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Gift Cards
How to Redeem Apple Gift Cards: Step-by-Step Guide
Apple Gift Cards work across almost everything Apple sells, from apps and games to iCloud+ storage, subscriptions and even new devices. Each card carries a code that adds money to an Apple Account balance, where it waits until the next purchase.
Redeeming that code takes about a minute on any Apple device, and Windows PCs can do it too. Card type and country decide where a code works, so checking both before typing it in avoids most redemption errors.
Apple Gift Card Redeem Summary
Apple Gift Cards can be redeemed in the App Store on iPhone, iPad and Mac, or in the Apple Music or Apple TV app on a Windows PC.
Each card has a 16-digit code on the back that starts with X, sometimes under a scratch-off label.
Redeemed money goes into the Apple Account balance and pays for apps, subscriptions, iCloud+ and Apple products.
Apple Gift Cards only work in the country or region where they were bought.
Apple Account balance can't be cashed out or shared with Family Sharing members.
Types of Apple Gift Cards: App Store, iTunes and Apple Store Cards
Apple sells a few different gift cards, and the card type decides where the code works. A quick look at the front of the card shows which one it is:
Card Type | What It Looks Like | Where It Works |
|---|---|---|
Apple Gift Card | Colorful Apple logo on a white background | App Store, Apple services, Apple Store and apple.com |
App Store & iTunes Gift Card or App Store Card | White Apple logo on blue with a wavy pattern | App Store and Apple services like apps, games and subscriptions |
Apple Store Gift Card | Solid gray, white, silver or gold front | Apple Store and apple.com only, not the App Store |
Older Apple Music or iTunes Gift Card | Pink, purple and blue, or pink, yellow and orange designs | Still redeemable by following the steps on the back |
Which card is sold also depends on the country. Apple lists Apple Gift Card for countries like the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and Japan, and App Store Card for countries like Brazil, Mexico and India.
How to Redeem an Apple Gift Card on iPhone or iPad
App Store on iPhone and iPad has redeeming built in. These steps add an Apple Gift Card to an Apple Account:
Open the App Store.
Tap the profile picture or initials at the top of the screen.
Tap Redeem Code.
Tap Use Camera to scan the card, or Enter Code Manually to type it in.
Tap Redeem.
In some countries and regions, the card can also be redeemed in the Wallet app. After adding the Apple Account card to Wallet, tap it, open the More menu and choose Redeem.
How to Redeem an Apple Gift Card on Mac
Mac uses the App Store for redeeming too, with the account button in the sidebar instead of the top of the screen:
Open the App Store on the Mac.
Click your name at the bottom of the sidebar, or click Sign In first.
Click Redeem Code.
Scan the card with the camera or enter the code manually.
Follow the instructions on screen to finish.
Redeeming an Apple Gift Card on Windows or Online
Apple Gift Cards don't need an Apple device to be redeemed. These are the other ways to add one to an Apple Account:
Windows PC: Open the Apple Music or Apple TV app, click your name at the bottom of the sidebar, choose Redeem and follow the steps on screen.
Online: Go to apple.com/redeem and sign in to the Apple Account.
Email gift cards: Open the gift card email and click Redeem Now.
Checking Your Apple Gift Card Balance
After redeeming, the money shows up as Apple Account balance, and checking it takes a few taps:
iPhone and iPad: Open the App Store and tap the profile picture. Balance shows up under the account name.
Mac: Open the App Store and look below the account name at the bottom of the sidebar.
Windows PC: Open the Apple Music or Apple TV app and check below the account name in the sidebar.
If no amount shows up, the account has no balance. To check an Apple Gift Card balance without redeeming it, Apple has a gift card balance page on its online store where the card details can be entered.
What You Can Buy With an Apple Gift Card
Apple Account balance covers most things Apple sells, depending on the country:
Apps and games, including in-app purchases from the App Store.
Subscriptions like Apple Music, Apple Arcade and Apple TV, plus subscriptions inside apps.
iCloud+ storage.
Movies, music and books from the Apple TV app, iTunes Store and Apple Books.
Apple products and accessories at apple.com, an Apple Store or the Apple Store app, where Apple Gift Card is available.
Some limits still apply. Apple Account balance can't buy gifts or other gift cards, Family Sharing members can't spend it, and some subscriptions like AppleCare+ can't be started with it. Some purchases may also need a credit card on file, even when the balance covers the cost.
Why Your Apple Gift Card Won't Redeem
When an Apple Gift Card won't redeem, the error message usually points to one of these causes:
Apple Store Gift Card: Older gray, white, silver or gold Apple Store Gift Cards can't be redeemed in the App Store or iTunes Store.
Wrong code or typo: Redemption codes start with X. Similar characters like B and 8, O and 0, or S and 5 are easy to mix up, so entering it manually helps.
Already redeemed: Signing out of the App Store on every device and signing back in refreshes the balance, which often shows the card was already added.
Not activated: Some cards aren't activated by the store that sold them. Only that retailer can fix it.
Wrong country or region: Apple Gift Cards only work in the country or region where they were bought, so a US Apple Gift Card needs a US Apple Account.
Scratched or damaged codes can still be sent to Apple Support with a photo of the front and back of the card, the receipt and the card's serial number.
How to Use an Apple Gift Card From Another Country
Apple Gift Cards only redeem on an Apple Account set to the same country or region as the card. A card bought abroad needs the account's region changed first, or a separate Apple Account made for that country.
Before changing the country or region, Apple asks for a few things to be cleared:
Spend the remaining balance. If it's lower than the cost of a single item, Apple Support can clear it.
Cancel blocking subscriptions and wait until the subscription period ends.
Wait for pending activity like memberships, pre-orders, movie rentals, Season Passes and refunds to finish.
Check Family Sharing, since being part of a Family Sharing group can stop the change.
Have a payment method from the new country ready. Without one, Apple suggests creating a new Apple Account once in that country.
After that, the region can be changed on any device:
iPhone or iPad: Open Settings, tap your name, go to Media & Purchases and choose Country/Region.
Mac: Open the Apple Music or Apple TV app, choose Account Settings from the Account menu and click Country/Region.
Windows PC: Open the Apple Music or Apple TV app, click your name, choose View My Account and click Change Country or Region.
Online: Sign in at account.apple.com, select Personal Information and then Country/Region.
Some apps and content may not be available in the new region, so they might need to be downloaded again. Buying a card that already matches the account's region skips this process, whether that's an Apple Gift Card for the UAE, Türkiye or Japan.
FAQs About Redeeming Apple Gift Cards
Final Words
Redeeming an Apple Gift Card comes down to using the right card on the right account. Checking that it's an Apple Gift Card, not an Apple Store Gift Card, and that it matches the account's country avoids almost every error. Cards from another country need the account's region changed first, which means spending the old balance and clearing subscriptions before the switch. Once redeemed, the balance is ready for apps, subscriptions, iCloud+ storage and Apple products, and it's easy to check anytime in the App Store.
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“ Mustafa Atteya has been writing about gaming and esports since 2023, specializing in competitive game content and player improvement guides. At 25, he brings both hands-on gaming experience and professional SEO writing expertise to the GameBoost team.”
