Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

[MacRumors]

Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes.

With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID.

If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also visible in the ‌App Store‌ and ‌Apple Store‌ apps, as well as a new card in the Wallet app.

To add the card, open the Wallet app and under "Available Cards," tap on "Add Apple Account." As long as you have an Apple Account balance, you'll be able to add the card.

Once added, you can view your Apple Account balance right from the Wallet app and use it to purchase Apple products, apps, games, and music. It works in the same way as any other card in the Wallet app when at an ‌Apple Store‌. The Apple Account Card replaced the iTunes Pass that used to be available quite some time ago.

Now, backend changes to Apple Pay spotted by MacRumors suggest the feature is expanding to additional countries in Europe: Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Portugal.

Article Link: Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

 

[sniffies]

I've always found it annoying and baffling that Apple Account Card doesn't show Apple Account-related transactions in the Wallet app.

Half useless.

 

[macfacts]

You know what is worth more than points? Cold hard cash

 

[Black_Mage]

I wasn't able to use my Apple Account card to help pay for my Mac Studio until I removed the annual AppleCare option. That was annoying. As soon as I removed it, the Apple Account option appeared. Thank goodness Apple chat was able to help me figure this out.

I had $350 transferred to my Apple Account, which I didn't even know existed, because I traded in my Mac Mini. My Apple Account card wasn't visible until after money was added.

 

[Macbookey]

Still can’t add the card if you have a legacy iTunes account that predated iCloud, and as a result have 2 AppleIDs. I know there is an option to merge accounts but don’t want to risk getting a glitch. Funny my bank can let me have a debit and credit card, but  is too dumb to support 2 AppeIDs signed into one iPhone.

 

[matttarantino]

They need to make it so that purchases don't use the gift card balance first. For example, I should be able to load my gift cards on this card, but not have my monthly iCloud subscription be deducted automatically. I should be able to use my CC if I wanted for that, and save the gift cards for another purchase (like a new iPad)

 

[segfaultdotorg]

So glad they're expanding access to iCard Pro!

 

[212rikanmofo]

What's the point of this card? Apple also has that black Apple Cash card too. Too many cards. whats the purpose for this?

 

[Donfor39]

Europe Excluding u.k!

 

[attox]

Just an update. Italy is now included too.

 

[svish]

Great to see it expanding to more countries. However I am still waiting for it to be available in my region. Hopefully it will be made available soon.

 

[hagar]

Still can’t add the card if you have a legacy iTunes account that predated iCloud, and as a result have 2 AppleIDs. I know there is an option to merge accounts but don’t want to risk getting a glitch. Funny my bank can let me have a debit and credit card, but  is too dumb to support 2 AppeIDs signed into one iPhone.

I used the feature to merge my accounts and it worked perfectly. The only weird thing is I had to u subscribe from all TestFlight enrollments. But otherwise it went fine. Within 5 seconds both accounts merged.

 

[AppleTO]

Besides regular Apple Pay, we don’t have any of this kind of stuff in Canada.

Edit: Actually, it looks like we can add this card. Mind you, it’s just a gift card balance.

 

[melapple]

Ok, my country is now supported but when I go in and click to add I get “cannot add balance to the card. You have two different accounts for the App Store and iCloud”. Why does it have to be so complicated?!

 

[ksec]

Ok, my country is now supported but when I go in and click to add I get “cannot add balance to the card. You have two different accounts for the App Store and iCloud”. Why does it have to be so complicated?!

Someone who wanted everything insanely great and simple passed away long ago.

 

[TheHeron]

Europe Excluding u.k!

The Brexit stupidity strikes again!

 

[Robert.Walter]

The Brexit stupidity strikes again!

Agreed. When one buys into all the concept of keeping all privileges plus gaining more, and keeping few of the obligations, one usually doesn’t get all the former or shed all of the latter. Own goal situation.

 

[ignatius345]

Back when the Apple gift cards were regularly discounted, I'd often buy a $100 card for like $85 or something.

But with the way it works now, you're just moving money into a pre-paid card you can only use at Apple. Like, why would you do that? I'd just as soon leave my money somewhere else where it can earn interest and/or be available for any other use.

A gift card, I understand when used as a gift or maybe for a teen's allowance or whatever. But they seem to be implying you're going to just load up $1800 onto an Apple Account Card so... Apple can earn interest on that?

 

[travoose]

They need to make it so that purchases don't use the gift card balance first. For example, I should be able to load my gift cards on this card, but not have my monthly iCloud subscription be deducted automatically. I should be able to use my CC if I wanted for that, and save the gift cards for another purchase (like a new iPad)

Amen! Preach this to the hills! Exactly why I have a few thousand in gift cards waiting to make a purchase, but won’t load them into my account until I am ready. Would love to be able to load them to my account and choose, like you said, how my subscriptions are paid for.

 

[turbineseaplane]

What's the point of this card?

Services, Services, SERVICES!

I don't get the appeal either.
There are so many cards that offer better and/or more flexible value.

 

[Diopter]

I've always found it annoying and baffling that Apple Account Card doesn't show Apple Account-related transactions in the Wallet app.

Half useless.

It does for me.

If I tap on the card it shows all transactions on my Apple Account, like my monthly iCloud subscription, purchases from both the App Store and the Apple Online Store, and so on.

Tapping on a purchase even shows the details, like album artwork for iTunes Store purchases.

What's the point of this card?

One of the nice things about it is that it shows the balance of your Apple Account, and the balance is always correct! (Unlike the balance displayed in the App Store, iTunes Store, and so on, which for me are always out of date. Even after all these years they couldn’t make those automatically update??)

 

[Liamda1y]

MacRumors said this rolled out in the uk a few months ago but I’ve not been able to add it

 

[Liamda1y]

MacRumors said in March was being rolled out in the UK but I’ve not been able to add it https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/11/wallet-apple-account-card-expansion/

 

[JLL]

Ok, my country is now supported but when I go in and click to add I get “cannot add balance to the card. You have two different accounts for the App Store and iCloud”. Why does it have to be so complicated?!

I'm probably missing something, but why don't people with old App Store account transition away from that and use the Apple Account for new purchases?

You're not losing your old purchases, since you can have apps and more from more than one App Store account at a time.

 

[melapple]

I'm probably missing something, but why don't people with old App Store account transition away from that and use the Apple Account for new purchases?

You're not losing your old purchases, since you can have apps and more from more than one App Store account at a time.

In my case because they belong to two different countries