Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. Guides

How to use a Google Play gift card

Did someone give you a Google Play gift card? Here's how to use it

By

Google Play gift cards are an excellent gift that allows you to download movies, music, apps, and other media directly to your smartphone. But, how exactly do you go about redeeming your gift card, and what do you do if it isn’t working correctly?

Don’t worry; we have everything you’ll need to know about redeeming your new gift card and applying the balance to your Google Play account. We’ll also cover some troubleshooting tips in case your card isn’t working correctly.

Recommended Videos

How to redeem a Google Play gift card on the app

Alina Bradford/Digital Trends

If you have your phone handy, open up the Google Play app and tap on the menu icon in the upper left corner. Then, tap on Redeem from the menu (it will be toward the bottom of the page). Lastly, just type in the code on the back of your gift card and tap Redeem. That’s it. The amount of money shown on the front of the card will be added to your account balance.

Related

How to redeem a Google Play gift card online

Google

You can also redeem your card online at the Google Play website. First, go to the Gift Card Redeem Page. Then, type in the gift card’s code found on the back of the card. Be sure to click on the Redeem button to finish. Just like through the app, the monetary amount listed on the front of the card will be added to your Google Play account balance.

How to redeem when making a purchase

Already know what you want to buy and are already at the checkout? Go to the payment method and tap the arrow next to it to open the dropdown menu. From the menu, choose the Redeem Code option. Then, just enter your code. Once you tap Redeem, the gift card will be applied to the purchase.

Card not working? Here are some fixes

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If your gift card isn’t working, there are a few reasons why. First, don’t use dashes or spaces when typing in your code. If that doesn’t help, go to where the card was purchased, if you can, and see if the card was activated. All gift cards have to be activated or they can’t be used. If you can’t get to the store, try contacting Google Play’s customer service.

Also, your card must be redeemed in the same country it was purchased in. So if your friend overseas sent you a card, it’s not going to work unless they purchased one specifically for your country. The card will have the country listed on the back.

The fix is to change your country on your Google Pay account by making a new payment profile. To make the change, go to the Google Pay site, then Settings > Country and click on the Edit button (it looks like a pencil). Click on Create New Profile and follow the on-screen instructions, making sure to choose the country of your card as your country in the options. Then, redeem your gift card and just use this profile to make purchases until your card balance is used up.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Alina Bradford
Alina Bradford
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Alina Bradford has been a tech, lifestyle and science writer for more than 20 years. Her work is read by millions each month…
Google’s Pixel Weather app just got two new features. Here’s how they work
The Pixel Weather app on a Google Pixel 9.

The Pixel Weather app has been the focus of a lot of attention lately as Google revamps the user experience and adds more features. Now, there's more good news: two of those promised functions — the Pollen count card and immersive vibrations — are newly available, at least for some users.

Thanks to "immersive weather vibrations," the Pixel Weather app vibrates to match the animated backgrounds it displays, with intensity levels that mirror the precipitation amount (because it's not just rainfall), according to 9to5Google. Of course, if you don't like the feature, you can disable it in the account menu.

Read more
Gemini in Google Maps may be the best use of mobile AI yet
Google Maps on the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra.

We scarcely need reminding that Google is putting AI into everything, but its latest push is probably one of the most interesting and immediately helpful yet, as Google Maps has now entered its Gemini era.
Vast experience
Before going into the many AI updates happening across all of Google’s “Geo” (the collective name for all its mapping tools) departments, it’s helpful to understand just how rich Google’s location data already is. Collected over the last 20 years, Google’s mapping expertise is available in more than 250 countries and territories across the world, and Google Maps alone has more than 2 billion active users each month.

Google already uses AI in its mapping products, such as the Lens overlay in Maps’ AR mode, which puts live place information in front of you on the map. Google is now using AI to improve the photo-realistic 3D tour in Immersive View, a feature first launched last year, with live data on the location, including weather, parking, and turn-by-turn information. Immersive View is now set to launch in 150 cities this week and will include university campuses, too.

Read more
How to fast charge your iPhone
iPhone 12 Mini with charger

While they may not be some of the longest-lasting smartphones on the market, modern iPhones boast more than respectable battery life that should be able to get you through an entire day's use without breaking too much of a sweat. Of course, that assumes a lot of things — including a battery that's still relatively new and in good health, plus a usage pattern that doesn't include all-day streaming or gaming.

But for some people, overnight charging isn't going to cut it, and you'll want to get your battery topped up again as quickly as you can so you can get back in action. Thankfully, every iPhone released in the past six years supports much faster charging, but the downside is that with very few exceptions, Apple has never supplied you with the right adapter to get the best possible charging speeds from your iPhone.

Read more