To add a gift card to wallet iPhone, you must use the merchant's own app or website, because Apple does not provide a universal method to add any retail gift card directly inside the Wallet app. Apple Gift Cards are redeemed through the App Store and added to your Apple Account balance, not as a separate Wallet pass.
How to add a gift card to the wallet app on iPhone
There is no single button inside the Wallet app to add an arbitrary retail gift card. The process depends entirely on whether the merchant or card issuer supports Apple Wallet passes. For most retail gift cards, you must go to the store's own app or website, find the card's page or balance screen, and look for an "Add to Apple Wallet" button or badge. For Apple Gift Cards, you redeem the code through the App Store, which adds the value to your Apple Account.
The real way to add retail gift cards
- Open the merchant's own app or website on your iPhone.
- Navigate to the gift card's page or balance screen.
- Look for the "Add to Apple Wallet" badge or button.
- Tap the badge or button and follow the on-screen prompts to add the pass to Wallet.
If the merchant supports Apple Wallet, the pass will appear in your Wallet app after you complete the prompts. If you do not see an "Add to Apple Wallet" option, the retailer does not support Wallet passes for that card. Some gift cards require activation before they can be added to the Wallet app; follow the issuer's activation instructions first.
How to redeem an Apple Gift Card
- Open the App Store on your iPhone.
- Tap your profile picture or sign-in button at the top of the screen.
- Tap "Redeem Gift Card or Code".
- Choose "Use Camera" to scan the code, or tap "Enter Code Manually" to type it in.
- Follow the prompts to add the value to your Apple Account balance.
An Apple Gift Card does not become a pass in Wallet. Instead, the funds are added to your Apple Account balance, which you can use for purchases in the App Store, iTunes, Apple Books, and other Apple services.
Check if a merchant supports Apple Wallet
Compatibility depends entirely on the retailer or card issuer. Apple's Wallet support pages list supported cards and passes, but they do not include general retail gift cards as a built-in Wallet item type. If the merchant does not offer an "Add to Apple Wallet" option on their app or website, there is no documented way to add that gift card to Wallet on iPhone. On Android, Google Wallet does support adding gift cards directly in the Google Wallet app, but that applies only to Android devices, not iPhone. To check if you have the Wallet app, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center; if you see a stack of cards, you have it. If not, download it from the App Store. The Wallet app is available on iPhones running iOS 9 or later. To check compatibility, go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and look for 'Add Credit or Debit Card'; if you see this option, your device is compatible. You need an active internet connection to add and manage gift cards in Wallet.
Organize and use your gift cards in Wallet
Once a merchant-supported gift card pass is added, open the Wallet app to view and use it. You can tap the card to see details such as the balance and any offers. You can check a gift card's remaining balance and transaction history by tapping the card in the Wallet app. The Wallet app can send you notifications when you are near a store where you can use one of your gift cards. If a gift card is compatible with Apple Pay, you can use it to make purchases directly from your iPhone by holding it near the payment terminal. If the gift card balance is not enough to cover the entire purchase, you can split the payment between the gift card and another payment method like a credit card or Apple Pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any gift card be added to Apple Wallet?
No. There is no documented general method to add any retail gift card to Apple Wallet. The retailer or issuer must support Apple Wallet passes for the card to be added.
Can I manually type a retail gift card number into Wallet on iPhone?
Does an Apple Gift Card become a pass in Wallet?
No. An Apple Gift Card is redeemed through the App Store and the value is added to your Apple Account balance. It does not appear as a pass in the Wallet app.
Is there a fee to add a gift card to Wallet?
The process is free when the merchant supports Apple Wallet passes.
Does adding a gift card to Wallet involve location tracking and NFC?
Wallet passes can use location tracking and NFC for features like store notifications and contactless payments, but these are controlled by the pass itself and the merchant's implementation. Apple does not require location tracking or NFC for simply adding a gift card to Wallet.
Can I use the Wallet app to store multiple gift cards?
Yes, you can store multiple gift cards in the Wallet app as long as each card's issuer supports Apple Wallet passes.
Can I add a gift card to the Wallet app if it doesn't have a barcode or QR code?
It depends on the merchant's implementation. Some merchants allow you to add a gift card to Wallet through their app or website even if the physical card lacks a barcode or QR code, but if no "Add to Apple Wallet" option is provided, it cannot be added.
