How to Use Gift Cards in Apple Wallet?

Apple Wallet is a gift card wallet for iOS devices. Having all your passes in one place, like gift cards, tickets, loyalty cards, boarding passes, and more. If you are new to the digitization of gift cards, you might need to understand how to add a gift card to Apple Wallet.  

Apple Pay is part of Apple Wallet, as of 2024 Apple Pay users were recorded to be more than 500 million people globally. Apple holds a share of more than 90% in the digital wallet market. 

In this article, we will delve into: 

• How to add cards to Apple Wallet? 

• Benefits of adding gift cards to Apple Wallet. 

• Ways to manage your gift cards in Apple Wallet. 

If this piques your interest, let’s begin without further ado. 

Can You Add Gift Cards to Apple Wallet? 

Yes, you can add gift cards to your Apple Wallet. Not only that, but you can also add tickets, loyalty cards, boarding passes, and more. You can add a gift card if the retailer is eligible with the Apply Wallet policy.  

We will further discuss what gift cards are eligible to be added to Apple Wallet. Once added, you can use the card balance through the Wallet using Apple Cash within the Wallet. The process is as simple as adding a Visa gift card to Venmo.  

List of Apps for Apple Wallet 

Following is a list of apps that work with Apple Wallet in the USA: 

Category	Apps
Gift Cards, Coupons & Rewards	Apple Store, Target, Walgreens, REI Co-op, Sephora US, Macy’s, AE + Aerie, The Home Depot, Gyft, Ulta Beauty, JOANN, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Office Depot, Express, Famous Footwear.
Food & Drink	Starbucks, Dunkin’, Walgreens, 7-Eleven, Steak ‘n Shake Rewards Club, Wegmans, Haagen Dazs, Harris Teeter.
Travel & Booking	American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Air Canada, JetBlue, Lufthansa, United Airlines, Amtrak, Alaska Airlines, Viator Tours & Attractions, IHG Hotels & Rewards, British Airways.
Concerts, Movies & Events	Fandango, Ticketmaster, Sell Tickets, Eventbrite, Live Nation, Viator Tours & Attractions, MLB Ballpark, MLB.

Remember that these apps may vary depending on the region you are living in. You can keep an eye on the list to see the new apps added to different categories. 

Device Compatibility Requirements to Use Apple Pay on Wallet 

Before using Apple Pay on your Apple Wallet, you need to understand the compatibility requirements for your device.  

In terms of Apple products, following are compatible with Apple Pay: 

• iPhone with Touch and Face ID, except iPhone 5s. 

• iPad Air, Pro, Mini with Touch and Face ID. 

• Apple Watch Series 1 onwards. 

• Macs with Touch ID, Macs introduced in 2012 or later with Apple Pay-enabled iPhone. 

• You can also make purchases with Apple Pay. 

To use Apple Pay on your Apple Wallet, you from a PC and other mobile devices you should have a modern browser. 

Gift Cards Supported on Apple Wallet 

Other than the gift cards mentioned in the above list, there are gift cards by large credit card companies that can be added to the Apple Wallet. 

Here is the list of the companies whose gift cards can be added to Wallet: 

1. Visa  

2. MasterCard 

3. American Express  

4. Discover  

Benefits from Adding Gift Cards to Apple Wallet 

Adding a gift card to your Apple Wallet has its advantages.

Following are the benefits you get from Apple Wallet: 

1. Zero Subscription Fees 

Apple Wallet does not charge any fee on using your gift card from one single point. Apple Wallet also charges no fees on transactions using Apple Pay in stores, online, and in apps.  

Where other apps provide you with this service on subscription basis, using Apple Wallet you save on those costs. There are no costs on the standard day-to-day transactions too.  

2. Gift Cards Are Easily Accessible 

Apple Wallet makes accessing your gift cards and other stored items very easy. One Tap access helps you choose any card on your Apple Wallet. You can add a preferred payment method as default.  

You can make contactless payments, add cards on products in the Apple ecosystem, and organized storage for all your cards.  

3. Security and Privacy 

Apple Wallet ensures security and privacy using a unique chip called the Secure Element chip that stores the payment information securely on your device along with encryption algorithms. 

Each transaction is sanctioned using 2 factor authentication, Touch ID, Face ID, or password to ensure it is the user who made the transaction. These features make the Wallet highly secure and private. 

4. Versatility and Convenience  

Apple Wallet is a versatile digital wallet that supports cards and passes like credit cards, loyalty cards, boarding passes, event tickets, and even digital car keys. Users can conveniently manage all these things from one interface.  

The ability of Apple Wallet to secure and store your passes and cards makes the app one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly digital wallets in the iOS ecosystem. 

How to Add Gift Cards to Apple Wallet? 

There are many ways to add gift cards to Apple Wallet. You need to understand what type of gift cards you have: 

If the Retailer is Apple Wallet-Eligible:

We have provided a list of apps for the Apple Wallet in the above section. They are some of the best gift cards for guys. These retailers have Apple Wallet-Eligible gift cards.  

