Being the go-to Mac guy amongst my family and some friends, I’m no longer surprised by the questions I’m asked. Or how many times I’m asked. This is the case with iTunes gift cards. They’re becoming more and more common as the popularity of the Mac and iPhone/iPod continues to grow, but the giver doesn’t always understand that the recipient may be new to these devices and is unaware of how they work. Thankfully, it’s actually quite basic once you know where to go.
[Update: In some countries, iTunes does not allow for app purchases to be made with a gift card. Check the iTunes policy for your country for app compatibility.]
iTunes
If you’re downloading music/videos for your Mac, or the same plus games for your iPhone or iPod touch, you can easily handle all of this through iTunes. iPhone and iPod touch owners will already have an account. If you’re a Mac user checking out iTunes for the first time, you’ll need to create your account. Apple has basic instructions on this at their support site.
Okay, now that we’re all past that, let’s hit the iTunes App Store. Log in, if you haven’t already. You do that by clicking on “Sign In” in the upper right of the window and filling in your information. If you’re already logged in, you’ll see your account name here instead of “Sign In.”
With this done, on the left hand side, you’ll see the little green shopping bag icon next to “iTunes Store.” Click on that.
After a loading period, you’ll see the welcome screen of the store hawking the latest releases. Ignore all of that and look up at the upper right of the window. Just under “Quick Links” you’ll see “Redeem.” Click on that.
You’re then presented with the iTunes gift card/certificate redemption screen. Depending upon the card you got, the graphic may look familiar.
Enter the code on your card here. The amount of the card will be applied to your account, and you’re set to start shopping.
iPhone / iPod touch
Suppose you’re not near your computer, though. Maybe you’re trapped at a gathering and you really need some distraction. Apple feels your pain, and they’ve made it possible to get your credit applied to your account directly with the iPhone and iPod touch.
The first thing you’ll want to do is launch the App Store app (likely on your home screen, unless you moved it). Once you’re in, tap the “Featured” button on the bottom left of the screen.
After this, you have to scroll all the way to the bottom of the list to find the “Redeem” icon (with thick sarcasm, I would like to thank Apple for making this so easy to find).
Tap this, and you’ll see the blank field for entering your code. If you’re not logged in, you’ll be asked to do so. Then, the money will be in your account. Feel free to start downloading. Looking for some ideas? Katie Gatto has offered some recommendations for both $25 and $50 budgets.
- What to do with that iTunes gift card you got for Christmas: $25 Edition
- What to do with that iTunes gift card you got for Christmas: $50 Edition
Enjoy!
Any ideas when I get an error that my free song code isn't valid?
I'm bit a confused as I entered a code from a $15 giftcard, not a free song code…
Not sure. Where'd you buy the card? Are you entering it through iTunes or through an iPod touch or iPhone?
iTunes. I'm not sure, I got it as a gift. Maybe I should try US Store as well, it might have been a store problem.
Ah, yes, that's likely it. The international stores don't play well together, so a gift card purchased in the U.S. may only be good in the U.S. store.
@Terri
I noticed this as well. It seems you can't buy apps you can only buy music with an iTunes giftcard. Correct me if I'm wrong, but every time I purchased an app it used my credit card, and for a song it used the money from the giftcard.
I entered a $10 gift card, and it worked and says I have $10, but when I try to buy a movie that is $9.99 it says I don't have enough credit!
PlEASE HELP ME!
Well entered my redeem code in but it didnt add the money…anyone know why/how to fix this ??
Sam, is there tax on the movie?
Elliott, not sure. Did you enter the code through iTunes or the iPhone? Did it give you any sort of confirmation?
Yes it did confirm. I did it on my iPhone but my money has not been added.
Nicholas, I'm pretty sure the Canadian iTunes store still does not allow gift cards to be used for app purchases, whereas you now can in the U.S. I'll update the article to point that out.
Elliott, are you in the U.S.?
Actually im in the UK. Unfortunately i can no longer re-enter the code as my iphone states that this card has already been used.(By me).
JUst recieved this message when used on the computer: The Gift card or Itunes card has not been activated. See the retailer for more assistance.
