Can we transfer Apple ID balance to bank?

Ugh, Apple ID balances, right? So frustrating! Can you ever actually get that money back out? I was wondering the same thing the other day, after I’d accidentally loaded way too much onto my account. Like, seriously, who needs fifty bucks sitting unused in their Apple ID? It’s not exactly earning interest, is it?

Anyway, the short answer is no, you can’t directly transfer your Apple ID balance to your bank account. I tried, believe me, I really did! I spent like, a good half hour searching, thinking there had to be a loophole. There wasn’t. It’s designed for App Store purchases and things, not for, you know, actual money.

But, and this is a big but, there’s a workaround if you have Apple Cash. That’s different. You can get that to your bank account, although it takes a few business days—I think it was one to three, last time I checked. Or, you can get it instantly to a debit card, which is handy if you need it right away. I used that option once, when I needed to quickly pay for a last-minute pizza, which, honestly, is a perfectly valid use of an accidentally inflated Apple Cash balance. Think of all the delicious pizza I could have bought with that extra fifty bucks…

So yeah, Apple ID balance? Stuck there. Apple Cash? A little more flexible. Just don’t make my mistake of over-loading it next time. Lesson learned, the hard way.