What happens when an Apple Pay payment fails
When an Apple Pay transaction is declined, Apple doesn't automatically retry it. The payment stops, your money stays in your account, and the merchant sees the transaction as failed. You have to manually retry the payment yourself — either through the same app or website, or by contacting the merchant directly if the payment was in person.
The reason it failed matters. If your card was declined because of insufficient funds, a fraud block, or an expired card, retrying won't work until you fix the underlying problem. If it failed because of a temporary network glitch or a merchant's system issue, retrying immediately might succeed.
Apple Pay does not queue failed payments or send you automatic reminders. If you don't retry within a reasonable time, the merchant may assume you've abandoned the purchase, and some merchants will cancel your order.
Key Takeaways
- Apple Pay does not automatically retry failed payments — you must manually retry the transaction or contact the merchant.
- Check the reason for the decline (insufficient funds, fraud block, expired card, network error) before retrying, because retrying won't fix the underlying problem.
- In an app or website, look for a "Retry Payment" button or option in your order history or account settings.
- If you don't see a retry option, contact the merchant's customer service with your order number and ask them to process the payment again.
- For in-person payments, ask the cashier to run the transaction again or try a different payment method.
How to retry a payment in an app or website
Open the app or website where the payment failed. Look for your order history, account settings, or a "Pending Orders" section — the exact location varies by merchant. Find the failed transaction and look for a button or link labeled "Retry Payment," "Try Again," or "Complete Payment."
Tap or click that button. Apple Pay will prompt you to authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple Pay passcode. The payment will then attempt to process again using the same card you selected the first time.
If the payment succeeds, you'll see a confirmation message and your order will move forward. If it fails again, the app will usually show you an error code or message. Write down that message — it tells you whether the problem is with your card, the merchant's system, or something else.
If you don't see a retry option in the app, the merchant may not have built that feature in. In that case, contact their customer service team directly with your order number and ask them to retry the payment on their end.
Why the payment failed in the first place
Understanding the failure reason is essential because retrying won't help if the underlying problem still exists. Common reasons include:
- Insufficient funds: Your card or bank account doesn't have enough money. Add funds or use a different card before retrying.
- Fraud block: Your bank or card issuer flagged the transaction as suspicious. Contact your bank to confirm the charge was legitimate, then retry.
- Expired or invalid card: Your card has expired or the card number on file is incorrect. Update your card in Apple Wallet before retrying.
- Merchant system error: The merchant's payment processor was temporarily down. Wait a few minutes and retry.
- Network connectivity issue: Your phone lost internet connection during the transaction. Ensure you have a stable connection and retry.
- Card not supported: The merchant doesn't accept the card type you used. Try a different card.
If the error message doesn't clearly explain the reason, contact your bank or the merchant to ask why the transaction was declined.
Retrying an in-person Apple Pay payment
If your Apple Pay payment was declined at a physical store or restaurant, ask the cashier or server to run the transaction again. They can process it through the same terminal or try a different payment method entirely.
Before they retry, make sure the problem has been resolved. If your card was declined for insufficient funds, you won't have more money just by retrying. If it was a fraud block, contact your bank first to clear it, then ask the merchant to retry.
If retrying doesn't work, offer a different payment method — a different card, cash, or another digital wallet. The merchant is not required to keep trying the same card indefinitely.
What to do if you can't retry the payment yourself
Some merchants don't offer a self-service retry option, especially for older apps or smaller websites. In that case, contact the merchant's customer service team directly. Have your order number, the date of the failed transaction, and the amount ready.
Explain that your Apple Pay payment was declined and ask them to retry it. Provide them with the same card details if they ask, or ask whether they can initiate the retry from their end using the card information they already have on file.
If the merchant refuses to retry or says they can't process the payment again, you have the option to place a new order using a different payment method. Some merchants will also cancel the original order and let you start fresh.
Keep a record of your communication with the merchant in case there's a dispute later — for example, if you're charged twice or if the order never goes through.
Updating your card information before retrying
If the payment failed because your card expired, was reported lost, or has incorrect information on file, you need to update it in Apple Wallet before retrying.
Open the Wallet app on your iPhone or iPad. Find the card that failed and tap it. Look for an option to edit or update the card details. You can change the expiration date, CVV, or billing address. Apple will verify the updated information with your bank.
Once the card is updated, return to the merchant's app or website and retry the payment. The transaction will now use the corrected card information.
If your card was compromised or you've requested a replacement from your bank, you may need to add the new card to Apple Wallet before you can use it for payments. Your bank will send you the new card in the mail, and you can add it to Wallet as soon as it arrives.
When to contact your bank instead of retrying
If the payment failed because of a fraud block or suspicious activity alert, retrying won't help until you contact your bank. Call the number on the back of your card and confirm that the transaction was legitimate. Your bank can then clear the block and allow future transactions from that merchant.
If your card was declined for insufficient funds, check your account balance with your bank before retrying. You may need to wait for a deposit to clear or transfer money from another account.
If you see an error message you don't understand — such as a code like "declined" or "contact issuer" — call your bank's customer service line. They can tell you exactly why the transaction failed and what you need to do to fix it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Apple Pay automatically retry my payment if it fails?
No. Apple Pay does not automatically retry failed transactions. You must manually retry the payment through the app or website, or contact the merchant to ask them to retry it. Some merchants may send you a reminder email, but the retry is always your responsibility.
How long do I have to retry a failed Apple Pay payment?
There is no set time limit, but it depends on the merchant. Some merchants will hold a failed order for a few days and then cancel it automatically. Others may keep it pending indefinitely. Contact the merchant if you're unsure how long they'll wait before canceling your order.
Can I retry a payment with a different card?
It depends on the merchant. Some apps and websites let you change the payment method before retrying. Others require you to contact customer service and ask them to process the payment with a different card. Check the app or website first to see if you can edit the payment method yourself.
What if I retry the payment and it goes through twice?
Contact the merchant's customer service immediately with your order number and explain that you were charged twice. Ask them to refund the duplicate charge. Keep records of both transactions and your communication with the merchant. If the merchant doesn't refund you within a reasonable time, contact your bank and request a chargeback.
Does retrying a payment hurt my credit score?
No. A failed or retried payment does not appear on your credit report. Only late or unpaid bills that are reported to credit bureaus affect your score. However, if you don't pay an invoice at all, the merchant may eventually report it as a collection account, which does harm your credit.