How to Add a Gift Card to Amazon

Adding a gift card to Amazon means redeeming the claim code to your balance, then paying with that balance at checkout.

Gift cards feel simple until you’re staring at a box that asks for a “claim code” and you’re not sure where it goes. If you searched how to add a gift card to amazon, start here on desktop or in app: enter the code, confirm the balance changed, and handle the common error screens without panic.

You can redeem a code from a plastic card, an email message, or a printed sheet. Once it’s applied, the funds sit in your gift card balance until you spend them on eligible items. You don’t have to use it all at once.

Where Gift Card Codes Come From And What They Look Like

Amazon gift cards arrive in a few formats, and each one carries a claim code. A physical card has the code under a scratch-off strip on the back. An eGift card arrives by email or text, with a link that reveals the code or opens a redeem page. A print-at-home card shows the code, so treat that page like cash.

Claim codes are case-sensitive, and some include hyphens. If you copy from an email, watch for a trailing space when you paste. If you type from a scratched card, check the strip for torn foil that can hide part of a character.

Keep the card or message until the balance is spent.
Redeem one code at a time so errors are easy to spot.
If the code is unreadable, stop and use Amazon Help instead of guessing.

Gift Card Redemption Basics Before You Type The Code

Two terms show up a lot: “claim code” and “balance.” The claim code is the mix of letters and numbers you enter. Your balance is the stored amount tied to your Amazon login after redemption.

What You’re Doing	Where You’ll See It	Quick Note
Find the claim code	Back of a physical card or in the gift email	Scratch gently; take a photo as a backup
Sign in to the right Amazon site	Country site you shop on (like Amazon.com)	Codes usually match a region, not every site
Open the redemption page	Gift card redeem screen	You can bookmark it for later
Type the code carefully	Claim code field	Watch O vs 0, I vs 1, and missing hyphens
Apply the code to your balance	Button that applies the claim code	Funds store automatically after it goes through
Check your gift card balance	Gift card balance page	Look for the new total and a recent entry
Use balance at checkout	Payment step during an order	Amazon applies gift balance first by default
Fix redemption problems	Error screen or “already redeemed” message	Most fixes are quick once you know the cause

If you want the official flow, Amazon’s own help page for Redeem an Amazon Gift Card matches the steps below. The screens can look a bit different on desktop and mobile, yet the idea is the same: enter the claim code, then apply it to your balance.

Redeem on a computer

Sign in to your Amazon account on the correct country site you use for shopping.
Open the gift card redemption page (you can use the link above).
Enter the claim code exactly as shown on the card or email.
Select the button to apply the code to your balance.
Check the confirmation message, then visit your gift card balance page to verify the updated total.

Redeem in the Amazon app

App menus shift between versions, yet the flow usually lives under your account area and gift card balance. Once you reach the redeem screen, you can type the code or scan it with your camera when that option appears.

Open the Amazon app and sign in.
Go to your account section, then find the gift card balance area.
Tap the option to redeem a gift card.
Enter or scan the claim code, then apply it.
Confirm the new balance shows up on the gift card balance screen.

Redeem while you’re checking out

If you’re already placing an order, you can add a code during the payment step. Look for a field that mentions gift cards, vouchers, or promo codes. Enter the claim code and apply it. If it redeems successfully, your gift balance will show as a payment source for the order.

Adding A Gift Card To Amazon Balance On Phone Or Desktop

Most people redeem once, then forget where the balance lives. The gift card money doesn’t sit on a card after redemption. It lives in your Amazon gift card balance tied to your login. That’s why signing in to the right account matters more than anything else in this process.

How to confirm the money is actually there

Open your gift card balance page and check the total at the top.
Scan the activity list for a line that matches the amount you just redeemed.
If you redeemed at checkout, confirm the order shows gift card funds in the payment breakdown.

What you can buy with the balance

Gift card funds work for many items sold by Amazon and eligible third-party sellers, yet they can’t be used for every product type. One common surprise: you can’t buy other gift cards using gift card funds. The clean way to avoid a cart shock is to watch the payment step before placing the order and check whether gift balance is accepted for that item.

Common Snags And How To Fix Them Fast

When redemption fails, the message on screen is usually a clue. A typo, a mismatched region site, or a code that was already claimed are the usual culprits. Amazon’s Gift Card Redemption Issues page lists the standard fixes if you want the official wording.

Before you do anything else, double-check the characters. A single wrong letter can turn a valid code into a “not recognized” error. If you scratched the back of a physical card, look for torn foil that might hide part of a character.

Quick checks that solve most problems

Confirm you’re signed in to the account that should receive the funds.
Make sure you’re on the right Amazon country site for that card.
Re-type the code slowly instead of pasting it, in case a space snuck in.
Try a different browser or the app if the page won’t submit.

Message You Might See	Likely Cause	What To Do Next
“The claim code is invalid”	Typing error or extra spaces	Re-enter the code; check similar-looking characters
“This gift card has already been redeemed”	It was claimed on this account earlier or on another account	Check your gift card balance activity; confirm the correct login
“The claim code is not activated”	Card wasn’t activated at the store register	Return to the retailer with receipt; ask them to activate or refund
“We’re sorry, your request could not be processed”	Temporary site error or connection issue	Refresh, try again later, or switch browser/app
“This code can’t be applied to your account”	Region mismatch or account restriction	Confirm the card matches the country site; contact Amazon via Help
No change in balance after redemption	Redemption didn’t finish or you’re viewing a different account	Look for a confirmation screen; check you’re signed in correctly
Checkout won’t accept gift balance	Item isn’t eligible for gift card funds	Change item, change seller, or use a different payment method

Little Habits That Keep Gift Cards From Turning Into Headaches

Gift cards attract scams because they move fast and are hard to reverse. Treat codes like cash. Don’t share claim codes in messages, and don’t type them into random “balance checker” sites. Stick to Amazon’s own pages and the official app.

Keep a clean record

Save the email that delivered the gift card until you spend the balance.
If it’s a physical card, keep the receipt in case the code wasn’t activated.
Take a clear photo of the claim code after scratching, then store it in a private folder.

Use the balance the way you want

Amazon often applies gift balance automatically when it’s available for most eligible orders. If you want to pay with a card for a certain order, check the payment section and adjust the gift card selection before placing the order. That small glance saves surprises.

Mini Checklist For A Smooth Redeem Every Time

Use this as a final pass before you hit the apply button. It’s short on purpose, since these are the steps that actually prevent the common errors.

You’re signed in to the correct Amazon login.
You’re on the right country site for the gift card.
The claim code is typed exactly, with no extra spaces.
You saw a confirmation message after applying the code.
You checked the gift card balance page to confirm the new total.

If you came here wondering how to add a gift card to amazon, the cleanest move is to redeem it to your balance right away, then check the balance page so you know it’s stored and ready. If you hit an error, slow down, re-check the characters, and confirm you’re on the correct site for that code.

One last tip: if you’re adding multiple cards, redeem them one by one and confirm the balance after each redemption. That makes it obvious which code caused trouble if something goes sideways.

That’s it. Once you do it once, the process sticks, and you’ll spend less time hunting menus and more time actually placing your order.