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I Just Got an Apple Gift Card. Now What?

How to add to and use your Apple account balance

By Sam Costello Sam Costello Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on December 23, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email iPhone & iOS Switching from Android One of the most popular gifts for iPhone and iPad owners is an Apple Gift Card (formerly called iTunes Gift Card). Each card provides digital cash that you can use to buy content from Apple's apps and physical stores. If you’ve never gotten an Apple Gift Card, you may not be sure what to do with your present and may be wondering "What can I buy with an iTunes gift card?"

The Basics Get an Apple ID

Whether you're using an Apple gift card or just a regular credit or debit card, you need an account to buy movies, music, apps, and other downloads from Apple. The account is called an Apple ID. You may already have an Apple ID. Apple uses it for all kinds of things, including backing up and storing data with iCloud, making calls with FaceTime, and Apple Music. And you probably created one when you set up your device. If you already have one, you're all set. If not, you'll need to create an Apple ID.

Windows-Only Install Music

If you're using a desktop or laptop Windows computer, you can purchase movies, music, apps, and more using iTunes. On the Mac, iTunes has been replaced by apps like Music and TV, but on Windows, it's still the place to get your Apple media content. Download iTunes for Windows

Redeem Your Apple Gift Card

To move the money stored on the gift card to your Apple ID, you need to redeem the card. You can do this either on a desktop computer or an iOS device, whichever you prefer. Either way, you'll need to sign in to your Apple ID account and use the code on the back of the card at the Redeem link to add the money to your account. Windows users can redeem their gift cards on iTunes. What You Need to Know About iTunes ​

Buy From the App Store Apple Books Apple Music or iTunes

Apple, Inc. If you primarily use an iOS device (iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad), the App Store and Apple Music apps are pre-installed. You can use your Apple Gift Card to purchase apps and other media from the App Store, to get an Apple Music subscription, or to download movies and TV shows from the iTunes Store app. To use your gift card on eBooks from the Apple Books Store, use the Apple Books program that comes pre-installed on all modern Macs and iOS devices. Apple Books doesn't run on Windows. The iTunes Store has 50 million-plus songs, tens of thousands of movies, TV episodes, and e-books, and over 1 million apps and games for you to spend your gift card on. When Apple changed its gift cards from iTunes Gift Cards to Apple Gift Cards, it made one important change—you can use your gift in physical stores, too. The old iTunes Gift Cards were only good for downloading media, but with the new gift card, you can use your balance to buy physical items at Apple retail stores, too.

Optional Sync Purchases to Your Device

Once you've bought content, you need to get it onto your iPod, iPhone, or iPad and start enjoying it. If you made your purchases directly on an iOS device or your devices automatically sync using iCloud, you're all set. All of your purchases go directly to the appropriate app on your device. Songs are in Music, Movies and TV episodes go to the Apple TV app, and you'll find books in Apple Books. Open the appropriate app to check out your purchase. If you made your purchase using iTunes, Apple Music, or TV on a computer, you might need to transfer them to your device to start using them. You can do this by syncing your phone or tablet to your computer. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Give Apple Music (or Products) as a Gift How to Redeem Amazon Gift Cards How to Add Apple Gift Cards to Wallet Can You Install iTunes on a Mac? The Best Digital Music Gift Cards and Certificates How to Turn Off Family Sharing for iTunes How to Cancel Your Apple Music Subscription How to Remove a Family Member From Family Sharing How to Authorize a Computer for Apple TV How to Set up the Apple TV With Your iPhone Do You Have to Use ITunes With an IPhone or IPod? How to See Your Stats and Top Artists on Apple Music (2022) Complete Guide to Using iTunes and the iTunes Store How to Send an iPhone or iPad App as a Gift How to Use Sign In With Apple How to Send iTunes Songs and Albums as a Gift Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies