How to Activate Walmart Gift Card – Complete Guide for 2025

Walmart gift cards are a fantastic way to shop for everyday essentials, groceries, electronics, or even fashion items—either for yourself or as a gift. But one common question that arises is: How to activate a Walmart gift card?

Whether you received a physical gift card or an eGift card via email, it’s important to understand Walmart gift card activation, how the process works, and whether you need to do anything to start using it. This guide will walk you through walmart.com gift card activation, online and phone methods, and common troubleshooting tips.

A Walmart gift card is a prepaid card that allows you to shop at:

Gift cards come in two formats:

But before you can use it, you may be wondering if there's a need to activate a Walmart gift card online or by phone.

In most cases, no activation is required if:

However, you may need to activate the card manually if:

If your card isn't working or shows a $0 balance, it’s best to call Walmart gift card support at +1-917-732-2141 for immediate help.

If you are required to activate your Walmart gift card, here's how to do it using the official walmart.com activate gift card option:

Visit the official Walmart gift card website:
​https://www.walmart.com/account/giftcards

You’ll need to sign in to activate your card. If you don’t have an account, you can create one quickly.

Click on the section labeled “Gift Cards” or “Activate Gift Card” under your profile.

You’ll need:

Click Activate and wait for confirmation. Your Walmart card should now be active and ready to use.

Still having issues? Call 1-917-732-2141 and request support for Walmart gift card activation.

If you’re unable to activate your gift card online, or you’re dealing with a Visa gift card from Walmart, you can use the Walmart gift card activation number.

The phone support team is available to help verify your balance and assist with activate gift card Walmart issues at any time.

Unlike regular Walmart store cards, Visa gift cards purchased at Walmart DO require activation.

You can activate a Visa gift card in two ways:

These cards also typically come with no activation fee if purchased directly at Walmart, which is a benefit compared to other retailers.

If you’re unsure whether your card is active, you can verify it in a few easy ways:

Go to: https://www.walmart.com/account/giftcards

Use the Walmart app to scan your card barcode or manually input the number.

Ask a cashier to check your card balance at the checkout counter.

Call (917) 732-2141 and ask a support agent to verify activation.

No. Cards purchased directly in-store at Walmart are automatically activated during checkout.

Usually, eGift cards and physical cards from Walmart.com are pre-activated. However, check the activation instructions on the email or packaging.

Visit the third-party seller’s activation site or contact Walmart directly at +1 917 732 2141.

No, both the card number and PIN are required for online activation. If the PIN is damaged or missing, call support.

While the app can check balances and manage cards, you’ll need to visit the desktop site or call +1-917-732-2141 for activation if required.

Once activated, your Walmart gift card can be used:

Note: Visa Walmart cards can also be used anywhere Visa is accepted (once activated).

If your card isn't working, consider the following:

For any of these issues, don’t hesitate to call Walmart customer support at +1 917-732-2141.

Knowing how to activate a Walmart gift card ensures you don’t run into issues at checkout—especially when gifting it to others. Although most Walmart cards don’t need manual activation, cards from other retailers or Visa variants often do.

To recap:

If you ever run into a problem, the support line at 1 917 732 2141 is always ready to help you activate your Walmart card and get you shopping smoothly.