to help ensure the security of your apple id, you must sign in and answer your security questions while redeeming gift card

The glitch is the fact that on a non-Mac device, the iTunes software at the redeem code stage is incapable of

(1) triggering a linked page where you are asked to answer your security questions and then

(2) get redirected back to iTunes with your security questions answered where you can now

(3) redeem your code.

When doing the process on my old iPhone, said security page opened immediately on my trying to redeem the code.

So how about Apple programmers integrate the automatic opening of the AppleID page with security questions which, once answered correctly, would redirect the user back into the iTunes app. I mean, it's their job, right?

Hello jkhoiugffouy,

We understand that you're unable to redeem a gift card. We recommend following these steps: If you can't redeem your Apple Gift Card or App Store & iTunes Gift Card

If you forgot your security questions, continue here: If you forgot the answers to your Apple ID security questions

Regards.

Thanks for the info! But where did you de-activate the 2-factor information. I never saw that option for us inside that Acccount Security box. (see photos attached of what appeared for us) Do you remember?

There is no guideline (inside that first link) on what to do in this scenario. This is a new error message during redemption that nobody has seen before until now! Even if you go and change your security questions, this message keeps on popping up when redeeming a code. Apple, please address this issue you seem to have created. Thanks.

My theory is that this is affecting people who are using accounts where there is no two-factor (or even two-step) authentication set up and that these accounts are relying on security questions only for authentication. In our case we only use a PC to access iTunes which might has something to do with this (no apple devices). But this setup (and for redeeming gift cards) has worked for many years until just 3 days ago! When I log into appleid.apple.com there is no way to setup two-step or two-factor authentication! Can anyone confirm this theory? Apple, please fix your bug!

As per what thorhallur has said....the issue lies with 2 factor authentication. I spoke with a senior advisor and they said I HAVE to authenticate. I choose text message to my Australian mobile number and once authenticated...the redeem feature works.

Thanks for that info. But where were you able to specify that? We tried logging into appleid.apple.com and under Security Settings we don't see any way to change authentication from the old security questions to the newer 2-step or 2-factor auth?

Exactly my issue. Hours lost with online chat. They have no clue what is causing the glitch, and they take you through their "politically correct" troubleshooting meander, which of course fails pathetically.

Solution in my case: dug out my old iPhone from 2010, go to the app "iTunes Store"; in main window, swipe all the way down, "Redeem" button at bottom--it worked.

No idea what I would have done without this. If you don't have an old iPhone, maybe friend or family has one stashed away and long forgotten. Or maybe buy an old one online, worth the investment in view of Apple's technical impotence.

Same issue, and it worked fine for years before that.

I can not deactivate double authentification for my account from the website, only change the questions.

Only workaround I found: find a iOS device (iPhone or iPad), sign in on itunes on that device with the account for which you want redeem the gift card, and redeem the code from there. It worked. It may also work from a mac, I have not tried (I guess it should).

Not everyone has a spare iOS device lying around though.

Turns out these workarounds will fix this situations, that is not being able to redeem Apple code on iTunes on a PC: Not saying these are the only ones, but this does work. If you own a mac computer (or can access one) then you can add a new user to it and log into the Apple ID and from there and set up the two-factor authentication, which will replace the old security questions. Same with an iOS device (iphone or ipad), but in our case we swiped one clean and set it up by logging into the AppleID and then enabling two-factor authentication from there (Settings, click on appleid name and then under Security). Once done then iTunes on PC will start doing two factor authentication every time you redeem a code. But let's say you borrowed those mac/ios devices (and say you only own a PC and android phone) - in that case you will have to enter a phone number in the two-factor settings which can receive a SMS. So now whenever iTunes on PC asks you for the 6 numbers during the two factor auth, you need to click the "Didn't receive authentication.." link right below and from there select the "Receive auth code via text message to phone number -XXXX. That way Apple will send you an SMS containing the auth number instead of doing the whole apple-esqe UI with those which only work on Apple devices. I hope this will help. And hopefully Apple will fix this bug soon!

Oh so sorry I didn't keep up with this thread. My 2 factor autentication showed in the window where it says Account Security. It seems your account isn;t showing that. I'm not sure what you would do but the issue definitely lies with the factor Apple want the 2 factor auth to be turned on. Perhaps they are trying to plug some holes in the system where by people are able to not own a single Apple product but use itunes to pay for subscriptions like HBO and Peacock etc.? I dunno. In my case I can only top up my accounts for those subscriptions via gift card as I am outside the US and the US Itunes will not accept credit cards outside of the US.

But in our case we have an AppleTV, so we do own an Apple device! It's just AppleTV is totally useless when it comes to these setup things (vs. iPhone/iPad, etc.). So your theory doesn't hold water unless Apple is making things hard for those users who don't own a Mac computer, iPad or an iPhone. I still find it a bit far fetched. Apple is just making things WAY TOO complicated, they need to streamline all of this but instead it has turned into an absolute MESS! I bet Steve Jobs is rolling in his grave.

I totally agree with you and that is the heart of the problem; the iTunes program is unable to handle this scenario and doesn't allow the user to answer those security questions in order to successfully log in and redeem. I would keep that interaction within the iTunes program (and not take the user to a browser) and just allow them to answer it right there. Alternatively if Apple is seriously trying to move everyone over to two-factor then they could have also tackled that then and there! So this is definitely a bug! What I find most surprising is that Apple has still not provided with means to redeem these Apple gift cards online via browser. It would make things so much easier!

Same issue here....on a chat with support and so far they have no idea what to do. First support officer simply ended the conversation....seemed like an easy option for him!