Add a card or bank account directly in Settings
Open Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Go to [Your Name] at the top, then Payment & Shipping. Tap or click Add Payment Method. You can enter a credit card, debit card, or bank account number here.
If you're adding a card, you'll need the card number, expiration date, CVV (the three-digit code on the back), and your billing zip code. For a bank account, you'll need your routing number and account number. Apple stores this information encrypted on your device and on Apple's servers.
After you add the payment method, Apple may ask you to verify it. For cards, this usually means a small temporary charge (often $1) that appears and disappears within a few days. For bank accounts, Apple may deposit two small amounts and ask you to confirm the exact numbers—this takes a few business days.
Key Takeaways
- Payment methods are added in Settings under your Apple ID name, in the Payment & Shipping section, not in the Wallet app.
- Apple verifies new cards with a temporary charge and new bank accounts with two small deposits you must confirm.
- You can store multiple payment methods and choose which one to use for each purchase, or set a default.
- If a payment method fails during a purchase, Apple will try other methods on file before stopping the transaction.
- Removing a payment method takes effect immediately and stops it from being used for future purchases.
What information you need before you start
For a credit or debit card, gather the card itself or a photo of it. You'll type in the 16-digit number, the expiration date (month and year), and the CVV. You also need your billing zip code—the one associated with your card's issuing bank, not necessarily where you live now.
For a bank account, log into your bank's website or app to find your routing number (a nine-digit code) and your account number. These appear on the bottom left of a paper check if you have one. Some banks also call the routing number the "transit number" or "ABA number."
Have your Apple ID password or Face ID ready. Apple will ask you to authenticate before saving a new payment method.
How to set a default payment method
Go back to Settings > [Your Name] > Payment & Shipping. The payment method at the top of the list is your default—the one Apple will charge first when you buy something. To change it, tap Edit in the top right corner, then drag the payment method you want to the top of the list.
When you make a purchase on the App Store, iTunes, Apple Books, or iCloud+, Apple will use your default method. If that payment fails, Apple automatically tries the next method on your list. You can also choose a different payment method at checkout for a single purchase without changing your default.
Verify a card with the temporary charge
After you add a credit or debit card, Apple places a hold for a small amount—usually $1, but it varies by card issuer and region. This charge appears in your account within one to three business days. It's not a real charge; it's a verification step.
The hold disappears on its own within a few days. You don't need to do anything. If it doesn't disappear after a week, contact your card issuer to ask them to release the hold, or contact Apple Support to report the issue.
Until the hold clears, your card is still usable for purchases. The verification just confirms that the card number is correct and the account is active.
Verify a bank account with two small deposits
When you add a bank account to your Apple ID, Apple deposits two small amounts—usually between $0.01 and $0.99 each—into the account. This takes two to three business days. You'll see these deposits in your bank account with a description that includes a code.
Go back to Settings > [Your Name] > Payment & Shipping, find the bank account you added, and tap it. Enter the exact amounts of the two deposits. If you enter them correctly, the account is verified and the deposits are refunded within one to two business days.
If you don't see the deposits after four business days, or if you enter the amounts incorrectly three times, the bank account is removed from your Apple ID. You can add it again and start over.
Remove or update a payment method
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Payment & Shipping. Tap Edit in the top right. Tap the red circle with a minus sign next to the payment method you want to remove, then tap Delete. The method is removed immediately and can't be used for new purchases.
To update a card—for example, if your expiration date changed—tap the card in the list (without tapping Edit first), then tap Edit and change the information. For bank accounts, you can only update the billing address; to change the account number itself, you must remove it and add a new one.
If you remove your only payment method, you won't be able to buy apps or make in-app purchases until you add a new one. Subscriptions and other recurring charges will fail.
What happens if a payment fails
When you try to buy something and a payment method fails, Apple shows an error message. The most common reasons are: the card is expired, the account has insufficient funds, the card issuer declined the transaction (sometimes for fraud protection), or the billing address doesn't match what the card issuer has on file.
If you have multiple payment methods on file, Apple automatically tries the next one on your list. If all of them fail, the purchase is blocked. You can try again with a different payment method, or contact your card issuer or bank to find out why the transaction was declined.
For subscriptions and recurring charges, Apple retries a failed payment several times over a few days. If all attempts fail, the subscription is paused or canceled. You'll receive an email notification when this happens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a payment method on my Mac or iPad instead of my iPhone?
Yes. On Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions) > [Your Name] > Payment & Shipping. On iPad, the steps are the same as iPhone. The payment methods sync across all your devices, so adding one anywhere updates it everywhere.
What if I don't want to verify my card with a temporary charge?
You can't skip the verification. Apple requires it to confirm the card is real and active. The charge is temporary and disappears automatically. If you're concerned about the hold appearing on your statement, contact your card issuer—they can explain how holds work and when they'll be released.
Can I use a prepaid card or gift card as a payment method?
Yes, if the prepaid card or gift card has a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express logo. Add it the same way you would a regular debit card. Some prepaid cards may not pass Apple's verification, in which case you'll see an error message. If that happens, contact the card issuer to confirm the card is active.
What if the verification deposits don't show up in my bank account?
Wait four business days from when you added the account. Deposits from Apple sometimes take longer than transfers between your own accounts. If they still haven't appeared, the bank account may not be set up to receive ACH deposits, or there may be a mismatch between the account number you entered and what your bank has on file. Remove the account and try adding it again with the exact account and routing numbers.
Do I have to use the same payment method for everything?
No. You can set a default, but at checkout for any purchase—apps, subscriptions, in-app purchases—you can choose a different payment method from your list. This is useful if you want to track different types of spending or if one card has a lower balance.