Gift Card Region: How to Avoid Mistakes With Apple, PlayStation, Xbox and Google Play
The most common reason a gift card "doesn't work" is that it was issued for another country. The code itself is real and valid, just not on this account. Here is how regions work on different services and how to check your account's country before you buy.
The general rule
At most stores the card's country must match the account's country, and sometimes the balance currency too. A balance topped up with a card stays in that country and on that account: you can't move it to another account or to a store in another country.
How it works on different services
| Service | Rule | Where to find your account's country |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | A card can be redeemed only in the country where it was issued | iPhone: "Settings" → your name → "Media & Purchases" → "View Account" |
| Google Play | A card works only in the country of purchase, and its currency must match your profile currency | Account settings in Google Play, where the country and payments profile are shown |
| PlayStation | The code must be from the same region as the account | Account details on the console or on the PlayStation website |
| Xbox | The code's currency must match your Microsoft account currency, otherwise you get error XBOS3004 | Your Microsoft account profile at account.microsoft.com |
| Steam | A code can be redeemed only in the wallet currency | The "Account details" page in Steam |
| Nintendo | The code works on an account of its own region | Nintendo account settings |
| Spotify | The account's country must match the country where the card was bought | Your profile at spotify.com |
| Roblox | Codes can be redeemed in any country, and the amount is converted into the account currency | Doesn't matter |
Menu item names can differ depending on the app version and language.
What a region error looks like
- Apple: "the code must be redeemed in a different store".
- Google Play: "this code can only be used in [country]".
- Xbox: error XBOS3004.
- Epic Games, Ubisoft and other key platforms: "this key or code is not valid in your region".
If you see a message like this, the code is most likely fine. It's just for another country.
How to avoid mistakes
- First, find your account's country using the table above.
- Buy a card for exactly that country, not for the one you're in right now.
- If it's a gift, ask the person which country their account is in.
- Before you pay, check the country on the purchase screen. In the Benefit.gg bot it's written next to the amount.
Don't change your account's country for a single card. On many services that resets or freezes your current balance and subscriptions.
Cards in Benefit.gg
The bot has cards for Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, App Store, Google Play, Amazon, Roblox, Netflix, Spotify and other services, for different countries. More on the popular ones: App Store, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam.