Update your card in Apple Pay settings on your device
To change which card Apple Pay uses, open the Wallet app on your iPhone or iPad, tap the card you want to replace, then tap the three dots in the corner and select Remove Card. After you remove it, tap the plus sign to add a new card. You can photograph the front and back, or enter the details manually. Apple will verify the card with your bank, which usually takes a few seconds but can take up to 24 hours.
On an Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your paired iPhone, go to Wallet & Apple Pay, tap the card you want to remove, scroll down, and tap Remove Card. Then add a new one the same way. The card syncs to your watch automatically once it's verified.
On a Mac, open System Settings, click Wallet & Apple Pay, and you'll see your cards listed. Click the card you want to change, then click the minus sign to remove it. Click the plus sign to add a replacement. Your Mac will ask you to verify with your Apple ID password.
Key Takeaways
- Remove the old card from Wallet first, then add the new one—you cannot simply edit a card that's already saved.
- Your bank verifies the new card in seconds to 24 hours; you can use Apple Pay before verification completes on most cards.
- If you change your primary card, Apple Pay will use the new one by default for contactless payments and online purchases.
- Removing a card from Apple Pay does not close the card itself or affect your bank account—it only stops Apple Pay from using it.
Set a new default card for payments
Apple Pay picks a default card automatically when you add your first one. If you want a different card to be the default—the one that charges when you tap your phone at a store or checkout online—you can change it in Wallet settings.
On iPhone, open Wallet, tap the three dots on the card you want as default, and select Make This My Default Card. On Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Wallet & Apple Pay, tap the card you want as default, and toggle on Default Card. On Mac, open System Settings, click Wallet & Apple Pay, select the card, and check Default Card.
You can also set different defaults for different types of payment. In Wallet settings on iPhone, you can choose one card as your default for contactless payments and a different one for online shopping. This is useful if you want rewards from one card for in-store purchases and fraud protection from another for online transactions.
What happens to recurring charges when you change cards
If you have subscriptions or recurring payments set up through Apple Pay—like app subscriptions, iCloud storage, or Apple Music—changing your card in Wallet does not automatically update those charges. Apple keeps track of the card separately from the payment method you used to set up the subscription.
To update a recurring charge, go to Settings on your iPhone, tap your name at the top, select Subscriptions, find the subscription you want to change, tap Edit Payment Method, and select your new card. For other recurring charges like Apple Music or iCloud, you may need to go into that app's settings instead.
If you remove a card from Wallet before updating your subscriptions, Apple will try to charge your default card instead. If that card is also removed or declined, the subscription will pause until you add a working payment method. You'll receive a notification when this happens.
Add a card to Apple Pay if you don't have one yet
To add your first card, open Wallet on your device and tap the plus sign. You can photograph both sides of your card with your camera, or tap Enter Card Details Manually to type the number, expiration date, and security code. Apple will ask for your billing address and phone number to complete the setup.
Your bank will send a verification code by text or email within seconds. Enter that code into Apple Pay to confirm the card. Some banks skip this step and verify instantly. Once verified, the card is ready to use immediately, even if you see a "pending" status in your bank's app.
You can add as many cards as you want to Apple Pay. Each device stores its own set of cards, so if you use both an iPhone and an iPad, you'll need to add cards to each one separately. Cards do not sync between devices.
Remove a card without adding a replacement
If you want to stop using Apple Pay on a device without adding a new card, open Wallet, tap the card you want to remove, select the three dots, and tap Remove Card. The card is deleted from that device only. It remains active at your bank and can still be used for other payments.
If you remove all cards from a device, Apple Pay will not work on that device until you add at least one card back. You can still use other payment methods like contactless credit cards or cash.
If you want to remove a card from all your Apple devices at once, you can do this through iCloud. Go to Settings, tap your name, select iCloud, then Wallet & Apple Pay, and toggle off the cards you want to remove. This removes them from your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch simultaneously.
Troubleshoot when a card won't update or verify
If Apple Pay rejects your new card or the verification stalls, the most common reasons are a typo in the card number or expiration date, a mismatch between your billing address and what your bank has on file, or your bank declining the verification attempt. Start by removing the card and trying again, entering the details slowly to avoid mistakes.
If verification fails a second time, contact your bank directly. Tell them you're adding the card to Apple Pay and ask if they need to approve it on their end. Some banks flag Apple Pay as a new merchant and require you to confirm before the card will work. Your bank can also tell you if there's a fraud hold on the card or if the card itself has an issue.
If you see an error message like "Card Not Supported," your card type may not work with Apple Pay. Most Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover cards work, but some prepaid cards, business cards, or cards from smaller banks do not. Your bank's customer service can confirm whether your specific card is compatible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a card from Apple Pay close the card at my bank?
No. Removing a card from Apple Pay only stops that device from using it for contactless payments. The card remains active at your bank and you can still use it for regular purchases, online shopping, or any other payment method. Your bank account is not affected.
Can I change my card while I'm in the middle of a payment?
No. You must complete or cancel the current payment first. If you need to use a different card, cancel the transaction, change your default card in Wallet settings, and start the payment again.
What if I add a new card but want to keep the old one for some payments?
You can keep both cards in Wallet. When you pay in a store, you can swipe left on the card that appears to see your other cards and select the one you want. For online purchases, you can choose which card to use at checkout. Both cards remain active until you remove one.
Do I need to update my card on my Apple Watch if I change it on my iPhone?
No, but only if both devices are paired and synced. If you remove a card from your iPhone, it will automatically remove from your Apple Watch within a few minutes. If you add a new card to your iPhone, it syncs to your watch automatically. You do not need to add it separately.
How long does it take for a new card to work in Apple Pay?
Most cards verify in seconds and are ready to use immediately. Some banks take up to 24 hours to verify. You can usually start using the card before verification completes, but if the bank's verification fails, Apple Pay will stop accepting it until you resolve the issue with your bank.