Change a card or bank account in Apple Pay on your iPhone or Mac
To change which card or bank account Apple Pay uses for a transaction, open Wallet, tap or click the card you want to replace, and select a different one before you pay. To permanently swap out a card in your Wallet, tap Edit (iPhone) or right-click (Mac), delete the old card, and add a new one. The steps differ slightly between devices, but the result is the same: your payment method updates immediately.
If you want to change the card Apple Pay defaults to—the one that appears first when you open Wallet—reorder your cards by dragging them into a new sequence. The top card becomes your primary method. On iPhone, go to Wallet Settings > Card Order and drag cards up or down. On Mac, open Wallet, click the card you want to move, and drag it to a new position.
Key Takeaways
- You can switch payment methods at checkout by selecting a different card from your Wallet before you complete the transaction.
- To remove a card permanently, tap Edit on iPhone or right-click on Mac, then delete the card and add a new one.
- Your primary card (the one that appears first in Wallet) is the default method; reorder cards to change which one loads first.
- Changes take effect immediately—you do not need to restart Apple Pay or your device.
- If a card is declined or expired, remove it from Wallet and add a replacement card with current information.
How to delete a card from your iPhone Wallet
Open the Wallet app and find the card you want to remove. Tap the three dots (or the info icon) in the top right corner of the card, then scroll down and tap Delete. Confirm by tapping Delete Card again. The card is removed from Wallet immediately and will no longer appear as a payment option.
If you delete a card by mistake, you can add it back by tapping the plus icon in Wallet, selecting Credit or Debit Card, and entering the card details again. Apple Pay does not store a record of deleted cards, so you will need the card number, expiration date, and CVV to re-add it.
How to delete a card from your Mac Wallet
Click the Wallet icon in the Dock or open Finder and select Applications > Wallet. Find the card you want to remove, right-click it, and select Delete Card. Confirm the deletion. The card is removed from your Mac's Wallet and will not appear in Apple Pay transactions on that device.
Your Wallet on Mac and iPhone are separate. Deleting a card from your Mac does not remove it from your iPhone, and vice versa. If you want the card gone from both devices, you must delete it on each one individually. This separation means you can keep different cards on different devices if you choose.
How to add a new card to replace the old one
After you delete a card, tap the plus icon in Wallet (iPhone) or click the plus icon in Wallet (Mac). Select Credit or Debit Card, then choose how you want to add the card: you can photograph it with your camera, enter the details manually, or use a card already saved in your device settings. Enter the card number, expiration date, CVV, and cardholder name. If the card issuer requires verification, you may receive a text or email with a code to confirm.
Once you add the new card, it appears in your Wallet immediately. If you want it to be your default payment method, drag it to the top of your card list. You can add multiple cards and switch between them at checkout or by reordering them in Wallet.
Changing your default payment method
Your default payment method is the card that appears first when you open Wallet or initiate a payment. To change it, reorder your cards so the one you want to use most often is at the top. On iPhone, go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay, tap Card Order, and drag cards to rearrange them. On Mac, open Wallet, click and drag a card to move it higher in the list.
The card at the top of your Wallet will be the one that loads when you double-click your device's side button (iPhone) or use Face ID or Touch ID to pay. You can still select a different card at checkout if you want to use a secondary method for a single transaction.
What happens when you change payment methods mid-transaction
If you have already started a payment and want to use a different card, you can switch before you complete it. On iPhone, tap the card shown at the top of the payment screen and select a different one from your Wallet. On Mac or in-app, look for the card selector and choose a new method. The transaction will process using whichever card you select last, before you authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
Once a payment has been authorized and sent to the merchant, you cannot change the card retroactively. If you used the wrong card by mistake, contact the merchant or your card issuer to dispute or reverse the charge. Most card issuers allow you to report unauthorized or mistaken charges within a set window—usually 60 to 120 days—and will investigate.
Troubleshooting when you cannot change or remove a card
If you cannot delete a card from Wallet, the card may be linked to an active subscription, Apple ID balance, or Family Sharing payment method. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions and cancel any active subscriptions tied to that card. If the card is set as your Family Sharing payment method, go to Settings > Family Sharing and change the payment method to a different card before you delete the old one.
If you still cannot remove the card, restart your device and try again. On iPhone, hold the side button and volume button, slide to power off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select Shut Down, wait a moment, and turn it back on. After restart, open Wallet and attempt to delete the card again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different payment method for each Apple Pay transaction?
Yes. At checkout, tap or click the card shown and select a different one from your Wallet before you authorize the payment. You do not have to change your default card—you can switch for a single transaction and your primary method stays the same.
What if my card is expired or declined?
Remove the expired card from Wallet by tapping Edit and Delete, then add a new card with current information. If a card is declined during a transaction, Apple Pay will prompt you to select a different card or update the one that failed. Contact your card issuer if the card should be valid but is still being declined.
Does changing my payment method on iPhone also change it on my Mac?
No. Your iPhone Wallet and Mac Wallet are separate. Changes you make on one device do not automatically sync to the other. If you want the same card setup on both, you must add or delete cards on each device individually.
Can I change my payment method after I have already paid?
No. Once a payment is authorized and sent to the merchant, you cannot change which card was charged. If you used the wrong card, contact your card issuer or the merchant to report the error and request a reversal or refund.
What if I want to use a card that is not in my Wallet?
Add the card to Wallet first by tapping the plus icon, photographing or entering the card details, and completing any verification the issuer requires. Once it is added, it will appear as an option at checkout. You cannot use a card in Apple Pay unless it is stored in your Wallet.