Apple Gift Card Balance and Uses, Explained
An Apple Gift Card pays for Apple hardware, apps and subscriptions in the US; once redeemed it joins your Apple Account balance, shown in the App Store.
By Olivia HarperContributing writer. Policy checked .
On this page
Store policies change. This is a summary in our own words of Apple's gift card pages, its gift card terms and its support articles, read on October 26, 2026. The official pages are the ones that apply.
What an Apple Gift Card pays for
Apple sells one card for both sides of its business. It covers products and accessories at an Apple Store, on apple.com and in the Apple Store app, and it covers digital purchases: apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, iCloud+, Apple One and similar subscriptions. The terms also allow paying by phone at 1-800-MY-APPLE.
Apple warns that its cards can only buy things sold by Apple. If anyone asks you to pay a bill, a fine or a stranger with an Apple Gift Card, Apple says you may be the target of a scam, and it points victims to Apple Support and the Federal Trade Commission.
Which card do you have?
| Card | How it looks | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Gift Card | Colorful Apple logo on white | Apple Store, apple.com and the App Store |
| App Store Card or App Store & iTunes Gift Card | Mostly blue with a pattern | App Store purchases; the terms say the balance can also buy products |
| Apple Store Gift Card (older) | Solid gray, white, silver or gold | Apple Store and apple.com only, not the App Store |
How to check the balance
- Redeemed card: open the App Store and tap your photo or initials. Any Apple Account balance shows under your name; no amount means no balance. On a Windows PC, use the Apple Music or Apple TV app.
- In Wallet: in some regions the Apple Account card in the Wallet app shows the balance and past purchases.
- Unredeemed card: the terms list 1-800-MY-APPLE as a way to check the amount on a card you have not linked yet.
If the balance looks wrong, Apple suggests signing out and back in, then checking your purchase history for a renewal you forgot.
Redeeming and spending
Find the 16-digit code on the back, then choose Redeem Code in the App Store and scan it or type it. Some regions also let you redeem in Wallet. Once a card is linked to your account, the plastic card itself stops working, even in a store; the money lives in your account.
At checkout on apple.com, Apple takes the money from the gift card codes you enter first, then from your account balance if you choose to apply it, and charges a card for the rest. The terms say gift cards cannot be combined with Apple Pay, PayPal or a payment split across several credit cards.
Limits worth knowing
- US cards work only on US accounts and for US purchases.
- No cash back, resale or exchange, except where the law requires it.
- Gift cards cannot be returned to Apple, and they cannot buy other gift cards.
- A balance cannot move to another person's account.
- You must spend the balance before you can close the account.
- Apple is not responsible for a lost or stolen card, so keep the receipt and serial number.
If a code will not redeem, check for a misread character, a card the retailer never activated, or a card from another country.
Sources
Apple Gift Card, Buy Apple Gift Card, Gift card terms, Check your balance, Redeem a gift card, Card types and Redeem problems, Apple. Policy checked October 26, 2026.