You’ve received a wonderful Amazon gift card and are ready to find your next great purchase. But when you get to the checkout page, you might wonder how to actually use that plastic or digital treasure. Applying a gift card balance to your order is a simple process, whether you’re shopping on your computer or using the Amazon app on your phone.
Adding Your Gift Card to Your Account
Before you can use your gift card to pay, you need to add its value to your Amazon account. Think of this like loading funds into your digital wallet. To do this, go to “Your Account” and find the “Gift cards” section. Select “Redeem a Gift Card” and either type the claim code from the back of your physical card or paste the code from your email if it’s a digital gift card. Click “Apply to your balance,” and the total amount will be added to your Amazon.com Gift Card balance, ready for you to use.
Using Your Balance at Checkout
Once your gift card funds are in your account, paying with them is often automatic. When you proceed to checkout, Amazon will typically apply your available gift card balance to the order first. It’s always a good idea to double-check the payment method summary before you click “Place your order.” You should see your gift card balance listed as the primary payment method. If you have a partial balance, it will cover what it can, and you can use another payment method for the remainder.
What If Your Gift Card Isn’t Applying?
Sometimes, you might notice your gift card balance isn’t being used. This can happen if you’re shopping from a third-party seller on Amazon that doesn’t accept gift cards for payment, or if you’re trying to purchase certain digital content like Kindle books or Amazon Music subscriptions, which may have different payment rules. If you run into this, the easiest fix is to ensure you’re on the Amazon.com website (not a different country’s site) and that you’re signed into the correct account where you redeemed the card.
Keeping Track of Your Remaining Funds
After you make a purchase, you can easily see how much you have left on your gift card. Just go back to the “Gift cards” page in your account. Your current balance will be displayed right at the top. This makes it simple to know exactly how much you have left to spend on your next find.
Using an Amazon gift card is a secure and straightforward way to shop. By adding the balance to your account first and verifying its use at checkout, you can enjoy your gift with confidence and ease.
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