These instructions need to be followed if you are not using the giftcode to snipe with and are instead redeeming the giftocde manually yourself.

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Step 1: Login to account.mojang.com

Create an empty Mojang account if you have not already done so by signing up for one at minecraft.net. Once you have an empty Mojang account, head to account.mojang.com/login and login.

Make sure that the email has been verified on your empty Mojang account.

Once you have logged in, you should see something like this:

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Step 2 (the most important step!): Redeeming the giftcode

When you follow the normal process (i.e. clicking the redeem gift code or prepaid card button), you'll very often run into an error. The solution is to use the following link:

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The link above has your giftcode in it. Do not share the link!

Copy and paste the link into the same tab that currently has the empty Mojang account open on.

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Step 3: Done!

You can now type in the desired name into the profile name box. Read through and agree to Mojang's EULA and then click 'Choose Name'.

If you haven't done so already, you may wish to enable security questions on the Mojang account.