Amazon Gift Card Not Working — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

An Amazon gift card not working usually means the code was entered incorrectly, the card has not been activated at the store, or the code has already been redeemed. Gift card codes are case-sensitive and must be entered exactly as printed — a typo will cause a rejection. Physical gift cards bought at retail must be activated at the checkout register before use. If the card was a gift and shows zero balance, it may have already been used.

Affected Models

Amazon Prime Video Web
Amazon Prime Video Android
Amazon Prime Video iOS
Amazon Fire TV
Amazon Fire Stick

Common Causes

The gift card code was entered incorrectly — a digit or letter was misread or mistyped
A physical gift card was not activated at the store checkout when purchased
The gift card has already been redeemed by someone else or in a previous transaction
The card was purchased from an unauthorized third-party reseller and the code is fraudulent
The gift card is for a different Amazon country store (Amazon.co.uk vs Amazon.com) and cannot be used on your account

How to Fix It

Re-enter the gift card code carefully. Gift card codes are typically 15–16 characters and case-sensitive. Type each character individually rather than copying and pasting, as copy-paste can include invisible spaces.

Common mistakes: confusing 0 (zero) with O (letter), or 1 (one) with I (letter). Look closely at each character.
Check the card's claim code. Physical Amazon gift cards have a scratch-off panel — scratch off the silver coating gently and completely to reveal the code. Do not scratch aggressively as it can damage the code.

E-gift cards sent by email contain the claim code in the email body. Forward the email to yourself if it is hard to read on mobile.
Go to amazon.com/gc/redeem to redeem the code. Sign in to your Amazon account, enter the claim code exactly, and click 'Apply to Your Balance'. The balance will be added instantly if the code is valid.

You must be signed in to the correct Amazon country store. If the card is an Amazon UK card, you must redeem it on Amazon.co.uk, not Amazon.com.
Check if the card has already been redeemed. At amazon.com/gc/redeem, an already-redeemed code will show an error message specifying it has been used. If you did not use it, contact Amazon Customer Service.

If the card was purchased from an unofficial source and was already redeemed, it may be counterfeit or stolen. Only buy Amazon gift cards from official retailers.
Check your Amazon Gift Card balance. Go to amazon.com > Account > Gift Cards > View Balance. If you already redeemed the card but do not see the balance, wait 24 hours — balance updates can occasionally be delayed.

Gift card balance is shown at the top of the checkout page whenever you make a purchase.
Contact Amazon Customer Service if the card is genuine but will not redeem. Go to amazon.com/help > Contact Us and provide the card's claim code. Amazon can verify the card's status and issue a replacement if warranted.

Have the original purchase receipt available — it helps Amazon verify the card was legitimately purchased.

When to Call a Professional

Amazon gift card issues are account and redemption problems you can handle yourself or with Amazon support. No third-party professional help is needed. If your card shows zero balance after redemption or was purchased from a legitimate retailer and will not activate, contact Amazon Customer Service directly for a replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an Amazon gift card for Prime Video subscriptions?

Yes — Amazon gift card balance can be used to pay for Amazon Prime memberships, including the monthly or annual fee. Your gift card balance is used automatically if it covers the cost. To make sure your gift card balance is applied, verify it appears in your account balance before the subscription renewal date.

Someone gave me an Amazon gift card but the code does not work — was it a scam?

If you received an Amazon gift card through an unexpected email, phone call, or from someone you do not know well, it may be part of a gift card scam. Scammers ask people to buy Amazon gift cards and share the codes under false pretenses. If someone you trust gave you the card, the code may genuinely be defective — contact Amazon support. Never share your gift card code with anyone who contacted you unexpectedly.

Do Amazon gift cards expire?

Amazon gift cards do not expire in most countries — the balance remains valid until it is used. In the United States, Amazon gift cards never expire and there are no inactivity fees. In some other countries, regional consumer protection laws may differ. Check the card's terms and conditions or amazon.com for the policy in your specific country.