How do I send a gift card to Apple cash?

You Can’t Send a Gift Card to Apple Cash (Here’s Why & What You Can Do)

Want to send someone money via Apple Cash but all you have is a gift card? Unfortunately, you’re out of luck. Apple Cash doesn’t currently support gift cards as a funding source. While it might seem like a convenient option, the system simply isn’t set up to accept them.

This restriction applies to all types of gift cards, whether they’re physical cards, e-gift cards, or even those conveniently stored in your Apple Wallet. While you can use Apple Pay to make purchases with many gift cards, that functionality doesn’t extend to transferring their balance to Apple Cash. The same goes for traditional credit cards—they, too, are incompatible with adding funds to your Apple Cash balance.

So, what can you use to fund Apple Cash? Currently, the accepted funding sources are:

• Debit Cards: Most debit cards linked to a valid bank account will work seamlessly with Apple Cash. This is the most common and often quickest way to add money.
• Prepaid Debit Cards: Some prepaid debit cards are also compatible, though not all. Check with your prepaid card issuer to confirm compatibility with Apple Pay and Apple Cash.
• Apple Cash Balance (from others): Of course, you can receive Apple Cash directly from someone else, which then becomes part of your balance.

If you’re stuck with a gift card and need to send money via Apple Cash, here are a few workarounds:

• Sell the Gift Card: Several online platforms and even some retail stores allow you to sell unwanted gift cards for cash. Once you have the cash, you can then add it to your Apple Cash balance using a debit card.
• Use the Gift Card to Purchase a Prepaid Debit Card: While this adds an extra step, you can potentially use the gift card to buy a compatible prepaid debit card online or in a store. Then, load the prepaid card’s balance into Apple Cash. Be mindful of any fees associated with the prepaid card.
• Ask a Friend: The simplest solution might be to ask a friend or family member to send the money via Apple Cash, and you can then reimburse them using the gift card (perhaps by purchasing something they need).

While the inability to directly use gift cards with Apple Cash can be frustrating, these alternatives provide viable ways to achieve your goal of sending money. Hopefully, Apple will expand the accepted funding sources in the future, but for now, these workarounds are your best bet.