Just buy the app or the song or whatever and it will take from your balance first. I would check your settings to verify this, however.

Answer from Robert on Stack Exchange
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 118245
What you can buy with your Apple Gift Card or Apple Account balance - Apple Support
Pay for subscriptions like Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and Apple TV. Or pay for subscriptions to apps from the App Store. Pay for iCloud+, Apple's premium cloud subscription. Some purchases might require that you have a credit card on file, even if you use your Apple Account balance to make the purchase.
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › guide › iphone › check-your-apple-account-balance-iph5f869c0af › ios
Check your Apple Account balance in Wallet on iPhone - Apple Support
Note: This feature isn’t available in all countries or regions. Go to the Wallet app on your iPhone. Tap Apple Account, then double-click the side button. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. Hold the top of your iPhone near the card reader until you see Done or a checkmark ...
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 118297
Add money to your Apple Account balance - Apple Support
Use a payment method, such as a credit or debit card, to add funds to your Apple Account balance. Then use your Apple Account balance to buy apps, games, music, iCloud+, and more.
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Applegiftcard
learn.applegiftcard.apple › add-money
Apple Account balance - All of Apple. At your fingertips.
Add money to your balance on your terms to control monthly spending and minimize multiple charges. No need to make an extra trip to the store for a new gift card. Simply add money to your Apple Account balance right from your device.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254812355
i have money in my apple balance but i ca… - Apple Community
This next article lists valid payment methods for different countries but note that in this situation Apple Account balance alone apparently may not meet the requirement and you need to use another payment method until you find one that satisfies Apple's requirement (often a credit or debit card): Payment methods that you can use with your Apple ID - Apple Support .
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 111741
Payment methods that you can use with your Apple Account - Apple Support
With TrueMoney, you must provide the mobile phone number associated with your TrueMoney account. If you receive an alert regarding a spending limit, call your carrier to set up a spending limit.
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 119902
Check your Apple Account balance - Apple Support
Tap your photo, initials, or the sign-in button at the top of the screen. You might be asked to sign in to your Apple Account. If you have a balance, the amount appears.
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YouTube
youtube.com › trevor nace
How To Use Apple Account Balance For In-App Purchases - YouTube
Let's use your existing Apple ID account balance for in app purchases so you don't have to use your credit card on file for those purchases.Thanks for your t...
Published   August 23, 2022
Views   141K
Find elsewhere
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/applehelp › how to use apple id balance?
r/applehelp on Reddit: How to use apple ID Balance?
November 27, 2021 -

I have read the main apple website, and read hundreds of posts that are either down voted or not answered clearly.

So the Apple ID balance can only be used to the app store and digital purchases, and can not be used for the apple store? I am in California and some posts say it can be used to buy things from the apple store. But there appear to be no option to do so.

I do not have the Apple Credit Card, It is only on the Apple id balance Credit. I traded in an iphone for $200 that is now just sitting there. Please let me know how to use the Apple ID balance.

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iDownloadBlog
idownloadblog.com › home › what is apple account balance and how to use it on iphone, ipad, and mac
What is Apple Account balance and how to use it on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
October 21, 2024 - Learn how to add money to your Apple Account ID balance on iPhone and Mac, see the remaining funds, and everything else about it.
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YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How To Use Money On Apple Account (How Do I Use My Money On Apple Account?) - YouTube
How To Use Money On Apple Account (How Do I Use My Money On Apple Account?). In this video tutorial I will show you how to use money on Apple account.Helpful...
Published   June 14, 2024
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YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How To Use Your Apple Account Balance (How To Use Apple Account Money) - YouTube
In this informative video, we will guide you through the process of utilizing your Apple Account Balance effectively. Learn how to access and manage your App...
Published   March 8, 2025
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 252968724
Can you use your Apple Account Balance to… - Apple Community
If they come from an iTunes and App Stores gift card, or you depositing balance from a credit card into your Apple Account, no. ... It appears to depend upon the source of the balance and where you live. For example, to me it seems you can if you have balance from an "Apple Gift Card" and you live in certain countries. In general though you can only use Apple ID balance for iTunes and App stores, and subscriptions for things like iCloud.
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 118242
How to redeem your Apple Gift Card, App Store Card, or App Store & iTunes Gift Card - Apple Support
You can make purchases with your ... Where the Apple Gift Card is available, you can use your Apple Account balance to buy products and accessories at apple.com or in the Apple Store app....
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TikTok
tiktok.com › chris carley (@thatchriscarley) | tiktok › replying to @jamescommapeter #greenscreen
Apple Account Card Explained
350 Likes, 34 Comments. TikTok video from Chris Carley (@thatchriscarley): “Replying to @jamescommapeter #greenscreen”. Apple Account Cardoriginal sound - Chris Carley.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254738618
I have a balance on my account but if I b… - Apple Community
If you have set your Apple Account balance as your default payment method, your default payment method will be used first by Apple when you need to make a payment.
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YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How to use Apple credit to buy apps and pay for subscriptions on the App Store - YouTube
How apps, content and subscriptions from Apple are billed: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/118244Quick video on how to make use of Apple Store credit to buy ...
Published   June 4, 2024
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/applehelp › how to use apple id balance for new iphone purchase.
r/applehelp on Reddit: How to use Apple ID Balance for new iPhone purchase.
September 18, 2021 -

