Apple Pay lets you tap your iPhone, Apple Watch, or Mac to pay at stores, in apps, and online without pulling out a physical card. Setting it up takes a couple of minutes, and using it at a register is faster than swiping or inserting a card. Here’s how to get started and use it in every situation where it’s accepted.
Add a Card to Your iPhone
Open the Wallet app and tap the Add Card button. You’ll see two options: tap “Cards Found For You” to add a card already linked to your Apple Account, or tap “Debit or Credit Card” to add a new one. If you choose a new card, hold the physical card near your iPhone and it will read the details automatically. You can also tap “Enter Card Details Manually” and type in the number, expiration date, and security code yourself.
After you enter your card info, your bank may ask you to verify your identity. This might mean entering a one-time code sent by text or email, calling your bank, or downloading your bank’s app. Once verified, the card appears in your Wallet and you’re ready to pay.
Add a Card to Apple Watch or Mac
For Apple Watch, open the Apple Watch app on your paired iPhone, go to the My Watch tab, and tap Wallet & Apple Pay. Tap Add Card, then follow the same process: hold your card near your iPhone to scan it or enter the details manually.
On a Mac with Touch ID, go to System Settings, click Wallet & Apple Pay, and add your card there. If your Mac doesn’t have Touch ID built in, you can still use Apple Pay on websites by confirming purchases through your iPhone or Apple Watch. To enable this, go to Settings on your iPhone, tap Wallet & Apple Pay, and turn on “Allow Payments on Mac.”
Pay at a Store
Look for the contactless payment symbol (the sideways Wi-Fi icon) at the register. The exact steps depend on which iPhone you have.
If your iPhone has Face ID, double-click the side button. Your default card appears on screen. Glance at your phone to authenticate with Face ID (or enter your passcode), then hold the top of your iPhone near the contactless reader. You’ll feel a tap and see a checkmark when the payment goes through.
If your iPhone has Touch ID, double-click the Home button and rest your finger on the sensor to authenticate. Then hold your phone near the reader.
To pay with Apple Watch, double-click the side button. Your default card appears automatically. If you want to use a different card, scroll down to select it. Hold the watch display near the reader until you feel a gentle tap and hear a beep.
The whole process typically takes two or three seconds, which is noticeably faster than inserting a chip card.
Pay in Apps and on Websites
When you’re checking out in an app or on a website that supports Apple Pay, tap the Apple Pay button at checkout. Your default card and shipping address appear, so you don’t need to type in payment details or fill out forms. Confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode, and the purchase is complete. On a Mac with Touch ID, you authenticate with your fingerprint directly on the keyboard.
Send Money Through Messages
Apple Cash lets you send money to people directly in iMessage, similar to Venmo or Zelle. You must be 18 or older and a U.S. resident, and you need two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple Account. You can fund payments from your Apple Cash balance or from an eligible debit card in your Wallet.
To send money, open the Messages app and go to a conversation with the person you want to pay. Tap the plus icon, then tap Apple Cash. Enter the amount, tap Send, then double-click the side button and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. The money lands in the recipient’s Apple Cash balance, where they can spend it with Apple Pay or transfer it to their bank account.
If you’d rather pay directly from your debit card instead of your Apple Cash balance, tap “Change Payment Method” before confirming, turn the Apple Cash slider off, and select your debit card.
Use Apple Pay on Transit
Many public transit systems accept Apple Pay at fare gates and on buses. When you add an eligible transit card or compatible payment card to your Wallet, Express Mode turns on by default. This is what makes transit payments effortless: you just hold the top of your iPhone or the display of your Apple Watch near the reader. You don’t need to wake your device, unlock it, or authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID. The gate opens, you might hear a beep, and you walk through.
Express Mode even works when your iPhone battery is critically low. Power reserve keeps Express Mode functional for up to five hours after your phone would otherwise need to be charged, so you won’t get stranded at a fare gate with a dead battery.
How Apple Pay Protects Your Card
Apple Pay never stores or shares your actual card number. When you add a card, your bank creates a unique Device Account Number that lives in a dedicated security chip on your device called the Secure Element. Apple can’t read this number, and merchants never see your real card details.
Each transaction also generates a one-time dynamic security code, so even if someone intercepted the data from a single purchase, it couldn’t be reused. This makes Apple Pay more secure than handing a physical card to a cashier or typing your card number into a website, because your real account number is never exposed at any point in the transaction.
Choosing Your Default Card
If you add multiple cards, Apple Pay uses the first one you added as the default. To change it on iPhone, open Settings, tap Wallet & Apple Pay, tap Default Card, and select the one you want. You can also switch cards on the fly at the register: when you double-click to activate Apple Pay, tap the card shown on screen to see your other options before holding your phone near the reader.