You can use an iTunes or Apple Gift Card balance to buy apps, games, music, movies, subscriptions, iCloud storage, or Apple hardware.
Apple’s gift cards add money to your Apple ID balance, which works like digital cash within Apple’s ecosystem. Honestly, this is the simplest way to pay for anything Apple sells—apps, subscriptions, even that new pair of AirPods.
Since 2026, most cards now share one unified balance, though some receipts still say “iTunes.” Don’t let the old label throw you—the balance behaves the same across all Apple services.
Your Apple ID balance appears under “Apple ID Balance” in your account settings.
Here’s how to check it:
- On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings → [your name] → Media & Purchases → View Account. The balance shows up right under “Apple ID Balance.”
- On a Mac: Open the App Store app, click your profile picture, then go to Account → Apple ID Balance.
To redeem a physical card, open the App Store, tap your profile icon, and select “Redeem Gift Card or Code.”
On an iPhone or iPad:
- Open the App Store app.
- Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner.
- Choose “Redeem Gift Card or Code” and enter the 16-digit code from the card.
On a Mac:
- Open the App Store app.
- Click your profile icon.
- Select “Redeem Gift Card” and type in the code.
You can spend your balance in the App Store, iTunes Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, iCloud storage, or the Apple online store.
Here’s where your balance actually works:
| Where to spend | Menu path | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| App Store | Search → buy an app | Games, productivity tools |
| iTunes Store | Music → buy a song | Songs, albums, ringtones |
| Apple TV app | Store → rent or buy | Movies, TV shows |
| Apple Music | Subscriptions → join | Individual or Family plan |
| Apple Books | Bookstore → buy a book | E-books, audiobooks |
| iCloud storage | Settings → [name] → iCloud → Manage Storage | 50 GB, 200 GB, 2 TB plans |
| Apple online store | apple.com → choose a product → checkout | iPhone, MacBook, AirPods |
If you move to a new country, you can change your Apple region, but any leftover balance may be lost.
Here’s what to do:
- Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in.
- Scroll down to Account → Edit → Country/Region.
- Pick your new country. When prompted, add a local payment method.
- Any remaining balance usually disappears unless Apple’s regional rules allow you to keep it.
If your balance doesn’t show up after redeeming, restart your device and check the App Store again.
Still missing?
- Sign out of your Apple ID completely, then sign back in.
- Make sure you’re using the correct Apple ID—the one tied to the balance.
If you can’t see the “Redeem Gift Card” option, you’re likely signed in with a child or managed Apple ID.
Here’s the fix:
- Ask the family organiser to redeem the card for you.
- Or sign in with the main account that owns the balance.
Some subscriptions, like Netflix, can only be billed through Apple in certain countries.
If your balance won’t pay for a subscription:
- Check whether Apple supports that subscription in your country.
- Visit Apple’s subscription list to confirm.
Use a single Apple ID for the whole household to keep balances in one place.
Other tips to avoid losing your digital cash:
- Turn on “Ask to Buy” for kids so purchases still come out of the family organiser’s balance.
- Store gift card codes safely—usually on the receipt or in a saved screenshot.
- Check regional rules before traveling; a U.S. gift card won’t work in a German Apple Store.
Apple Gift Cards issued in the United States no longer expire, but third-party content codes usually do.
For example:
- Apple’s own gift cards never expire (as of 2026).
- iTunes movie rental codes? Those still have deadlines—use them before they expire.
