They may not convey that warm and hearty gift-like feel, but gift cards indeed make thoughtful, practical presents. After all, you can move the balance forward to any of your desired endeavors, including PayPal.
And it’s actually pretty simple from your PayPal dashboard. All it takes is manually linking your card under the ‘Wallet’ section after putting in the card info from the website or the mobile app. Let’s show you how to add a gift card to PayPal with detailed steps.
How to Add Gift Card to PayPal – 5 Easy Steps
Are you planning on using the balance of a Gift Card without carrying another card around with you? Thanks to PayPal, you can easily add your gift card balance directly to your account without using it physically.
Don’t worry if this sounds complicated – We’ll walk you through the step-by-step process. Just read ahead.
Step 1: Visit PayPal or Launch the App on Your Smartphone
To begin moving the funds from your gift card to your PayPal account, first, you need to log into it. You can visit PayPal.com on a computer browser or launch the app on your smartphone.
If you don’t have the app already, download it from the App Store or Google Play.
Step 2: Navigate to Your PayPal Wallet
Once you’re on your account dashboard, you can see plenty of options and overviews of your recent activity. But you’ll have to navigate to the Wallet section.
If you’re on the app, tap Wallet from the bottom of your screen. And if you’re on your computer, select it from the menu bar at the top.


Step 3: Select ‘Add Banks and Cards’
Your PayPal app or web interface will now show you a list of options from which you’ll need to select ‘Add Banks and Cards.’
Upon selection, you’ll be asked whether to add a credit or debit card or an Amex Send account from your bank. For gift cards, you’ll need to choose ‘Debit or Credit Cards.’

Step 4: Link Your Gift Card Manually
The next step is to link your card. Since gift cards do not have the option to let you login through the bank’s online portal like traditional credit or debit cards, you’ll have to link it manually.
But don’t worry–manually only means you’ll have to add the card number by typing it in, along with its security code and the expiry date. If the security code isn’t visible, you may have to scratch the covering film a bit.


Step 5: Add Balance from the Gift Card
Finally, it’s time to add some balance from your gift card to your PayPal. You can either add it all or only the amount you’d like. While PayPal won’t charge you for this, the gift card provider might. So, you’d better check with them to be sure.
And if there’s a fee for each transaction you make, the best you can do is move every cent of your money at once. This will spare you the recurring charges, which would otherwise empty the petty gift card balance.
How to Check If Your Gift Card Funds Were Added to PayPal
Now that you have linked your gift card and added the balance to your PayPal account, it’s a good idea to double-check if the funds were indeed transferred successfully. To do this, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Sign into your PayPal from the mobile app or a web browser on your computer.
- Step 2: Once in, head over to ‘Wallet.’
- Step 3: You should now see a list of cards and bank accounts linked to your PayPal.
- Step 4: If you tap the dropdown marked ‘More,’ it’ll bring up ‘Gift Cards and Coupons.’
- Step 5: From there, look for the gift card you’ve just added to see each of its details, including the added funds.
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Having a reliable and efficient payment system is crucial for any business. But who’s got time to go through the setup hassles? Particularly when living in a country where the process is complicated or isn’t supported at all.
That’s why at Merchantta, we deliver the perfect solution to meet your needs.
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This is to ensure you can avoid the lengthy and complicated setup process and focus on growing your business. Our team of experts ensures that your account complies with PayPal terms and conditions.
Plus, we’re here to help with ongoing support and assistance to make sure your account is hassle-free to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have further questions regarding adding gift cards to PayPal? The following sets of questions and answers might help you out.
Why is PayPal denying my gift card?
There could be several reasons why PayPal is denying your gift card. But the most common one is due to unregistered cards. If you haven’t registered your gift card, you can do it by simply visiting the card issuer’s website or calling the phone number provided on the back of the card.
Can You Transfer a Gift Card Balance to Your Bank Account Through Paypal?
Yes, PayPal can do this middleman job. First, you need to add your gift card to your PayPal account (following the steps explained above). Then, like any other PayPal balance, once the gift card balance has been added, you can transfer it to your bank account.
Is it possible to make a PayPal purchase using prepaid gift cards?
Yes, it’s possible, though, with exceptions for recurring payments or transactions with reference. This is because gift cards are usually low on balance and often not enough to cover the amounts multiple times. This is actually good for avoiding unintended cash pull-ups.
Can I send a gift card to someone through PayPal?
Why not? Just visit PayPal’s Digital Gift Card Store from your account and buy your desired gift card. From there, enter your recipient’s email address and a short message if you like. While this works for anyone, do remember that it won’t work unless you have a PayPal yourself.
Conclusion
So, now you know how easy it is to add a gift card to your PayPal account and make the most of its benefits. With just a few simple steps, handling gift card transactions is so much safer and convenient with PayPal.
Just remember to always double-check the terms and conditions associated with your gift cards, as they might vary depending on the provider. Also, be sure you understand any fees you will incur.