Can someone explain free refills? I ordered with the app within the store, took the cup up asked for a free refill and was charged 50 cents. Just trying to understand?

Yep, I read that and met the conditions and was still charged.

From the Starbucks website: When you use your registered Starbucks Card or Mobile app to purchase a beverage and then present that same Starbucks Card or Mobile app, you can get free refills of brewed coffee (hot, Iced Coffee or Cold Brew), and tea (hot, or iced) during the same store visit regardless of the original beverage at participating Starbucks stores. Once you leave the store, your visit has ended and any subsequent coffee or tea refill thereafter would be considered a new purchase. Refills are not available in the Drive Thru.