How to Check Apple Gift Card Balance (Full Guide)

Gift cards are no new thing. They have been here for a long time, and they will remain.

Do you have a gift card, specifically the Apple gift card and you are unsure what balance you have left? Brace up; this piece is for you.

In this exhaustive guide, we will provide a thorough walkthrough on how to check your Apple gift card balance.

What about Gift Cards?

A gift card, also known as a stored value card, is a prepaid card loaded with a certain amount of money that can be used to make purchases of goods and services at retail stores or other financial institutions.

Several kinds of these gift cards exist. An example is the iTunes or Apple gift.

iTunes or Apple gift cards are pre-purchased debit cards for making purchases at the Apple Store, Apple’s media and software marketplace.

There, you can buy music, movies, apps, make in-game purchases, and a whole lot more. Apple gift cards can be a good gift for someone who enjoys using Apple products.

Also read: Top 10 Best Gift Cards to Sell in Nigeria Right Now

Types of Gift Cards

There are mainly two types of gift cards:

1. Closed Loop Gift Cards
2. Open Loop Gift Cards

1. Closed-Loop Gift Cards: These are commonly issued by retail stores and are only eligible for use at the store that issued them or in chains of the store, whether online or in-store. Examples include Steam gift cards, Nike gift cards, Netflix gift cards, Google Play gift cards, etc. One disadvantage of this is that it limits you to buying only from a certain store.
2. Open–Loop Gift Cards: These can be used anywhere and are general-purpose, which means they can be used at any store that accepts them. Typically, financial institutions like banks issue them. They can be used to make all kinds of electronic payments. Examples of open-loop gift cards include Visa gift cards, American Express gift cards, Discover, etc.

Apple gift cards are an example of closed-loop gift cards, as they can only be used for Apple Products. They can be digital or physical.

Checking your Apple gift card balance, however, is essential to know how much you have left before it expires so you will not end up overspending.

How to Check Your Gift Card Balance (general Procedure)

There are three major ways to check a gift card balance:

1. Checking your balance online
2. Calling the gift card store
3. Going into the store

For most people, the first is the easiest. There is no need for a person-to-person face-to-face or over-the-phone interaction, especially if you are somewhat shy.

However, option one might be more complicated when checking your gift card balance for the older demographic, the boomers, generation Xs and millennials.

Nevertheless, we shall explore all three options, and you can choose which is more suitable.

Also read: Top 10 Highest Gift Cards in Nigeria 2024

Checking Your Gift Card Balance Online

1. Find the website on the back of the card. You can do this by flipping the card with the black strip to the side. Read the fine print on the back of the card. It will usually have directions to find your balance or list a website you can visit to determine your balance.
2. Be wary of scam sites not affiliated with the gift card company. Only use the website printed at the back of the card.
3. Visit the website printed on the back of the card. It will ask you to input information essential to getting your gift card balance, including your card number, expiration date, or access code. You might need to peel off a piece of tape covering some of those numbers.
4. Once you submit the necessary information, you will be directed to another page. On this page, your gift card balance will be listed.

Calling the Gift Card Store

You can easily check your gift card balance by calling the store especially if you cannot find a website on the back of the card. The following steps show how you can do that:

1. Find the company’s number on the back of the card. Again, you can do this by flipping the card over to the side with a black strip. Some cards have two numbers: one for customer service and one for balance check. No matter which is called, once you state your enquiry, you will be directed to the appropriate department.
2. Once you call the number, you might be talking to a live operator or automated phone system. You will be asked to input the card details mentioned earlier, which includes card number, expiration date, and birth date, or you might be required to input the last four digits of your phone number. The card information is dependent on what type of gift card you have. Continue the phone call until all required information is inputted.
3. Once all the information is inputted, you will be redirected to a reading of your balance. You can either write this down or save on your cell phone.

Going to The Store

If you cannot do either of the two above and your gift card retailer store has a physical location nearby, going to the store might be your best bet to check your gift card balance.

You can hand over your gift card to a customer service representative or cashier, and they will scan the card and tell you its balance.

This comes at no cost, so don’t fret about paying any charges. You can also purchase goods with the gift card and get a printed receipt. Your remaining balance will be at the bottom of the receipt.

How to Check Your Apple Gift Card Balance

Apple Gift Card balances can be checked online in simple steps. If you only want to check your balance without redeeming it, you can follow these procedures:

• Open a web browser: This can be any web browser, including Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc. In the search bar, type in “Apple Gift Card”.
• Choose the appropriate option: After typing in “Apple Gift Card”, the search engine will bring several results. This is where you have to be careful. If you choose any other website besides Apple’s and put in sensitive information, your gift card may become useless. Choose apple gift card balance website. The link of the website address sometimes varies depending on the country you are in.
• Sign in to the website: A sign-in page will appear once you click the link. Enter the email address and password associated with Apple. Click on Sign in. You must have an Apple ID to use this website. If you don’t have one, you need to create one. You can also be asked to provide a code sent to your phone or laptop if you have two factor authentication.

PIN Entry

• Enter the PIN: Another page will pop up once you sign in. Click the field that shows “PIN” and type the PIN from the gift card. The PIN is not the same as the gift card number; it is a sixteen-digit code.

The PIN is in the email if you use a digital card. For an Apple Store gift Card, the pin is below the button that says “Redeem Now.” If it is an App Store or iTunes Gift Card, the pin is near the bottom of the barcode on the left.

