Redeem a certificate through Your Account settings
To redeem an Amazon gift certificate, go to amazon.com, sign into your account, and select Account & Lists in the top right corner. From the dropdown menu, click Your Account, then find and click Gift cards in the left sidebar. Select Redeem a gift card and enter the code printed on the back of your certificate or in your email confirmation. Amazon will add the balance to your account when ready.
The code is usually a string of letters and numbers. If you received the certificate by email, the code may appear as a clickable link — clicking it takes you straight to the redemption page with the code already filled in. Either way, once you enter or click the code, the funds appear in your account balance and stay there until you make a purchase.
If you have trouble finding the code, check the back of a physical certificate for a scratch-off panel or a printed number. For email certificates, search your inbox for messages from Amazon or the sender, and look for a section labeled "Claim your gift card" or "Redeem now".
Key Takeaways
- Sign into your Amazon account, go to Account & Lists, select Your Account, then click Gift cards and choose Redeem a gift card.
- Enter the code from the back of a physical certificate or click the link in an email certificate to add the balance to your account when ready.
- Once redeemed, the balance stays in your account and applies automatically to any purchase you make.
- If you lose the code, contact Amazon Customer Service with proof of purchase or the sender's information, and they can help you recover it.
- Gift card balances do not expire and do not decrease if you do not use them.
Where the balance appears after redemption
After you redeem the certificate, Amazon displays your gift card balance at the top of the checkout page under Your Account. The balance shows next to "Gift Card Balance" and updates in real time. When you add items to your cart and proceed to checkout, Amazon automatically deducts the purchase total from your gift card balance first, then charges any remaining amount to a credit card, debit card, or other payment method on file.
You can check your balance at any time by going back to Account & Lists, selecting Your Account, and clicking Gift cards. The page shows your current balance, the date you redeemed each certificate, and a history of purchases made with gift card funds.
Redeeming a certificate on a mobile device
If you are using the Amazon mobile app, the process is nearly identical. Open the app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right, scroll down and tap Your Account, then tap Gift cards. Select Redeem a gift card, enter or paste the code, and tap Redeem. The balance appears in your account within seconds.
On a phone or tablet, an email certificate is often easier to redeem because you can copy the code directly from the email and paste it into the redemption field. If you are redeeming a physical certificate, make sure the code is clearly visible and type it carefully — codes are case-sensitive on some systems, though Amazon usually accepts both uppercase and lowercase letters.
What happens if the code does not work
If you enter a code and Amazon says it is invalid or already redeemed, first check that you typed it correctly. Codes can look similar — for example, the number zero and the letter O, or the number one and the letter I. Copy and paste the code from your email or certificate image if possible, rather than typing it by hand.
If the code is correct but still does not work, the certificate may have already been redeemed to another account. This sometimes happens if someone else received the email or had access to the physical certificate. Contact Amazon Customer Service with the certificate code or a photo of the certificate, and provide details about when and how you received it. Amazon can investigate whether the code was used and may issue a replacement if the certificate was fraudulently redeemed.
Certificates purchased directly from Amazon or from authorized retailers like Target, Walmart, or Best Buy are covered by Amazon's fraud protection. Certificates from third-party sellers or resale sites may have restrictions or may not be honored if they were obtained improperly.
Using your balance for different types of purchases
Once redeemed, your gift card balance works for almost everything on Amazon — physical items, digital content, Kindle books, Prime Video rentals, and subscriptions. The balance does not work for certain restricted items, including alcohol, tobacco, and some third-party marketplace sellers who do not accept gift cards. When you add an item to your cart, the product page or checkout screen will tell you whether gift cards are accepted for that specific item.
If you try to buy something that does not accept gift cards, Amazon will ask you to use a credit card, debit card, or other payment method instead. You can still use your gift card balance for other purchases in the same order — Amazon will split the payment between your gift card and your other payment method.
Transferring or sharing your balance
Amazon does not allow you to transfer a gift card balance from one account to another or to send it to someone else. Once you redeem a certificate to your account, the balance is tied to that account permanently. If you want to give the balance to someone else, you must purchase a new gift certificate and send it to them before they redeem it.
If you have redeemed a certificate by mistake or want to move the balance to a different account, contact Amazon Customer Service. They cannot transfer the balance directly, but they may be able to issue a new certificate if the redemption was very recent and the balance has not been spent.
Keeping track of multiple certificates
If you have redeemed several gift certificates to your account, your gift card balance page shows the total combined balance. The page also lists each certificate separately with the date it was redeemed and the amount. This makes it straightforward to see how much you have to spend and to remember which certificates you have already claimed.
If you receive a physical certificate and are not sure whether you have already redeemed it, check your gift card history on the Your Account page. If the code appears in the list with a date and amount, you have already redeemed it. If it does not appear, the certificate is still available to redeem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I redeem an Amazon gift certificate without an account?
No. You must have an Amazon account and be signed in to redeem a certificate. If you do not have an account, you can create one for free at amazon.com by providing an email address and password. Once your account is set up, you can redeem the certificate when ready.
Do Amazon gift certificates expire?
No. Gift card balances do not expire and do not decrease over time. Once you redeem a certificate, the balance stays in your account indefinitely until you spend it. There is no time limit on when you must use the balance.
What if I lose my gift certificate code?
If you received the certificate by email, search your inbox for the original message from Amazon or the sender. If you received a physical certificate, check the back for a scratch-off panel or printed code. If you cannot find the code, contact Amazon Customer Service with the certificate purchase receipt or information about who sent it to you, and they can help you recover the code or issue a replacement.
Can I use a gift certificate to buy another gift certificate?
Yes. You can use your redeemed gift card balance to purchase Amazon gift certificates for other people. The new certificates will be sent by email or mail depending on which option you choose at checkout, and the cost will be deducted from your gift card balance.
What if my gift certificate was damaged or the code is unreadable?
If the code on a physical certificate is scratched off, faded, or otherwise unreadable, contact Amazon Customer Service with a photo of the certificate and information about where you purchased it. Amazon can sometimes recover the code or issue a replacement if the certificate was purchased through an authorized retailer.