How To Add a Gift Card to Apple Wallet
If you have an iOS device, you probably know how handy Apple Wallet is for holding your credit and debit card information for easy use with Apple Pay. You can also store other types of card information in Apple Wallet, with one surprising exception: gift cards. Apple Wallet doesn’t currently support most types of gift cards, but it does support a few.
Read on to learn how to add a gift card to Apple Wallet if you receive one that’s compatible with Apple Pay, and a few other helpful things about using gift cards with your Apple device.
See: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases
How To Add a Gift Card to Apple Wallet
Some gift cards that have a Visa, Mastercard or American Express logo can be added to Apple Wallet if they are compatible with Apple Pay.
To add a gift card to Apple Wallet on your iPhone:
- Launch the Wallet app.
- Tap the button with the “+” symbol.
- Select the “Debit or Credit Card” option.
- Select “Continue.”
- Follow the prompts to add a new card.
Why Can’t I Add a Gift Card to Apple Wallet?
If you can’t add a gift card to Apple Wallet, it is likely because it is not an Apple Pay-supported card. At this time, retailer gift cards are not listed as a supported card type on Apple’s website. If you’re having difficulty adding a gift card with a Visa, Mastercard or American Express logo, check with the card issuer to determine compatibility.
A Workaround for Adding Some Retailer Gift Cards to Apple Wallet
If you’ve received a gift card from a specific retailer, you may find you can indirectly add it to Apple Wallet if the retailer’s app is compatible with Apple Wallet.
For instance, you can add an Amazon gift card balance to Apple Wallet by following these steps:
- Log in to the Amazon app using your Amazon account credentials.
- Add your Amazon gift card to your Amazon Cash balance.
- Go to the Amazon Cash bar code page in the Amazon app.
- Tap “Add to Apple Wallet.”
You can find a list of retailer apps supported by Apple Wallet on the Apple website. Not every retailer will allow you to add your gift card information as you can with Amazon, but some may.
How Do I Add an Apple Gift Card to My iPhone?
If you’ve received an Apple gift card, you can add it to your Apple account balance so it’s available to use on your iPhone when shopping for Apple products and services online or in-store.
To add an Apple gift card to your iPhone:
- Launch the App Store app.
- Tap your photo or the sign-in button at the top of the screen.
- Select “Redeem Gift Card or Code.” If this option is unavailable, you must sign in with your Apple ID.
- Select “Use Camera” or “Enter Code Manually” and follow the prompts. You’ll need access to the 16-digit code on the back of the gift card.
- Tap “Done.”
You can use your Apple account balance at the Apple Store, App Store, iTunes Store and Apple Books. You can also use it for Apple subscriptions or iCloud storage. If you live in the United States, your Apple account balance may appear in Apple Wallet.
Final Take
Unfortunately, unless you have a supported gift card with a Visa, Mastercard or American Express logo, you can’t add it to your Apple Wallet, and not every gift card with a major credit card logo is supported. However, if the gift card is from a retailer with an Apple Wallet-compatible app, such as Amazon, you may be able to find a workaround to store your gift card in Wallet via the retailer’s app.
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