Adding Vanilla Gift Cards to Apple Pay: A Step-by-Step Guide
Apple Pay is a popular mobile payment service that allows users to make contactless payments using their iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad. While Apple Pay offers a wide range of features and payment methods, there’s one thing that’s been missing from its feature set: vanilla gift cards. Can you add vanilla gift cards to Apple Pay? In this article, we’ll explore the answer to this question and provide a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
Why Can’t You Add Vanilla Gift Cards to Apple Pay?
Before we dive into the answer, let’s quickly address why vanilla gift cards are currently not supported by Apple Pay. In 2016, Apple announced that it would not support the following payment methods for Apple Pay:
- Gift cards
- Digital loyalty cards
- Coins
- Remote purchases from Sears and Abba Toy Factory
The reason for this decision is largely due to the complexity of integrating new payment methods into Apple Pay. By limiting the support for certain payment methods, Apple can simplify the payment process and reduce the risk of technical issues.
Adding Vanilla Gift Cards to Apple Pay: A Step-by-Step Guide
Now that we’ve addressed the issue, let’s dive into the process of adding vanilla gift cards to Apple Pay.
Step 1: Check Your Gift Card Balance
Before you can add your vanilla gift card to Apple Pay, you need to check its balance. You can do this by:
- Opening the Wallet app on your iPhone
- Tapping on the "Gift Cards" section
- Tapping on the "Relief" button next to your gift card
Step 2: Add Your Vanilla Gift Card to Apple Pay
Once you’ve checked your gift card balance, it’s time to add it to Apple Pay:
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone
- Tap on the "+" icon to add a new gift card
- Select "Gift Card" from the list of available payment methods
- Select your vanilla gift card from the list of supported gift cards
- Tap on "Continue"
- Select "Relief" and follow the prompts to add your gift card to Apple Pay
– [Selecting the wrong gift card can result in having to re-add it. You can find your gift card in the Wallet app under the "Gift Cards" section.](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201901)
Step 3: Verify Your Gift Card Balance
After adding your vanilla gift card to Apple Pay, you need to verify its balance:
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone
- Tap on the "Gift Cards" section
- Tap on the "Relief" button next to your gift card
- Tap on "Verify" and follow the prompts to verify your gift card balance
– [It’s highly recommended to make sure your gift card balance is sufficient before adding it to Apple Pay. You don’t want to lose your gift card if you’ve run out of funds.](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201901)
Additional Tips and Considerations
While adding vanilla gift cards to Apple Pay is a relatively straightforward process, there are a few additional things to keep in mind:
- Make sure your gift card is from a reputable seller and is backed by the issuing bank.
- If you’re adding a gift card to Apple Pay for the first time, you may need to add it to a different account or use a different device.
- If you have any issues with your gift card or Apple Pay, you can contact Apple Support for assistance.
Conclusion
Adding vanilla gift cards to Apple Pay is a relatively simple process that can be completed in a few steps. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily add your vanilla gift card to Apple Pay and start making contactless payments with ease. While it’s still a bit early in the game, it’s clear that Apple Pay is well on its way to becoming a popular payment method.
Table: Comparison of Supported Payment Methods for Apple Pay
| Payment Method | Supported |
|---|---|
| Apple Pay | Yes |
| Gift Cards | Yes |
| Coins | No |
| Remote Purchases from Sears and Abba Toy Factory | No |
Keep in mind: Apple may add new payment methods to Apple Pay in the future, so it’s always a good idea to check the Apple Support website for the latest information.