You can use two methods to add these gift cards to your Apple Wallet: 

1. Go to the Gift Card Retailer’s Website Online 

To add an eligible retailer’s gift card on Apple Wallet through the website just follow this method: 

1. On the retailer’s website, go to the page where you can check your gift card balance. 

2. Here add your gift card number and pin to check the balance. 

3. Next, you will see your balance along with an icon saying, “Add to Apple Wallet.”  

4. Tapping the icon will link your gift card directly to your Apple Wallet account. 

That’s the website method. Now we will show you how to do this through the App. 

2. Adding the Gift Card to Apple Wallet through the Retailer’s App 

If you want to add an eligible retailer’s gift card on Apple Wallet through retailer’s mobile app just follow this method: 

1. In the retailer’s app navigate to the settings menu. 

2. Find the setting which allows you to add gift cards. 

3. Add your gift card details to proceed. 

4. The following page will have your transaction details, card balance, and a button. 

5. The button may say, “Add to Apple Wallet.” 

6. Clicking the button will link your gift card directly to Apple Wallet.  

Adding Gift cards from Major Credit Card Companies on Apple Wallet 

Apple Wallet allows you to add eligible gift cards from major retailers like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit cards offered in the USA. 

You can add these gift cards to Apple Wallet the same way you add any other debit card. Follow these steps to do so: 

1. Open the Apple Wallet App. 

2. Click the “+” button in the upper right-hand side.  

3. Select “Debit or Credit Card.” 

4. You can scan the card or add the details manually. 

5. Add your billing address and save. 

6. Your gift card details will appear in the payment options.  

You just need to remember that your card balance won’t appear in the app, so you need to keep track of how much is left to avoid declined transactions. 

3 Common Issues Related to Adding Cards to Apple Wallet  

There are several issues that may come while adding a card to your Apple Wallet. Here are some of the most common issues related Apple Wallet: 

1. Gift Card-Eligibility in the Apple Wallet 

Issues may occur when you possess a gift card from a retailer that is not eligible with the Apple Wallet’s list of eligible apps. You need to ensure that your card is eligible to be added to Apple Wallet.  

This could also be a regional issue as you may be required to change your region to add cards to your Apple Wallet.  

2. Old Wallet App or iOS Version 

Having an old version of the Apple Wallet can come in the way of you adding a gift card to the Wallet. So, if you have an old app version, you just need to download updates and you are good to go. 

If the Wallet App is up to date, then it might be an issue with the iOS version on the device you are using it on. 

3. Network Issues 

Internet issues can be significant when adding cards to Apple Wallet. To avoid these issues, you need to ensure that your network connection is stable, which helps when adding gift cards to your Apple Wallet Account.  

Managing Gift Cards in Apple Wallet 

In the iOS 18 version of the Wallet app, you can easily manage your gift cards, passes, and keys. Here are the things you can manage using the app: 

1. Reorder the Gift Cards, Passes, or Keys 

To re-arrange the position of gift cards, passes, or keys in the Wallet app you need to: 

• Open the Wallet App on your iPhone. 

• Touch and hold the card to be moved. 

• Drag the card to the new position. 

2. Hide Expired Vouchers on Apple Wallet 

To hide an expired pass, head onto settings. Find Wallet and Apple Pay, turn on the “Hide Expired Passes” Setting. 

3. Restore or Unhide a Gift Card that was Expired 

If you want to remove a gift card, pass, or key permanently from the Wallet app, just follow these steps: 

• Navigate to the Wallet App. 

• Scroll down to the bottom and click on “View Expired Passes.” 

• Select the pass you want to restore and click “Unhide.” 

To unhide all the passes, find “Wallet and Apple Pay” in settings. Turn on the “Hide Expired Passes” Setting. 

4. Remove a Gift Card Permanently from Apple Wallet 

In order to remove a gift card permanently from the Apple Wallet App do this: 

• Go to the Apple Wallet app. 

• Select the pass you want to remove. 

• Click the ellipses (three dots icon) on the card. 

• Click “Remove Pass.” 

These are the ways to manage your gift card, passes, tickets, vouchers, and keys on the Wallet app.  

Wrapping It Up 

To wrap up, you can add your gift cards to Apple Wallet. However, you need to ensure that you have the latest Apple Wallet and iOS version. You also need to check that the gift card you are adding is compatible with the Wallet app.  

You can benefit from the features that the Wallet brings to the table. So, you first need to understand what problem the app solves for you. Once you know, go ahead, and utilize the Wallet according to your liking. 

There are three different ways you can add a gift card to the Apple Wallet. So, you need to select which one is best for you and utilize it to add you card to the Wallet. 

You can buy a Visa gift card using Send Credit. Then, follow the guide to add the card to the Apple Wallet. The platform provides competitive rates and discounts as compared to the market. The average delivery time is less than 3 seconds.