How to redeem a Google Play gift card online or in the Play Store

A Google Play gift card is useless unless you know how to redeem it

source:Google

A Google Play gift card is a great gift for anyone using Android devices. Whether they’re enthusiasts who recently bought a new Google Pixel Watch or casual users who are content to keep using an older phone, there’s a good chance there’s something on the Google Play Store that has caught their eye.

Even if you’re not buying a gift card for someone else, Google Play gift cards allow you to purchase apps, games, and live services without sharing your payment information with Google. If you’re worried about data leaks or don’t trust yourself to cancel a subscription before an unwanted charge, a Google Play gift card can help keep your credit card number out of unwanted hands.

Regardless of why you want a Google Play gift card, the only way to get any use out of it is to redeem it through the Google Play Store using your mobile device or internet browser. Here are two ways to redeem a Google Play card.

How to redeem a Google Play card in the Google Play Store

If you have an Android phone or tablet, you can redeem your card right from the palm of your hand. Follow these steps to redeem the card:

1. Find the redemption code underneath the gray scratch strip.
2. On your phone or tablet, open the Google Play Store.
3. Tap your profile icon in the upper-right corner of the Google Play Store’s homescreen.
4. When the profile menu opens, tap Payments & Subscriptions.

5. At the bottom of the Payments & Subscriptions menu, tap the Redeem Code option.

6. Using the keyboard, enter the gift card code exactly as you see it on the card.
7. Once the code is entered correctly, tap Redeem.
8. The balance of the Google Play card is applied to your account. The card is now empty.

How to redeem a Google Play card in your browser

When you don’t have your Android device on you or if it’s inconvenient to open the Google Play Store, use your PC or any internet-connected device with a browser to redeem a gift card. It might not have an easy-to-find link like you find while using your Android device, but it is still possible. You can redeem your Google Play card by following these steps:

1. Visit play.google.com/redeem, which opens the Google Play Redeem Code text box.
2. Don’t click outside the text box. Enter the gift card code exactly as it appears on the back of your Google Play gift card.

3. Once the gift card code is entered into the text box, click Redeem.
4. The balance of the Google Play card is applied to your account. The card is now empty.

Check your Google Play gift card balance

It pays to know how much money you have in your Google Play account. Google offers an easy-to-find tool that reminds you how much of a balance you have left at any time. You can check your account balance by tapping your profile icon in the upper-right corner of the Play Store, tapping Payments & subscriptions, and then tapping Payment Methods. Your total Google Play balance displays at the top of the screen.

Now that you have a balance on your Google Play account, it’s time to get whatever your heart desires. This gift card balance can be used for anything you’d typically pay for in the Google Play Store, whether it’s apps, games, or in-app purchases. If you can’t decide how to use this money, look at our list of the best new Android games that have been released recently.