To remove a card from Amazon, go to Your Account, select Your Payments, select the card you want to remove, then select Remove from wallet and follow the on-screen instructions. Changes in Your Payments don't move orders that are already open, so switch those first in Change Your Order Information.
Here's the catch. A card you've stopped using can still be charged. Amazon says that if there's a problem with your payment, it'll automatically charge a backup card from Your Payments for eligible products and services. So if the aim is to stop a card being used, remove it or untick it as a backup, not just change your default.
Remove a card from your Amazon wallet
- Go to Your Account and select Your Payments.
- Select the card you want to remove.
- When the card opens, select Remove from wallet.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
- Check Your Orders for anything still pending on that card, and change it there if needed.
The same screen handles everything else. To add a payment method, select Add a payment method. To change a card's billing address or details, select the card, then Edit. You can also add a new credit or debit card during checkout, on the Select a Payment Method page, and it's saved to your account for next time.
One thing surprises people. Amazon says card issuers sometimes give it updated card details when they reissue a card. So a card you've had replaced at the bank may carry on working on Amazon without you typing in the new number.
Change your default payment method
- Go to Your Wallet. Your current default, if you have one, is listed first.
- Select the payment method you want as the default, then select Edit.
- Tick Set as default payment method. You may need to complete authentication.
- Select Save.
- If you have subscriptions, you may be prompted to update your account. Select Update.
For Kindle books, Prime Video and other digital services, Amazon's device help adds a separate setting: in Your Payments, select Settings and update your Default Purchase Preference, choose an existing method or add a new one, verify your details and select Continue. Keeping it current stops purchases and digital services being interrupted.
Turn off backup payment methods
You manage backup cards through Your Payments in Your Account. Choose enabled or disabled, then untick any payment method you don't want used as a backup. Amazon warns that disabling backups may cause delays if your main payment method fails, so it's a trade-off between control and a smooth order.
If a backup card has already been charged for an order and you want it moved, go to Customer Service, select the order, click Change payment method, choose your preferred method and click Confirm modification. Amazon says the refund to the backup card may take 7 to 10 business days.
Payment problems and quick fixes
| Problem | What Amazon suggests, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Card declined after it expired | Update the card's expiration date in Your Payments |
| Billing details rejected | Make sure your name and address match the card exactly |
| Card won't work in your country | Use a payment method that matches your country of residence; your billing address must match it too |
| New card not used on a pending order | Change the payment on that order in Your Orders |
| HSA card won't register as HSA or FSA | Some can be registered as a credit card instead, but you're then responsible for only buying eligible products |
Paying by tapping your card instead
Amazon's Tap to Pay is another way to add a card: you tap a contactless card on your phone at checkout and it goes into your wallet. You need the Amazon app on a compatible device, and there are no transaction limits. Select the payment method at checkout for Tap to Pay to appear, then tap your card on your phone when the app tells you to. On metal cards, the antenna may be towards the back of the card.
Spotting an Amazon charge you don't recognise
Amazon says an unknown charge is probably a Prime payment, a digital service payment, an Amazon Pay transaction or a bank authorisation. Match the wording on your statement:
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| Statement wording | What it's for |
|---|---|
| AMZ*Prime Shipping Club or AMAZON PRIME* | Amazon Prime membership |
| Amazon Digital Svcs or Video on Demand | Digital services such as Kindle books, MP3s, apps and video |
| amzn pmts or amzn.com/pmts | An Amazon Pay order |
| AMZN Mktp US, AMZN.COM/BILL or Amazon.com | An Amazon.com purchase |
| amzn.com/fresh | An Amazon Fresh order |
| Amazon Retail LLC | An Amazon Books purchase |
Prime members are charged monthly or annually depending on their plan, which you can see in Manage Your Prime Membership. Digital services such as a Prime Video channel or Kindle Unlimited charge monthly and show in Your Digital Orders. A few other explanations come up a lot. Amazon charges your card when each part of an order ships, so a split order or one sent to different addresses shows as separate charges. A cancelled order can leave an authorisation on your statement that isn't an actual charge. Amazon Pay orders start with P01 and are 14 digits long. And sometimes it's simply a family member, friend or coworker with access to the card, a preorder or back-ordered item shipping, or a gift order. Go to Your Transactions to match amounts and dates to an order number.
My advice before you delete a card
I'd check open orders and subscriptions first, then remove the card and untick it as a backup in the same sitting. If an unfamiliar charge is what started this, match it in Your Transactions before you panic, because most turn out to be Prime, a digital subscription or a split shipment. If you'd rather not keep a card stored at all, here's what works with Apple Pay on Amazon, and watch out for anyone promising free Amazon gift cards in return for your details.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove a credit card from my Amazon account?
In Your Account, select Your Payments, select the card, then select Remove from wallet and follow the on-screen instructions.
Why won't removing my card change my open Amazon order?
Updating a payment method in Your Payments doesn't change the payment method on open orders. Change those in Change Your Order Information or Your Orders.
Can Amazon charge a card that isn't my default?
Yes. If there's a problem with your payment, Amazon can automatically charge a backup card from Your Payments unless you untick it or disable backups.
How do I change my default card on Amazon?
Go to Your Wallet, select the card, select Edit, tick Set as default payment method and select Save.
What is an unknown Amazon charge on my statement?
Usually a Prime payment, a digital service payment, an Amazon Pay transaction or a bank authorisation. Match it in Your Transactions.
