Add your gift card through Settings on any Apple device

You can add an Apple Gift Card to your account directly from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV. Open the Settings app (or System Preferences on Mac), go to your name at the top, select Media & Purchases, then tap Redeem Gift Card or Code. You'll either scan the card's code with your device's camera or type the 16-digit code manually. The balance appears in your account within seconds and is ready to use immediately.

On a Mac, the process is nearly identical: click the Apple menu, select System Settings, click your name, then Media & Purchases, and choose Redeem Gift Card or Code. If you're using an older Mac running Big Sur or earlier, open the App Store instead and look for the account menu in the top-left corner.

If you don't have an Apple device handy, you can also redeem through a web browser by visiting appleid.apple.com, signing in, navigating to Media & Purchases, and selecting Redeem Gift Card or Code from there.

Key Takeaways

  • You can redeem an Apple Gift Card on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, or through appleid.apple.com in your web browser.
  • The card's balance adds to your Apple Account balance and works for App Store purchases, iCloud subscriptions, Apple Music, and other Apple services.
  • You can either scan the card's code with your device's camera or type the 16-digit code by hand.
  • The balance appears in your account immediately and does not expire once redeemed.

Where the balance goes and what you can spend it on

Once you redeem an Apple Gift Card, the money sits in your Apple Account balance. This single balance covers purchases across multiple Apple services: the App Store, Apple Books, Apple Music, iCloud+ subscriptions, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and in-app purchases within apps. When you make a purchase, Apple deducts from this balance first before charging any payment method you have on file.

The balance does not expire after you redeem it. You can hold it indefinitely and spend it whenever you choose. If you have multiple payment methods on your account, you can choose which one to use at checkout, so you can save your Apple Gift Card balance for specific purchases if you prefer.

Redeeming a physical card versus a digital code

Apple Gift Cards come in two forms: physical cards you buy in stores and digital codes sent via email. The redemption process is identical for both. For a physical card, you'll see a 16-digit code on the back under a scratch-off panel. For a digital code, the code arrives in your email and is already visible.

Digital codes are faster if you need the balance immediately, since there's no shipping or in-store pickup. Physical cards are useful if you're giving one as a gift and want to hand over something tangible. Either way, once you enter the code into your account, the balance is yours to use.

What to do if the code won't scan or won't redeem

If your device's camera won't read the code, switch to typing it manually. Make sure you're entering the 16-digit code exactly as it appears, including any hyphens. Codes are case-insensitive, so uppercase and lowercase letters both work. If you're copying and pasting the code from an email, watch for extra spaces at the beginning or end that might have been included accidentally.

If the code still won't redeem, check that you're signed into the correct Apple ID. A code can only be redeemed once, so if someone else has already used it, it won't work again. If you received a code from a retailer or as a gift and it's not working, contact the sender or the retailer's customer service to confirm the code is valid and hasn't been used.

For codes purchased directly from Apple or an authorized retailer, you can also reach Apple Support through appleid.apple.com or by calling Apple directly. They can verify whether a code is valid and help troubleshoot if there's a technical issue with redemption.

Checking your current Apple Account balance

To see how much balance you have available, open Settings on your device and tap your name, then Media & Purchases. Your current balance appears at the top of the screen. On a Mac, the same information is in System Settings under your name and Media & Purchases. On the web, sign into appleid.apple.com, go to Media & Purchases, and your balance is displayed there as well.

Your balance updates in real time when you make purchases or redeem new gift cards. If you've set up Family Sharing, only the account holder can see and manage the family's shared balance, though family members can make purchases against it.

Adding a gift card to a family member's account

If you want to add a gift card to someone else's Apple ID, they need to redeem it themselves using their own device or account. You cannot redeem a code on behalf of another person. If you're giving someone a gift card, provide them with the 16-digit code and let them add it to their account through Settings or appleid.apple.com.

If you're part of a Family Sharing group and want to contribute funds to the family's shared balance, the family organizer can redeem gift cards to the family account. Family members can then make purchases using that shared balance. Each family member still has their own individual Apple ID and can also redeem gift cards to their personal account if they choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an Apple Gift Card to buy an iPhone or Mac?

No. Apple Gift Cards work only for digital purchases: apps, subscriptions, books, music, and in-app content. To buy hardware like iPhones, Macs, or Apple Watches, you need a credit card, debit card, or Apple Card. You can use your gift card balance for AppleCare+ protection plans, but not for the device itself.

What happens if I redeem a gift card but don't use the balance right away?

The balance stays in your account indefinitely. There is no expiration date once the code is redeemed. You can hold it for months or years and spend it whenever you want. The balance is tied to your Apple ID, so as long as you have access to your account, the money is there.

Can I transfer my Apple Gift Card balance to someone else?

No. Once you redeem a gift card to your account, the balance cannot be transferred, refunded, or moved to another person's account. If you want to give someone money to spend on Apple services, you need to give them an unredeemed gift card code, not your account balance.

Do I need an internet connection to redeem a gift card?

Yes. Your device needs to be connected to the internet to redeem a code and add the balance to your account. The redemption happens on Apple's servers, so offline redemption is not possible. Once redeemed, you can use the balance for purchases as long as you have an internet connection at checkout.