Apple TV Plus went live on November 1, and one of the best things about it is that anyone who buys an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV or Mac after September 10, 2019, gets it free for 12 months, as long as the device was purchased from Apple or an Apple-authorised reseller, and is capable of running the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, or macOS.
However, it appears that there are some gremlins in the system, and they’re making some people extremely happy. Others, not so much.
Related: Apple TV Plus vs Netflix
For instance, some seemingly very lucky iPhone users have claimed that they’ve been given the option to redeem the offer despite not actually being eligible for it:
Got a free Apple TV+ trial for my “new iPhone” bought at launch in 2018? Ok Apple, sure I’ll take it #AppleTVPlus pic.twitter.com/ejrdiIIyUi
— Benjamin Hinett (@The_Manoeuvre) November 1, 2019
Thanks for this, also worked on my iPhone X bought in 2017!
— James Cottrill (@JamesCottrill_) November 1, 2019
Same, I'll take it though
— Varad Bandishti (@bvarad) November 2, 2019
Apparently #AppleTVPlus is free if you purchased a new iPhone, iPad or Mac after September 2019. I got my iPhone last April and it seems that Apple TV+ is free for me as well. #Apple That can’t be right?! Right? pic.twitter.com/4jITCFHKkc
— Johannes Schneemann (@_JoeSnowman) November 1, 2019
It isn’t clear why this has apparently happened, but as you can imagine, people have been happy to take advantage of the alleged error.
Other, much less fortunate Apple customers have said that they’re struggling to claim their 12-month free subscription, despite having purchased a new and eligible device after September 10. Like this guy:
Just bought a new iPhone 11 Pro last week but the app only offers me 7 days free @AppleTVPlus trial… Anyone facing that too?
— Dominik Stengele (@DominikStengele) November 1, 2019
Some of these people said they’ve managed to fix the issue by deleting the Apple TV app from their device, and then reinstalling it. Others, like this Reddit user, have had joy by getting in touch with Apple Support (via MacRumors).
Rather than fixing the issue, Apple Support will apparently send you a unique one-year offer code for you to redeem in the iTunes or App Store instead, though, of course, you’ll first need to prove that you’re eligible for the year of free Apple TV Plus access.
Related: How to cancel Apple TV Plus before your free trial ends
Some of the details you’ll need to provide are: your macOS or iOS version, proof of purchase, date of purchase, and the exact location and name of the store from which you bought your Apple device.
Follow this link to contact Apple Support.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.