How can i do that if i bought it from a super store.
Gift cards have to be activated by the store (usually the cashier) when you purchase it to verify they haven't been stolen. It's possible the cashier messed that up, or didn't do it. Can you take the card back to the store for activation? You may need the receipt.
Alright may have to do that. Grrr. Thats my own money ive spent and now i have to waste more time for £15. Very annoying becuase of the cashier. She should have noticed that i guess. I'll have to ask every time i buy one from now on…
Thanks for the answer.
I redeem my $20 itunes card, after i was browsing around foo apps,(but on top of the right had corner i see the credit of $20.00)
After my itunes frozed, so i shut it down, now when i went back on itunes, the credit is not there anymore, i tried to redeem again, but it said already redeemed, how can use the card?
Um when I went to the app store and scrolled to the bottom of featured, the redeem icon wasn't there. Advice?
Is the "New" tab selected at the top? "What's Hot" and "Genius" don't have the Redeem link.
Hi there,
I'm from Canada, I purchased a I-tunes gift-card, went and redeemed it. Shows a 15$ credit at the top right of I-tunes. Which I understand that can be used to make purchases with.
I went to the game apps, went to go buy an app, and it takes me directly to the method of payment page. Doesn't even register I have a 15$ credit.
And help would be appreciated.
Hello, Sonny. Unless it's been recently changed the Canadian iTunes store doesn't allow you to use gift cards for app purchases. As far as I know, that can only be done currently in the U.S.
CRAP!
Thanks Kirk, even though you bare bad news, I appreciate the response.
(at least didn't spend large, went with the 15$ gift card)
Well, you could always buy some good music or a movie with it!
i used to have a ipod shuffel and nowi got a ipod nano and i for everything to my ituens acount so i made a new one how do i get my old music to my new acount and finsh useing the old ituns card with my new wmail and itunes acount
That one's tricky Jessica, because Apple now sees those as two separate accounts. You may have to log out of your new account, log into the old one and use the card.
As for transferring your old songs to the new account, I'd give an Apple a call to see if they have a quick way to do it, although I doubt it. If that's the case, report back here and I can recommend some programs that'll allow you to export them from the old iTunes account and then import them into the new one.
I redeemed my gift card and did not try to use it for 6 days…….when I tried to use the money it disappeared. I double checked my purchases with my credit card and it equals out. Any suggestions?
What country are you in?
I can't redeem my Itunes Gift cos I'm outside of US, and i can't change my country because it wont match my billing address. Help?
From what I understand, you don't need to verify the physical billing address, so you can always just enter a fake one (should probably make sure it's an actual address, though). I know quite a few people who have set up fake Japanese addresses so they can purchase music from iTunes Japan.
In have been buying apps in the U.S. with ITunes cards. Now I'm in Canada and the ITunes card I bought here won't work here. Is there any way I can make it work, or do I just give it away?
HELP!!!
David.
ok so i redeemed my $15 itunes card and on the home screen on the top right it sayes i have $15 but when i try to buy a song it sayes i have to pay with my credit card even though i have $15 to spend please help
I entered my gift card details after I received it at Christmas it has always shown my balance as being £15 which was the card value but now when I want to spend £1.89 it does not allow me to use my credit HELP PLEASE
Bryony, what type of card was it (music store or app store) and what are you trying to purchase?
HI
Similar problem to the above. I have a credit on Itunes but when attempting to purchase a song, it takes me to the credit card details
How can I pay for a song from the account credit
Any advice would be appreciated
I redeemed a gift card and the amount shows up at the top of the page but when I try to purchase anything i am not getting any access to the money, I just get the page where you enter credit info…
I redeemed my itunes card and on my account it says that I have a $15.00 credit but when I go to buy an app it takes me to the credit card page.
I have pressed redeem and it says my code is not valid and I have used it before and I still have got a lot of money on there
PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!
If you used your code already, the credit should be in your account. You don't have to enter the code twice.
