How to redeem your iTunes gift card on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

Got yourself an iTunes gift card for Christmas? Sweet! So did my daughter. And because I’ve got some experience with these, we redeemed the card right away (before she had a chance to lose it). The money is simply added to your account, after all, and can be used at a later date on apps, movies, music, and TV shows…in the U.S. anyway. Some countries may still restrict what can be purchased based on the card. Check your card and iTunes account for details.

Also, note that gift cards have to be redeemed in the iTunes store of the country in which the card was purchased. For example, if the card was purchased in Canada, it cannot be used with a U.S. iTunes account. Check the back of the card to see the country of origin. If you’re in that situation, you may be stuck trying to sell the code on ebay.

Anyway, although redeeming an iTunes gift card is very simple, Apple doesn’t do a great job of explaining the App Store app options on the card. So, here you go.

1. Scratch or peel off the film on the back of the card to reveal the number.

2. Launch the App Store app on your iDevice, tap the Featured tab at the bottom left, and scroll to the very bottom.

3. Tap the Redeem button.
4. Enter the promo code from the back of your iTunes gift card and tap Go.

5. You’ll likely need to enter your password to verify for your purchase.

Simple as that. The funds will stay in your account until you start downloading, so no rush to blow through them right away. If you want to, though, we’ve got some iOS games to suggest.