Redeeming takes a few taps. Most failed codes come down to the small print: the country the code is for, its expiry date, or an earlier code you used for the same offer. Below are the three ways to redeem on Apple devices, the Android steps for codes that come for both stores, and fixes for refused codes.
Which kind of code do you have?
Apple devices take three kinds of code in the same box, and each one does something different.
| Code | Who gives it out | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Gift card code | Apple, through shops and email | Money on your Apple Account balance. Most physical cards have a code starting with X. |
| App download code (promo code) | The app's developer | A paid app for free, as if you had bought it |
| Offer code | The app's developer | An in-app purchase or a subscription for free or at a discount, for a set time |
Codes for in-app purchases and subscriptions are offer codes. If you are not sure what an offer code unlocks, read what an offer code is first.
Redeem by tapping a link
Developers often share offer codes as a link. Tap it on your iPhone or iPad and the App Store opens with the code already filled in. Check what the offer gives you and the price after it ends, then confirm. If you do not have the app yet, the App Store asks you to download it as part of the same step, according to Apple's developer documentation.
Open the link on the device where you are signed in to the App Store with the account you want the offer on. A redeemed code stays with that Apple Account.
Redeem by typing the code
If you got a plain code, type it in the store. Here are the steps on iPhone and iPad next to the Android ones, since many developers hand out codes for both stores.
iPhone and iPad
- Open the App Store.
- Tap your photo, initials or the account button at the top right.
- Tap Redeem Code. Some versions call it Redeem Gift Card or Code.
- Tap Enter Code Manually, or Use Camera to scan a gift card.
- Type the code and tap Redeem.
Android
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap your profile picture at the top right.
- Tap Payments & subscriptions, then Redeem code.
- Enter the code and tap Redeem.
- Check the account shown and confirm.
An iPhone code works only in the App Store, and a Google Play code only in the Play Store. If a developer gave you a choice, pick the store you use. The full Android walkthrough, including the web and in-app routes, is in how to redeem a Google Play code.
On a Mac
- Open the App Store app.
- Click your name in the lower-left corner (or Sign In if you are signed out).
- Click Redeem Gift Card (Redeem Code in some versions) at the top right.
- Enter the code, or click Use Camera for a gift card with a box around the code.
On a Windows PC, Apple's gift card help points to the Apple Music or Apple TV app: click your name at the bottom of the sidebar, then Redeem.
Redeem inside the app
Some apps have their own Redeem Code button, often in settings or on the upgrade screen. It opens Apple's redemption sheet, the same system screen in every app. Type the code there and confirm. Use it for custom codes (short words like SPRING25). Apple's help for developers lists only two ways to redeem a custom code for an in-app purchase: the developer's link or the app itself. The App Store's redeem page is not one of them.
When a code does not work
Apple's redemption screen tells you when a code is refused, but not always why. These are the causes Apple documents, and what to do about each.
The code has expired
Developer codes always have an end date or a limit. One-time offer codes last at most six months, and they stop at 12:00 a.m. Pacific time on the expiry date. App download codes from developers last four weeks. If a code is past its date, only the developer can give you a new one.
You already used one for this offer
Apple allows one code per offer per person. A second code for the same offer on the same Apple Account will be refused, even if the code itself is new.
The offer is for someone else
Developers choose who can redeem an offer. A subscription offer can be limited to new, current or past subscribers. An in-app purchase offer can be limited to people who never bought in the app, or who bought recently or long ago. If you already pay for a subscription, Apple only lets you redeem a code for the same level or a higher one.
The code is for a different country
Offers are set up for chosen countries or regions. If your App Store account is in a country the developer did not pick, the code will not work there. Gift cards have the same rule: Apple says they cannot be redeemed outside the country or region where they were bought.
The code is brand new
Apple tells developers that new offer codes can take up to an hour before they redeem. If someone sent you a code minutes after creating it, wait an hour and try again.
Your iPhone needs an update
Offer codes for subscriptions need iOS 14.2 or later (macOS 15 on a Mac). Offer codes for other in-app purchases, such as a lifetime unlock, need iOS 16.3 or later. Update in Settings, then General, then Software Update.
The app is no longer on the App Store
Codes only redeem while the app is available on the App Store. If the developer pulled the app, its codes stop working.
Gift card problems
- Apple Store Gift Cards (gray, white, silver or gold) are for Apple's shops, not the App Store.
- Type the code that starts with X, not the serial number.
- Look for look-alike characters: B and 8, O and 0, S and 5, Z and 2.
- If it says the card was already redeemed, sign out of the App Store on all your devices and sign back in to refresh your balance.
- If the card was not activated at the shop, go back to the shop that sold it.
Codes you should not trust
Real codes come from Apple (gift cards you or someone else paid for) or from the app's own developer. A site that promises free gift card codes after you "verify you are human", install other apps or fill in surveys is not giving you a code. Never type your Apple Account password anywhere except Apple's own screens.
Questions people ask
Is an offer code the same as a gift card?
No. A gift card adds money to your balance. An offer code unlocks one thing in one app, chosen by the developer.
Can I give a code I redeemed to someone else?
No. Once redeemed, the purchase belongs to your Apple Account.
Do I need a card on file to redeem a free code?
Apple's help pages do not say a card is required for a free offer code. For gift cards, Apple notes that some purchases may still ask for a payment method even when you pay from your balance.
Does a code from a developer work on Android too?
Only if it is a Google Play code. App Store codes and Google Play codes are separate, and each store has its own redeem screen.