Apple released a new gift card product today that unifies the previous App Store & iTunes Store gift cards with the Apple Store gift cards. The new approach offers a much simpler experience. Read along for how to manage and use the new universal Apple Gift Cards. Show The previous approach of having separate gift cards for the App Store & iTunes Store and the Apple Store left the door open for confusion and frustration for those not dialed into the difference which was then passed on to gift getters. Now when you redeem an Apple Gift Card, it’s added to what’s called your Apple Account Balance (tied to your Apple ID) and can be used across the App Store & iTunes Store (including iOS and Mac) and the Apple Store for any products in the US. That also means you can use the balance for iCloud and other Apple subscriptions like Apple TV+, Apple News+, Apple Arcade, Apple Books, and more. How to use universal Apple Gift Cards on iPhone, iPad, and MacDigital gift cards
If you want to send an Apple Gift Card to someone, you can do it from Apple’s new Gift Card website. Tap or click “Buy” in the top right corner. If you want to add funds to your own Apple Account Balance, you can do it in a few places including the App Store app > tap your profile icon (top-right) > Add Funds to Apple ID. Physical gift cards
How to use your Apple Gift CardUse for apps, music, movies, TV shows, subscriptions, etc.Any purchases you make with Apple through the App Store, iTunes Store, subscriptions like iCloud, Apple Music, Apple News+, Apple TV+, etc. will use the Apple Account Balance first before charing your debit or credit card that’s on file for your Apple ID. Apple also notes that your balance can’t be spent by others if you’re using Family Sharing, just you. Use in the Apple Store app
How to check your Apple Account balanceWhere can you find your balance when you’re ready to make some purchases? Settings on iPhone and iPad
App Store on iPhone and iPad
App Store on Mac
iTunes Store on iPhone and iPad
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news: How do I use my Apple balance for online purchases?To add the card, open up the Wallet app and under "Available Cards," tap on "Add Apple Account." As long as you have an Apple Account balance, you'll be able to add the card. Once added, you can view your Apple Account balance right from the Wallet app and use it to purchase Apple products, apps, games, and music.
Why can't I use my Apple gift card for in app purchases?If you see a message that says that your card has not been properly activated, it might not have been activated by the retailer who sold the card. The best option is to go back to the retailer and try to resolve it with them. If you need more help, contact Apple Support.
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