How to request a payment on Apple Pay
To request money through Apple Pay, open the Wallet app on your iPhone or iPad, tap the plus sign (+) in the upper right corner, and select "Request Money." Enter the amount, choose who you want to request from, add a note if needed, and send. The person you request from will see the request in their Wallet app or in Messages, and they can approve or decline it. If they approve, the money moves to your Apple Cash balance or linked bank account within minutes.
The request stays open until the other person responds or you cancel it. You can see the status of all your requests in the Wallet app under the "Requests" tab. If someone declines your request, you can send a new one, but Apple Pay does not let you resend the exact same request twice in a row—you have to wait or modify the amount.
Key Takeaways
- Open Wallet, tap the plus sign, select "Request Money," enter an amount, and choose the person to request from.
- The recipient sees the request in Wallet or Messages and can approve or decline within the app.
- Money from an approved request reaches your Apple Cash balance or linked bank account in minutes, not hours.
- You can track all pending requests in the Requests tab and cancel any request before the other person responds.
- Both you and the recipient must have Apple Cash or a linked payment method set up to use this feature.
Who can receive a payment request on Apple Pay
You can request money from anyone in your contacts who has an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch running a recent version of iOS or watchOS. They do not need to have Apple Cash set up yet—they can still receive your request and respond to it. However, to actually send you the money, they will need either an Apple Cash account or a linked debit or credit card in their Wallet.
If you try to request money from someone and the request fails to send, it usually means they do not have a compatible device or their Wallet app is not set up. You can still ask them to pay you through another method, or you can ask them to set up Apple Cash first and then send a new request.
What happens after you send a request
Once you send a request, the recipient gets a notification in the Wallet app and may also see it in Messages if you sent it through that app. They have the option to pay immediately, decline, or ignore it. If they pay, the money appears in your Apple Cash balance right away—usually within one to three minutes. If your Apple Cash is linked to a bank account, you can transfer the money there, though that transfer takes one to three business days depending on your bank.
If the recipient declines your request, you will see that status in your Requests tab. You can then send a new request for the same amount or a different amount. Requests do not expire on their own, but you can delete old requests from your history at any time.
Requesting money through Messages
You can also request money directly through the Messages app without opening Wallet. Open a conversation with the person, tap the Apple Pay button (the card icon), select "Request," enter the amount, and send. The request appears in both the Messages thread and in their Wallet app, so they see it either way. This method is faster if you are already texting someone and want to ask for money in the same conversation.
Requests sent through Messages work exactly the same as requests sent from Wallet—the recipient can approve or decline, and the money moves the same way. Some people find this method easier because it keeps the payment request in context with your conversation, but it is purely a matter of preference.
Canceling or resending a request
If you need to cancel a request before the other person pays, open Wallet, go to the Requests tab, find the request, and tap "Cancel Request." This removes the request from both your history and theirs. If you want to request the same amount again later, you can send a new request, but Apple Pay requires a small delay between sending the same request twice to the same person.
If a request was declined and you want to try again, you can send a new request right away. You can also modify the amount or add a note to make the second request slightly different from the first. There is no limit to how many times you can request money from the same person, but repeated requests for the same amount in quick succession may not go through.
Troubleshooting requests that do not send
If your request fails to send, check that the recipient is in your contacts and has a compatible Apple device. Make sure your Wallet app is up to date and that you have an internet connection. If the recipient has Wallet turned off or has disabled payment requests in their settings, your request will not go through—they will need to turn those features back on.
If you see an error message, try closing the Wallet app completely and opening it again. If the problem continues, restart your device. If requests still will not send to a specific person, ask them to check their Wallet settings and make sure they have not blocked payment requests. You can also try requesting money through Messages instead, which sometimes works when a direct Wallet request does not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request money from someone who does not have Apple Pay?
You can send a request to anyone with an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, but they will need to set up Apple Cash or link a payment method to actually send you money. If they do not have a compatible device, you cannot use Apple Pay to request money from them.
How long does it take for money to arrive after someone approves my request?
Money from an approved request reaches your Apple Cash balance in one to three minutes. If you transfer it to your bank account, that takes one to three business days depending on your bank's processing speed.
What if someone approves my request but the money never shows up?
Check your Apple Cash balance in Wallet to confirm the money arrived. If it did not, contact the person who sent it and ask them to check their transaction history. If they see it as sent and you do not see it as received, contact Apple Support with the transaction details.
Can I request money from multiple people at once?
No, you have to send individual requests to each person. You cannot create one request and send it to a group. You can send requests to multiple people one after another, but each request is separate.
Is there a limit to how much money I can request?
Apple Pay does not publish a specific limit for payment requests, but your Apple Cash account itself has daily and monthly limits that vary based on your account history and verification status. Check your Wallet settings under Apple Cash to see your current limits.