Okay, so I live in Canada, and my dad lives in the states, and he got me an iTunes gift card, but I can't redeem the gift card cuz it's only in the US store that I can redeem it (I guess), can you help me figure this out, please?
As far as I know, U.S. gift cards can't be redeemed with a Canadian account. You can create a U.S. account using a bogus U.S. address, but it won't be tied to your normal account.
I got an itunes card as a gift and redeemed it but every time I try to purchase a movie it keeps taking me to my billing information. what to do?
Have you already created an iTunes account? Even if you're redeeming a gift card, you need to create an iTunes account with a billing address in the country of the iTunes store you're logged into.
I have $25 on my account but when I try to purchase a song it takes me to my credit card information. I have no idea what to do.
for the first time i was given an itunes giftcard for $30. It's a music one. I redeemed the code and i have the $30.00 up in the right hand corner next to my username. YES… BUT BUT BUT… now every time i go to buy a song, it asks me to confirm my credit card details… or to enter a giftcard… (i tired entering the gift card again but of course it says it's already been redeemed.)
HOW can i access this $30.00 on my account to buy songs. i want to support the industry and buy things legally… but this is so hard!!
Hey I redeemed my gift card on my Iphone and the money appears at the bottom in the app store. But when I'm on my mac and i'm on iTunes the credit hasn't come up. I don't know why this is it's the same account and it shows me everything i've purchased on my iphone but i can't purchase on itunes because the credit doesn't appear?
Can somebody help?
hey so i just got this 15 dollar itunes giftcard and i put in on my itouch and it said that i have entered a $15 gift card but my balance is $5.87….can someone help me fix this please?!?! it makes no sense. oh and i live in the US.
Are you getting that balance on your iPod touch or when you log into iTunes on your computer? Is there a difference between the two or do they both read $5.87?
Hi I redeemed my £25 gift card and when I go on my account it says I have £25 but when I try and buy a song it takes me to my billing info and won’t let me use the money I redeemed.
What shall I do?
Is the gift card for the App Store or the iTunes music store? I’ll have to check to see if the U.K. still has them separate.
Okay so what if you have an AppleID and you entered your iTunes giftcard code into there when you were creating your AppleID (because you wanted to download Apps so you went to the App store where you ended up creating your AppleID account) can you use that money that you eneterd in the App store for iTunes? Because I logged into iTunes and it says that my balance is 25.00$ and I don’t know if I can use it to buy music and I want to make sure.
In the U.S., app store and music store balances are interchangeable, so you can use the gift cards for either. That may not be the case in all countries, though.
I have a $30 I tunes card bought in the states i did no know that they are not valid in Canada I brought the card back but they won’t take it back because the lable is scrached . Wat do I do ?
I think your only option is to see if you can find someone in the States to buy it from you…provided you haven’t redeemed it yet.
If I bring it to an apple store will they ghive me my money back?? Don’t now eny body in states !!!
Apple won’t refund your money for a gift card purchase, I’m afraid.
Store in Canada
i had a 10$ gift card and i bought music and i had 0.14$ left on it i couldnt spend music on it so i wanted to have a gift card be off of the computer so i could just purchase the music with out a gift card so what do i do??
Hey, I tried redeeming my card but, it says Your iTunes Store(United States) doesnt match that of the gift certificate(Canada). Can you please help me find a way to get the money into my account.
You may be out of luck. Cards purchased outside the U.S. don’t work in the U.S. iTunes store. Does the back of the card indicate the country in which the card was purchased?
Yup, its from Canada like I said earlier, Your iTunes Store(United States) doesnt match that of the gift certificate(Canada). But thanks I checked out the Apple Store Support, and contacted them
Let us know what they say, as their response tends to differ from year to year.
Ok, that’ll be fine.
hey!
recently bought an iPad so I’m trying to get all the cool apps that i want/need. when ever i try to get the app i want, it has a pop-up to enter my AppleID, as well as all my details, but then asks for a gift card code – of which i don’t have. If i click to confirm all of it, it redirects me to the same pop-up and says it requires a gift code before i can go further.
This is obviously very frustrating so any advice would be great!
Is the app free or does it cost money?