Gift card regions: why a code won't redeem and how to sell without refunds
How region locks work for Apple, Google Play, PlayStation, Steam and Xbox, and what to ask the buyer before the sale.
The most common gift card complaint isn’t a “broken code” but the wrong region: the card was issued for one country and the buyer’s account is in another. Here is how it works for the big brands and how to sell without refunds.
Why cards have a region
App and game stores keep the account balance in the country’s currency and sell content at that country’s prices. A card adds funds in its own currency, so it only redeems on an account of the same region. That’s a store rule, not a faulty code.
How the popular brands handle it
Apple (App Store and iTunes)
The Apple Account balance follows the account’s country. A US card only redeems on a US account, a Turkish one on a Turkish account. The country can be changed, but Apple asks to spend the remaining balance and cancel subscriptions first. Apple iTunes US, TR and AE in our catalog are separate products.
Google Play
A code only redeems in the country set in the Google payments profile, which can rarely be changed. Sell the card for the buyer’s current country.
PlayStation Network
A PSN account’s country is set at sign-up and never changes. PSN US cards fit only US accounts, PSN TR only Turkish ones, and so on. Buyers often keep accounts in several regions, so ask which one the card is for.
Steam
A Steam Wallet code is credited in its region’s currency. If the wallet uses another currency, Steam may convert the amount or refuse the code. Ask for the buyer’s wallet currency before the sale.
Xbox, Nintendo, Valorant
Microsoft, Nintendo and Riot accounts are also tied to a region and cards only work in their own. For Valorant the account region matches the in-game store region.
What to ask the buyer before the sale
- Which country the account is registered in (or which currency the balance is in).
- For PSN, Xbox and Nintendo: which account the code is for, if they have several.
- Whether they actually need a subscription instead, such as Game Pass or Discord Nitro.
On marketplaces, put the region in the offer title, such as “Steam EU” or “PSN US $25”, so buyers pick the right one themselves.
If a code didn’t redeem
Check the account region first: that’s the cause most of the time. The code isn’t lost and can be sold to another buyer with an account in the right region. If the region matches and the code still fails, contact support with the order number.
All gift cards in the catalog are listed by region: see wholesale gift cards.