How do I apply an Apple gift card balance towards a new iPhone?

I have an iPhone 12 that I want to trade in, and apply that credit towards an iPhone 13.

I do not wish to use the trade-in by mail. It was a hassle last year, and I want to avoid that same disaster this time around. It takes 2-3 weeks to receive a quote once Apple’s third party receives your device. And if they value it at less than the full trade-in price (which they did to me last year), you wait another week for them to send it back so you can take it to an Apple Store for the full value trade-in instead.

I’m planning to go in to the Apple Store and do a physical trade in once my iPhone 13 arrives in a few weeks.

When I complete my trade-in, I’m confused at how to apply the redeemed Apple ID balance towards the phone.

I redeem the card, and it credits my Apple ID balance. From there, I’m stuck. It doesn’t look like I can apply the balance to my Apple Card statement that was used to purchase the iPhone 13. Nor can I turn the Apple ID balance into Apple Cash to use elsewhere. The Apple ID balance will be $790 (the trade-in value of a good condition iPhone 12). So I can’t simply use it for iTunes or other small purchases. I’d like it to go towards the phone primarily.

Any ideas on what I could do?

Top answer
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I actually had this same exact issue. I talked to apple and they somehow got me to add the same amount to my Apple ID balance ($500 to use for what?!) but I figured it out. You cannot use the Apple ID balance to go towards your Apple credit card but you can use it to buy a new phone (in the future if you decide to switch phones or you can even find a friend to buy a new phone and just give you cash while they use the credit which is what I’m doing) Here are the steps instructions : To purchase items on the iTunes Store with your store credit, your account information in your user profile needs to be corrected. I'll walk you through this process to get you back up and running in no time. Visit the My Apple ID website at: http://appleid.apple.com 2) If the site is not displayed in your preferred language, click the Change Language link in the upper-right corner, type the name of your language in the field that appears, then click the Save button. 3) Click the "Manage your account" link. 4) Type your iTunes Store account name (which is your Apple ID) in the Apple ID field, type your password in the password field, then click the Sign In button. 5) Click "Addresses" in the column on the left. If you have multiple shipping addresses, remove any out-of-date or duplicate addresses by clicking Delete. Also, make sure the state or province field is filled out correctly for each address. To edit an address, click Edit. Edit all of your shipping addresses and make sure the appropriate state is selected in the State drop-down menus. 6) Now click "Phone Numbers" on the left. The area codes should be in the area code fields and the phone numbers should be in the phone number fields. If an area code is missing, or if it is in a phone number field, your account information may not save properly. 7) Change your payment information to “none”Make any other necessary corrections and then click the Save Changes button. 8) go to apple and add something to the cart to see if it worked. When you check out, you should be able to use your Apple ID balance I know it’s a little late since you already bought the new phone and this post is super old but now the money won’t be a lost cause and you can use it for something else, maybe a new laptop!
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I had the same issue, I checked out using the “store” app on my phone and couldn't not use the balance if I was purchasing apple care. As soon as I removed monthly apple care, the balance appeared and checkout was seamless.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/applehelp › can’t use account balance to buy apple watch
r/applehelp on Reddit: Can’t use account balance to buy Apple watch
February 25, 2025 - Once signed in, you can select product(s), add them to your card, and proceed to checkout. Once you get to the payment method section, your Apple Account Balance will appear as an available payment method and you can use it to pay for your Apple.com ...