of these Terms of Use, at any time. It is your responsibility to check these Terms of Use periodically for changes. Your continued use of the Site following the posting of changes will mean that you accept and agree to the changes. As long as you comply with these Terms of Use, Apple grants you a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited privilege to enter and use the Site. Content
apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html, lines 6–7
In plain wordsApple can change these rules whenever they want without notifying you directly. If you keep using their website, you are automatically agreeing to any new changes they make.

Do you pay their legal bills?Yes

You agree to indemnify and hold Apple, its officers, directors, shareholders, predecessors, successors in interest, employees, agents, subsidiaries and affiliates, harmless from any demands, loss, liability, claims or expenses (including attorneys’ fees), made against Apple by any third party due to or arising out of or in connection with your use of the Site. Violation of These Terms of Use
apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html, lines 49–50
In plain wordsIf a third party sues Apple because of something you did while using the site, you are responsible for paying Apple's legal fees and any resulting losses. This means you may have to pay for their lawyers and any damages they are ordered to pay.

Can they cut you off any time?Partly

Apple reserves the right to do any of the following, at any time, without notice: (1) to modify, suspend or terminate operation of or access to the Site, or any portion of the Site, for any reason; (2) to modify or change the Site, or any portion of the Site, and any applicable policies or terms; and (3) to interrupt the operation of the Site, or any portion of the Site, as necessary to perform routine or non-routine maintenance, error correction, or other changes. Limitation of Liability
apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html, lines 43–45
In plain wordsThis clause allows the company to stop your access to the site or shut down your account whenever they want, for any reason, and without telling you beforehand.

Can they hand your data to authorities without telling you?Partly

Apple reserves the right at all times to disclose any information that Apple deems necessary to comply with any applicable law, regulation, legal process or governmental request. Apple also may disclose your information when Apple determines that applicable law requires or permits such disclosure, including exchanging information with other companies and organizations for fraud protection purposes.
apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html, lines 51–51
In plain wordsApple can share your personal details with the government or law enforcement without telling you first. They also reserve the right to hand over data to comply with legal requests or investigations without prior notice.

Must disputes be settled in their chosen court?Partly

Governing Law; Dispute Resolution You agree that all matters relating to your access to or use of the Site, including all disputes, will be governed by the laws of the United States and by the laws of the State of California without regard to its conflicts of laws provisions. You agree to the personal jurisdiction by and venue in the state and federal courts in Santa Clara County, California, and waive any objection to such jurisdiction or venue. The preceding provision regarding venue does not apply if you are a consumer based in the European Union. If you are a consumer based in the European Union, you may make a claim in the courts of the country where you reside.
apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html, lines 56–57
In plain wordsIf you are not a consumer in the European Union, you are forced to resolve all legal disputes in Santa Clara County, California, regardless of where you live. This means you may have to travel far or hire lawyers in California to defend your rights.

Not covered by these documents

The documents we read do not mention these practices, which usually live in a document we haven’t read yet:

  • Do they sell or share your data?
  • Do you give up the right to sue?
  • Do they get wide rights to what you post or upload?
  • Do they refuse to let you delete your account?
  • Can they read your private messages?
  • Do they use what you post to train AI?
  • Do they lock you in for a year or more?
  • Do they track you across sites, apps or places?
  • Do they keep your data after you leave?
  • Do they use your data to target ads?
  • Do they keep rights to your content after you leave?
  • Can your name or photo appear in ads?
  • Do they combine your data across products?
  • Can your data go to a buyer if the company is sold?
  • Are they off the hook if your data leaks?
  • Does your subscription renew by itself?
  • Do they own your ideas and feedback?