However, the pin is at the back if you use a physical card. If it is an Apple Store Gift Card, the pin is on the back on the lower portion of the card insert. You might need to scratch off the silver section. However, if it is a physical App Store and iTunes Gift card, the pin is top-center at the back of the card.

• Click “Check Balance:” Below the field that says “PIN,” there is the blue Check Balance button. Clicking this will redirect you to another page that shows your balance. It is one of the simplest ways to check your Apple Gift Card balance without redeeming it.

Also read: How to Convert Gift Cards to Cash in Nigeria and Ghana

Alternative Way to Check Your Apple Gift Card Balance

• You can click on the link: https://www.apple.com/shop/gift-cards
• This will provide a friendly user interface. Right next to buy, there is a drop-down box that shows Overview, Redeem, and Check balance.
• Click on Check Balance.
• It will require you to sign in. input your e-mail and password.
• It will show a field “PIN”, enter your PIN.
• Click “Check Balance”
• Your balance will be shown.

You can also call apple at 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753) to check your gift card balance. 

How to Redeem Your Apple Gift Card Balance.

If you want to redeem your Apple gift card balance, there are several options. You can follow these methods:

• Click on the link: https://www.apple.com/shop/gift-cards
• This will provide a friendly user interface. Right next to buy, there is a drop-down box that shows: Overview, Redeem, Check Balance.
• Click on Redeem
• If you are not signed in, it will require you to sign-in.
• Input your e-mail and password.
• This will direct you to a page with “PIN” as a field.
• Input the PIN and click on Redeem.

Alternative Way

• Open App store: You can open the application on your iOS device or the website on any device.

• Sign in with your Apple ID. If you don’t have one, you need to create one. If you have two-factor authentication, you can also be asked to provide a code sent to your phone or laptop.
• Click on your profile: Once you are signed in on the App Store , click on your profile at the top right
• Click on redeem gift card or code: After clicking on your profile, you will see a redeem gift card or code option right under ‘notifications.’ Click the option.
• Choose a suitable option: After clicking on Redeem Gift Card or Code, there is a pop-up page with two options. The first is “Use Camera” and the second is “enter code manually”

If you click on “use Camera”, the camera will open so you can take a picture of the back of your card.

However, if you enter code manually, click the button and add the code manually.

And that is how to redeem your apple gift card balance.

You can also check your balance after redeeming by either of these ways:

1. Click on Your Name On Your Profile: This will take you to “Account Settings,” where many options are displayed. There is an option to “Add Money to your Account” which should show how much your current account balance is after adding the gift card.
2. Apple Wallet: you can open your apple wallet. Above the virtual card is the account, which will show whatever your balance is.

Also read: How Much Is a $1000 Google Play Gift Card In Nigerian Naira 

How to Create an Apple ID

From the above, it is evident that one cannot redeem their gift card for money or check their balance without having an ID to sign into Apple Store. Below is a step-by-step process of creating an Apple ID.

How To Generate an Apple ID When You Set up Your Device

1. Tap “Forgot password or don’t have an Apple ID?”
2. Tap Create a Free Apple ID.
3. Select your birthday and enter your name. Tap Next.
4. Tap “Use your current email address,” or tap “Get a free iCloud email address.”
5. Follow the onscreen steps to verify your email address, create a strong password, set your device region, and set up two-factor authentication. If you choose to skip this step, you’ll be prompted to do this later in Settings.

Create Your Apple ID Using the App Store on Your Device

1. Open the App Store and tap the My Account button.
2. Tap Create New Apple ID. If you don’t see this option, make sure that you’re signed out of iCloud.
3. Follow the onscreen steps to provide an email address, create a strong password, and set your device region. The email address that you provide will be your new Apple ID.
4. Enter your payment method and billing information, then tap “next”. You can also choose “none”. You won’t be charged until you make a purchase.
5. Confirm your phone number. This can help verify your identity and recover your account if needed. Tap Next.
6. Check your email for a verification email from Apple and verify your email address.
7. After you verify your email address, you can use your Apple ID to sign in to the App Store and other Apple services, such as iCloud.
8. On the Chinese mainland, you might be required to provide a +86 phone number for your Apple ID. You can change the number later, or change your country or region to a location that doesn’t require it. This number is only used for verification purposes.

Create Your Apple ID on A Windows PC

On your Windows PC, you can create an Apple ID in the Apple TV app, the Apple Music app, or iTunes for Windows.

Create Your Apple ID on Another Device

To create your Apple ID on an Apple TV, Android device, smart TV, or streaming device, you can usually follow the steps provided onscreen and enter your full name, date of birth, an email address or phone number, and a payment method. If you set up the Apple TV app on your smart TV, you might be redirected to activate.apple.com to create your Apple ID. 

Create your Apple ID on the web

1. Go to appleid.apple.com and click Create Your Apple ID. 
2. Follow the onscreen steps to provide an email address, create a strong password, and set your device region. The email address that you provide will be your new Apple ID.
3. Enter a phone number that you can always access.
4. Check the boxes to subscribe to Apple Updates if you’d like. This keeps you up to date on the latest news, software, products, and services from Apple.
5. Click Continue.
6. Follow the on-screen steps to verify your email address and phone number.
7. For more updates, follow us on Twitter or X, @SiliconAfriTech.

Reference:

www.support.apple.com

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