How Many Characters Is a Steam, PSN or Xbox Gift Card Code?
October 27, 2026 · Updated November 2, 2026
A Steam Wallet code has 15 characters, a PlayStation Store code has 12, and an Xbox or Microsoft gift card code has 25. All three use letters and numbers, and none is case-sensitive. The dashes printed between blocks are only there to make codes easier to read.
Key facts
- Steam Wallet and gift card codes: 15 characters, usually printed as three blocks of five.
- PlayStation Store voucher codes: 12 characters. Sony calls them "12-digit" codes, but they mix letters and numbers. PlayStation discount codes are a different thing, with 10 characters.
- Xbox and Microsoft codes: 25 characters, printed as five blocks of five. Game Pass codes, Microsoft 365 keys and Windows keys use the same length.
- Codes aren't case-sensitive, and dashes can be left out when typing.
- Zero and the letter O, and one and the letter I, are the most commonly mistyped characters.
- A "code" with a different length, especially one sent by a stranger, is a red flag.
Steam Wallet codes: 15 characters
Steam Wallet and Steam gift card codes are 15 letters and numbers, printed like XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. You can type them with or without the dashes on the Steam redeem page, which Valve's Wallet FAQ points to as the place for wallet codes. Steam game keys usually use the same three blocks of five, though some are 25 characters in five blocks, and they're entered in a different place: Games > Activate a Product on Steam, not the wallet page. Steam Wallet code vs Steam gift card covers the difference.
Two things changed in 2026. Valve now limits redemption of wallet codes to the currency of your Steam Wallet, so a 15-character code for the wrong region will be refused even when typed perfectly. And Valve is ending physical Steam gift cards at retail, expecting shops to be sold out by the end of 2026, so most new Steam codes will arrive by email from a retailer or from Steam's own digital gift cards, which go straight into a friend's wallet with no code to type at all.
PlayStation Store codes: 12 characters
PlayStation Store voucher codes are 12 characters. Sony's support page says voucher codes "contain 12 digits", and separately that discount codes are 10 digits, applied in the cart rather than on the redeem screen. If your code is 10 characters, it's a discount, not credit. Each voucher works once, on an account from the same region, and Sony says it isn't possible to transfer funds or content between accounts, so redeem it on the right one.
Where to enter it, from Sony's instructions:
- Web: PlayStation Store, select your profile, then Redeem Code.
- PS5: PlayStation Store, press the triangle button, then ... (More) > Redeem Code. You can also pick Redeem Codes and Gift Cards from the payment menu at checkout.
- PS4: PlayStation Store, scroll to the bottom of the sidebar, Redeem Codes.
- PlayStation App: PS Store icon, then the menu icon, then Redeem Code.
How to redeem a PSN gift card shows each step with the follow-up checks. Redeemed vouchers show in your transaction history in Account Management, which is the first place to look if you think one was used.
Xbox and Microsoft codes: 25 characters
Xbox gift cards, Microsoft gift cards and Game Pass codes all use 25 characters in five blocks of five. Redeem them at microsoft.com/redeem, on the console, or in the Microsoft Store. Players and support forums commonly report that these codes skip easily confused characters, including vowels and the numbers 0, 1 and 5, so if you think you see an O, it's probably another letter, since reports say neither O nor 0 is used. How to redeem an Xbox gift card has the full walkthrough.
A 25-character code isn't always Xbox credit. Microsoft 365 product keys and Windows activation keys are also 25 characters, and Microsoft's redeem page sends each to a different place: gift cards and Xbox codes to the Redeem page, Office keys to office.com/setup, Windows keys to the Activation settings. If a 25-character code is refused on the Xbox redeem page, check what it's actually for before assuming it's fake. Xbox code already redeemed or invalid lists every error Microsoft documents.
Characters people get wrong
- 0 and O, 1 and I, 5 and S, 8 and B.
- Missing a block when copying from a photo.
- Extra spaces pasted at the start or end.
- Reading the serial number instead of the code. Cards print both; the serial is for the retailer, not the redeem page.
If a code is rejected, retype it slowly from the card rather than pasting. Gift card code not working lists every other cause, and scratched or unreadable codes explains what the retailer can do when a character is missing.
Wrong length? Be suspicious
Generators and "free code" videos often show codes of the wrong length or format. A real code always matches its platform's length. If someone sends you a 16-digit "Steam code" or a 10-character "Xbox code", it's fake. Steam gift card generators are a scam explains why no generator can make a working code, and code checker sites explains why pasting a real code into a "balance checker" hands it to a thief.
Frequently asked questions
How many digits is a PSN gift card code?
12 characters, a mix of letters and numbers. A 10-character PlayStation code is a discount code, entered in the cart.
How many characters is a Steam Wallet code?
15, usually printed in three blocks of five.
How many characters is an Xbox gift card code?
25, printed in five blocks of five. Game Pass codes are the same length.
Do I need to type the dashes?
No. All three platforms accept the code without dashes.
Where can I get real codes without buying cards?
XPReward sends genuine Steam, PlayStation and Xbox gift card codes for points earned on offers, at 144 points per dollar. New accounts get 250 points. Sign up.
Sources
Code format facts checked on 3 November 2026 against: