Redeem guide

How to Redeem a Starbucks Gift Card

Q: How do I redeem a Starbucks gift card?

Add it to your Starbucks Rewards account. In the app, tap Cards → Add card and enter the card number and 8-digit security code; or go to starbucks.com/account/cards/add, sign in, and select Add to account . The balance lands on your Starbucks Card right away.

Q: Where do I enter my Starbucks gift card number and security code?

Under Cards → Add card in the Starbucks app, or at starbucks.com/account/cards/add on the web. Both add the balance to the same Starbucks Card on your account — there’s no code to enter at the register.

Q: Where is the security code on a Starbucks gift card?

On a physical card it’s the 8-digit code under the scratch-off panel on the back, next to the card number. On a digital eGift from MyGiftCardSupply, the card number and security code are in the delivery email.

Q: Why isn't my Starbucks gift card working?

Usually a mistyped card number or security code, a retail card that wasn’t activated at purchase, or a region mismatch between the card and your account. High-traffic system delays can also hold up a balance for a few hours. See the troubleshooting section above for the matching fix.

Q: Can I transfer my Starbucks gift card balance to another card?

Yes. In the Starbucks app, open Details on the card you want to move funds from, choose Transfer balance , and pick the card to move it to. This lets you consolidate several gift cards onto the one Starbucks Card you pay with.

Q: Do Starbucks gift cards expire?

No. Starbucks Cards don’t expire and carry no fees, so the balance stays on your account until you spend it. Add the card to your account to keep the funds safe even if a physical card is lost.

Add it to your Starbucks account, then pay and earn Stars

A Starbucks gift card is redeemed by adding it to your Starbucks Rewards account — in the app or on the web. From there the balance pays in store, funds mobile orders, and earns Stars.

Code format

card number + 8-digit security code

Enter both parts exactly as shown on your card.

Jump to redeem steps

How to Redeem a Starbucks Gift Card

To redeem a Starbucks gift card, add it to your Starbucks Rewards account: open the Starbucks app and tap Cards → Add card, or go to starbucks.com/account/cards/add, then enter the card number and 8-digit security code. The balance lands on your Starbucks Card immediately, ready to pay in store or in the app.

Add Your Starbucks Card to Your Account

Starbucks gift cards are added to a Starbucks Rewards account rather than entered at a checkout. You can add yours in the Starbucks app or on the website — both land on the same Starbucks Card balance, which then works in store and for mobile orders. Your account and the card need to be set to the same country.

In the Starbucks App

The app is the most useful surface, since the added balance becomes your tap-to-pay and mobile-order funds straight away.

Open the Starbucks app and tap Cards at the bottom.
Tap Add card.
Enter the gift card number and the 8-digit security code.
Tap Add Card — the balance appears in your Pay wallet, ready to scan in store.

On a physical card the number and security code sit under the scratch-off panel on the back; on a digital eGift they’re in the delivery email.

On the Web (starbucks.com)

Use the website if you’d rather add the card from a computer; it syncs to the app on the same account.

Go to starbucks.com/account/cards/add and sign in to your Starbucks Rewards account.
Enter the gift card number and 8-digit security code.
Select Add to account to confirm.
The balance is added to your Starbucks Card and syncs to the app within moments.

You can review every card you’ve added under Cards in your account, where each one shows its current balance.

Using Your Starbucks Card Balance

Once the card is on your account, the balance is Starbucks store value. Pay in store by opening the app and holding the Scan code to the reader, or by tapping the registered card, and use the same balance to fund mobile Order & Pay. It covers handcrafted drinks, food, packaged coffee, and merchandise at participating stores.

Paying with a registered Starbucks Card earns Stars toward Starbucks Rewards, which a one-off cash or card payment does not. If you keep more than one card, you can consolidate them in the app — open Details on a card, choose Transfer balance, and move the funds onto the card you actually use. The balance is region-specific store value and isn’t redeemable for cash.

Use it for: drinks, food, packaged coffee, and merchandise in store and through mobile Order & Pay.
Best match: a regular who wants tap-to-pay convenience and Stars on every purchase without a card on file.

Why Your Starbucks Gift Card Isn’t Working

Most Starbucks add-a-card failures come down to a mistyped code, a card that wasn’t activated, or a brief system delay. Work through the checks below before contacting support.

The card number or security code is wrong

Adding a card fails most often on a single mistyped character. Re-enter the long card number and the 8-digit security code carefully, watching for an “O” entered as a “0”. On a physical card, scratch the panel fully so no digit of the security code is hidden.

The card isn’t activated yet

Cards bought at a third-party retailer must be activated by the cashier at purchase, and Starbucks can’t activate them afterward. If a retail card won’t add, keep your receipt and contact the store. A digital card from MyGiftCardSupply arrives activated and ready to add.

The card’s region doesn’t match your account

Starbucks Cards are region-specific, and a card has to be added to a Starbucks account set to the same country. A card bought for one country won’t add to an account registered in another. Sign in to (or set up) a Starbucks account in the card’s country, then add it there.

The balance hasn’t appeared yet

During very high eGift volume, Starbucks systems can lag and a newly added balance may take a few hours to show. If the card added without an error but the balance isn’t visible, give it some time and reopen the app before assuming the card failed.

Reload with Another Starbucks Gift Card

People pick up another Starbucks gift card when their balance runs low, when they want to keep earning Stars without a card on file, or when they’re funding an account in a specific country. Adding a gift card tops up the same Starbucks Card you already pay with, so nothing about your routine changes.

Buy a Starbucks gift card online from MyGiftCardSupply — the card number and security code arrive by email, so you can add the balance to your account and pay the same day.

Sources

Starbucks — Add a card, Starbucks — Gift Cards, Starbucks — Card Terms & Conditions.