To set up Apple Pay on iPhone, add an eligible credit, debit or prepaid card to the Wallet app, then go to Settings, tap Wallet & Apple Pay, tap Apple Pay Defaults and choose your default card. To pay in a shop, double-click the side button, confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode, and hold the top of your iPhone near the reader.
Two things to know before you start. Apple Pay and its features aren't available in all countries or regions, and the shop has to accept your card and payment network as well as Apple Pay. The upside is privacy: your card number is never shared with the merchant, and each transaction uses its own unique security code. Apple Support also has a page where you can see if your bank supports Apple Pay, so check that first.
What setting up Apple Pay involves
| Step | Where | What you set |
|---|---|---|
| Add a card | Wallet app | An eligible credit, debit or prepaid card. You can add cards to iPad, Apple Watch and Mac too |
| Choose defaults | Settings, Wallet & Apple Pay, Apple Pay Defaults | Default card, shipping address, email and phone number |
| Payment options | Same screen | Pay Later, Rewards, Offers and Other Pay Later Options, on or off |
| Mac payments | Same screen | Allow Payments on Mac, so your iPhone confirms payments on a nearby Mac |
How to set your default card and details
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Wallet & Apple Pay, then tap Apple Pay Defaults.
- Under Transaction defaults, set your default card, shipping address, email and phone number.
- Under Available payment options, turn Pay Later, Rewards, Offers and Other Pay Later Options on or off.
- Turn on Allow Payments on Mac if you want your iPhone to confirm purchases on your nearby Mac.
How to pay in a shop
Look for a contactless payment symbol on the card terminal. In some countries and regions the symbols look different.
- Double-click the side button on an iPhone with Face ID or an iPhone Duo. On iPhone SE, double-click the Home button.
- When your default card appears, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
- To pay with a different card, tap the cards at the bottom of the screen and choose another.
- Hold the top of your iPhone near the contactless reader until you see Done or a checkmark.
With a connected account such as Apple Card, you can tap the card to check your balance and remaining credit, then tap it again when you're ready to pay. If Location Services is on, your iPhone's location when you pay may be sent to Apple and your card issuer to help prevent fraud.
How to pay online and in apps
- At checkout in a supported app, App Clip or website, tap the Apple Pay button.
- Review the payment details. You can switch cards, pay with rewards or installments, and check your billing and shipping addresses.
- Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode to complete the payment.
Rewards and installments only work with cards from participating banks and card providers in certain markets, and they're subject to eligibility and approval. If you subscribe to iCloud+, Hide My Email lets you keep your real email address private at checkout.
Paying on a computer with your iPhone
When you shop on a supported website in a third-party web browser, click Apple Pay at checkout and scan the code with your iPhone camera. You then review the payment and confirm it on your iPhone. This isn't available in all countries or regions.
Keep an eye on subscriptions and recurring charges
This is the part most people never find. Wallet keeps a list of preauthorized payments made with Apple Pay for future and recurring charges, such as subscriptions, automatic reload payments and monthly bills.
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
- Open the menu and tap Preauthorized Payments.
- Tap a payment to see the details.
- To stop the merchant charging your card automatically, tap Revoke Payment Authorization.
Revoking the authorization doesn't cancel your service, though. To cancel or change how you pay, contact the merchant directly, or tap Manage if they're a participating merchant.
What else Wallet shows you
Once your accounts are connected to Wallet, you can see your credit or debit card balance and transaction history, check your latest Apple Pay transactions, and track orders from participating apps and websites. You can change your default card, remove a card or update your billing and contact details whenever you like. In the United States, Apple Pay is provided by Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc. Neither is a bank, and any card you use with Apple Pay is offered by your card issuer.
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My verdict
I'd set Apple Pay up on any iPhone you carry, because paying without handing over your card number is a real security win, and the setup lives in just two places: Wallet and Settings. Set the card you use most as your default, then check Preauthorized Payments now and then so a forgotten subscription doesn't keep charging you. Skip it only if your bank or country doesn't support Apple Pay yet. If you shop online a lot, here's where Apple Pay stands on Amazon, and if other people borrow your phone, it's worth learning how to lock apps on iPhone with Face ID.
I keep every related walkthrough in the Creator Pay Rates: What YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat Really Pay (75 Answers).
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to set up Apple Pay?
An eligible credit, debit or prepaid card in the Wallet app, in a country or region where Apple Pay is available. The merchant also has to accept your card and payment network.
How do I change my default Apple Pay card?
Go to Settings, tap Wallet & Apple Pay, then Apple Pay Defaults, and set your default card under Transaction defaults.
Does Apple Pay share my card number with shops?
No. Your card number is never shared with merchants, and each transaction uses a unique security code.
Does revoking an Apple Pay preauthorized payment cancel my subscription?
No. It stops the merchant charging your card automatically, but you need to contact the merchant to cancel the service.
Does Apple Pay work in every country?
No. Apple Pay and its features aren't available in all countries or regions, and paying from a third-party browser with your iPhone isn't available everywhere either.
