My kid has funds on apple id that I have bought for her. I’m trying to buy an app for her, and when paying I click “ Apple Id” (which shows that there are funds enough)
it then opens up a camera for me to take a picture of the gift card. But I don’t have a card, only funds in the apple Id.
i don’t get it, how can I use those funds?
Although what was said in a previous post is essentially correct, your problem here is something else. You appear to be in a menu for redeeming a gift card, but in fact that isn't how you tell Apple how you want to pay for something. Actually your choices about that are very limited and semi-automatic.
How App Store and iTunes Store purchases are billed. Click here --> https://support.apple.com/HT201359
"Which payment method is charged?
When you buy items or pay for subscriptions, Apple automatically attempts to charge your payment methods in this order:
1. Apple attempts to use your Apple ID balance to cover the full amount.
2. If you don't have Apple ID balance, you don't have enough to cover the full amount, or an item cannot be paid for with Apple ID balance, Apple attempts to charge your primary payment method (typically a credit or debit card, but varies according to country). The primary payment method is at the top of the list in Settings on your iPhone. You can control which payment method is at the top of the list.
3. If there's a problem with the primary payment method, or if the primary payment method can't be charged for the full remaining amount, Apple attempts to charge your other payment methods in order from top to bottom. If none of them can be charged, Apple may try again.
Although what was said in a previous post is essentially correct, your problem here is something else. You appear to be in a menu for redeeming a gift card, but in fact that isn't how you tell Apple how you want to pay for something. Actually your choices about that are very limited and semi-automatic.
How App Store and iTunes Store purchases are billed. Click here --> https://support.apple.com/HT201359
"Which payment method is charged?
When you buy items or pay for subscriptions, Apple automatically attempts to charge your payment methods in this order:
1. Apple attempts to use your Apple ID balance to cover the full amount.
2. If you don't have Apple ID balance, you don't have enough to cover the full amount, or an item cannot be paid for with Apple ID balance, Apple attempts to charge your primary payment method (typically a credit or debit card, but varies according to country). The primary payment method is at the top of the list in Settings on your iPhone. You can control which payment method is at the top of the list.
3. If there's a problem with the primary payment method, or if the primary payment method can't be charged for the full remaining amount, Apple attempts to charge your other payment methods in order from top to bottom. If none of them can be charged, Apple may try again.
The main problem is likely that Apple almost always insists that you have a valid payment method on your account even if you have enough balance to pay for something. The balance is used but the card has to be there. Apple requiring a payment method such as a credit or debit card, even for free apps, is not an uncommon observation. Some possible reasons are outlined in the links below such as outstanding balance, an issue with a payment method you have currently entered, or ongoing subscriptions. You can try to set up your account without a payment method but you may find there is no option other than to enter a valid payment method to satisfy Apple's requirement. If the item is free you will not be charged. If has a cost, your Apple ID balance will in most cases be used first. You can also later remove the payment method and see if it only needs to be there temporarily.
If you can’t download or update apps on your iPhone or iPad - https://support.apple.com/HT207165
- "You might need to have a payment method on file, even if the app that you want to download is free." If you have something else on your account that requires a payment method, such as a subscription, and your current payment method is not working then Apple won't let you download even free things until you fix the payment method. This is explained in this document, 'If your payment method is declined in the App Store or iTunes Store' - https://support.apple.com/HT203005
Create or use your Apple ID without a payment method - https://support.apple.com/HT204034
- "You can remove payment methods from your existing Apple ID after you sign in to the App Store, iTunes Store, or Apple Books. You won't be asked for a payment method again until you make a purchase." However, "To make purchases from App Store, iTunes, Music, and more, you must add a valid payment method to your Apple ID" - https://support.apple.com/HT208650 In this cases purchasing means something that costs money. As illustrated by the instructions on how to create an Apple ID without a payment method on a computer, it actually has you download a free item without a payment method, showing this is possible.
If you can't remove your last payment method or use no payment method with your Apple ID - https://support.apple.com/HT203905
- " if you're using an existing Apple ID with the App Store for the first time, you must provide payment information."
- "If you have any active subscriptions, you must have at least one payment method on file other than Apple ID credit."
- "You can't remove a payment method if you have a balance due."
Family Sharing has a set payment method. If you're worried about your card with the child, look into using Ask To Buy. If family members have their own account balance it will be used to pay for an item first and not be charged to the card. You will, however, need a card for present in the sharing group organizer's account, you just make an arrangement with Family Members that you do not want to see any charges appearing on it.
The payment method for Family Sharing is automatic:
1. If anybody in the family buys or subscribes to something, Apple first attempts to charge the item to that individual's Apple Account (Apple ID) balance, if any.
2. If a family member does not have enough personal Apple Account balance, any excess will be charged to the Family Organizer's primary payment method (usually a card of some kind). The Organizer's personal balance will not be used for purchases made by other family members. If it cannot bill the primary payment method, the Organizer will need to make another payment method the primary method.
- "Some purchases, including gifts, can't be billed to Apple ID balance and will be charged to the family organizer's payment method." "Some subscriptions might not be charged to Apple ID balance."
Ref:
- Family purchases and payments - https://support.apple.com/HT201079
- How App Store and iTunes Store purchases are billed - https://support.apple.com/HT201359
- Check your Apple ID balance - https://support.apple.com/HT202359
- Change, add, or remove Apple ID payment methods - https://support.apple.com/HT201266
Thank you for your reply.
So it seems this item cannot be bought with Apple Id balance since there is enough balance there, but when I try to buy the app it takes me to payment methods, I click back and select Apple ID where it shows there is balance. But then it pops up a screen asking a code of the gift card. A little confusing.
I ended up buying the app from my own phone as “buy this as a gift” and I wrote my childs Apple ID email, then went to her email and redeemed it.
I wonder to what she can use Apple ID balance for if not apps. Movies?
Okay. That’s what I feared… I really don’t want to add my credit card info to my childs phone.
So many apps today charge you per week and making subscriptions accidentally is far too easy.
We used family sharing for a while and the app worked then with all of our kids devices but it meant that only one adult pays the entire familys apps and subscriptions. We prefer keeping the ones each likes to our own account and sharing the ones everyone likes. For instance some prefers Spotify when some prefer Apple Music. :)
wish Apple would make this more simple, so you could choose from which account to buy and to which ones in the family share it with.
So you could share apps like subscriptions without ticking on the family sharing,
or have multiple organisers in family sharing or choose some of your purchases as private which will go from your own credit card. That would give more freedom to family sharing.
Well that’s interesting. The link you showed took me to a Finnish Apple site and there it says:
(https://support.apple.com/fi-fi/HT201079)
One of the family adults is the family organiser, who pays for everyones purchases.
It would be good, if family sharing would be possible by using individual payment methods as well.
But thanks for your help, for some reason we don’t have the same choice here.
In order to use the gift cards have to add a valid payment method
Money will be detracted from Apple ID funds but u have to add a payment method like credit or debit card, sim carrier or PayPal account
check these articles https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211187
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201266
How to use appleid funds without an actual gift card code?
