Where to find your payment method in the App Store app
Open the App Store on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Tap or click the profile icon in the top right corner — it looks like a circle with your photo or initials inside. Select Account Settings from the menu that appears. You'll see a section labeled Payment Method. Tap or click Edit Payment Method to change what's on file.
On Android, the process is different because you use Google Play instead of the App Store. Open Google Play, tap your profile icon in the top right, go to Payments and subscriptions, then Payment methods, and tap Edit next to the card you want to change.
If you're on a Mac, you can also change your payment method through System Settings. Go to System Settings > General > Software Update, then scroll down and select App Store. Click your profile icon and follow the same steps as the iPhone version.
Key Takeaways
- You change your App Store payment method through your profile settings, not through individual apps or purchases.
- The App Store accepts credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and Apple Gift Cards as payment methods.
- You can have multiple payment methods on file and choose which one to use for each purchase.
- Changes take effect immediately for new purchases, but existing subscriptions will continue billing to the old method until you update them separately.
- If a payment fails, the App Store will try again for several days before suspending your apps or subscriptions.
What payment methods the App Store accepts
The App Store takes credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), debit cards with a Visa or Mastercard logo, PayPal, and Apple Gift Cards. You can also use a carrier billing option if your mobile provider supports it — this charges purchases to your phone bill instead of a card.
When you add a new payment method, Apple verifies it with a small temporary charge (usually under $1) that appears on your statement. This charge drops off within a few days. If the charge doesn't go through, Apple won't add the card to your account.
Some regions have additional payment options. In certain countries, you can pay through local payment services or bank transfers. Check your account settings to see what's available in your location.
Updating payment for existing subscriptions
If you change your primary payment method, new purchases and new subscriptions will use the updated card. However, active subscriptions keep billing to the old payment method until you manually update them. This means you could have charges going to a card you no longer use.
To update a subscription's payment method, go to Account Settings > Subscriptions and tap the subscription you want to change. Select Edit Payment Method and choose a new one from your saved options. The next billing cycle will charge the new card.
If a subscription payment fails because your old card expired or was declined, the App Store will attempt to charge it again for several days. If all attempts fail, the subscription pauses. You'll receive a notification asking you to update the payment method to restore access.
What happens when a payment fails
When the App Store tries to charge your card and it's declined, you'll get a notification on your device. The system doesn't immediately cancel your subscription or remove your apps. Instead, Apple retries the charge automatically for up to 16 days, spacing out the attempts to give you time to fix the problem.
During this retry period, you can update your payment method and the charge will go through on the next attempt. If all retries fail after 16 days, your subscription stops and you lose access to any apps or services tied to that subscription. Paid apps you've already purchased stay on your device, but you won't be able to download them again on a new device until you restore a working payment method.
Once you add a valid payment method, your subscription reactivates automatically. You won't be charged twice — the system picks up where it left off on the original billing date.
Removing a payment method from your account
Go to Account Settings > Payment Method and tap Edit. You can delete any card except the one currently set as your primary method. To remove your primary card, you must first set a different card as primary, then delete the old one.
If you want to remove all payment methods from your account, you'll need to keep at least one on file. The App Store requires a valid payment method to be associated with your account at all times, even if you only use gift cards for purchases.
Removing a payment method doesn't affect subscriptions already charging to that card. Those subscriptions will continue to bill until you update them to a different payment method or cancel them outright.
Using Apple Gift Cards instead of a credit card
You can redeem an Apple Gift Card to your account balance and use that balance to pay for apps, subscriptions, and in-app purchases. Go to Account Settings > Payment Method and tap Redeem Gift Card or Code. Enter the code from the back of the card or from your email receipt.
The balance appears in your account immediately and is used first for any purchase. If your balance runs out mid-subscription, the App Store will ask you to add a backup payment method to complete the charge. You can set a gift card as your primary payment method, but you'll still need a credit or debit card on file as a backup.
Gift card balances don't expire, but they're tied to your Apple ID. If you lose access to your account, you lose the balance. Keep your Apple ID password secure and enable two-factor authentication to protect your balance.
Troubleshooting payment method changes that don't stick
If you update your payment method but the change doesn't appear in your account settings, sign out of the App Store and sign back in. Go to Account Settings, tap your name at the top, select Sign Out, then sign back in with your Apple ID and password.
If the new payment method still doesn't show up, the card may have failed verification. Apple runs a small test charge to confirm the card is valid. Check your bank or card issuer to see if the charge was blocked or declined. Some banks flag Apple charges as suspicious — contact your bank to approve it and try adding the card again.
If you're trying to change your payment method on a device you don't own or on a shared family account, you may not have permission to edit payment settings. Only the account owner or a family organizer can change payment methods. If you're part of a family plan, ask the organizer to update the payment method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different payment method for each app purchase?
Yes. When you make a purchase, the App Store shows you all your saved payment methods and lets you choose which one to use. You can pick a different card for each purchase if you want. The app will remember your choice for future purchases from that developer, but you can change it anytime.
What if my card is about to expire?
Update your payment method before the expiration date. If your card expires and a subscription tries to charge, the payment will fail and the App Store will retry for up to 16 days. Add a new card during this window to avoid losing access to your subscriptions.
Can I change my payment method if I have an unpaid balance?
You can change your payment method, but the App Store will use the new method to try charging your unpaid balance. If the new card is declined, the balance remains unpaid and your subscriptions may pause. Make sure the new card has sufficient funds before updating.
Does changing my payment method affect my purchase history?
No. Your purchase history stays the same regardless of which payment method you use. All your past purchases remain tied to your Apple ID and you can re-download them anytime.
Why does the App Store need a backup payment method if I use gift cards?
Gift card balances can run out, especially if you have multiple subscriptions. The App Store requires a backup card so subscriptions don't fail when your balance is empty. The backup card only charges if your gift card balance is insufficient for a purchase.