Use the gift card by first redeeming it to your Amazon balance, then selecting that balance at checkout. Amazon says you can go to the gift card redemption page, enter the claim code, and choose “Apply to your balance”; after that, the balance can be used when you buy an item.

Steps

  1. Sign in to your Amazon account.
  1. Open the gift card redemption area and enter the claim code.
  1. Select Apply to your balance.
  1. Add the item you want to buy to your cart.
  1. Go to checkout and choose the gift card or balance option as your payment method.
  1. Complete the order; if your balance does not fully cover the total, add another payment method for the remaining amount.

Notes

  • If you have a physical card, the claim code is usually under a scratch-off area; if it is digital, the code is in the email or message you received.
  • Some items may not accept gift card payment, especially certain digital codes.
  • On mobile, Amazon’s help pages say you can manage gift card balance from the app under the account/payment sections.

Simple example

If your Amazon balance is 25 and the item costs 20, Amazon should deduct 20 from the balance and leave 5 remaining.

TL;DR: Redeem the card to your Amazon balance first, then choose that balance during checkout.