You can change your default Apple Pay card in just a few taps through the Settings app on your iPhone or directly in the Wallet app. Whether you want to switch which card gets charged at checkout, add a new card, or remove an old one, the process takes under a minute on any Apple device.
Change Your Default Card on iPhone
The first card you ever added to Apple Pay automatically became your default, meaning it’s the one that gets charged whenever you tap to pay. To switch it, go to Settings, then tap Wallet & Apple Pay. Scroll down to the Transaction Defaults section, tap Default Card, and select whichever card you want to use going forward.
You can also change the default right from the Wallet app. Open Wallet, then press and hold the card you want as your new default. Drag it to the front of your card stack, and it becomes the primary card for all future transactions. Either method works, so use whichever feels faster.
Change Your Default Card on Apple Watch
If you pay with your Apple Watch, it has its own default card setting that’s separate from your iPhone. You can change it two ways.
Directly on the watch, open the Wallet app, tap the More Options button, then tap Default Card and pick the card you want. Alternatively, grab your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app, tap the My Watch tab, scroll down to Wallet & Apple Pay, tap Default Card, and choose a new one from the list.
Change Your Default Card on Mac
If you use Apple Pay in Safari for online purchases, your Mac has its own default card too. Go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions), click Wallet & Apple Pay, then select a new card from the Default Card menu.
Use a Different Card for a Single Purchase
You don’t have to change your default every time you want to pay with a different card. When you hold your iPhone near a payment terminal and the Wallet screen appears, tap the card shown at the bottom of the screen. This opens your full card stack so you can pick a different card for that one transaction. Your default stays the same for next time.
On Apple Watch, double-click the side button to bring up your cards, then swipe left or right to choose the one you want before holding your wrist near the terminal.
Add a New Card to Apple Pay
If the card you want to switch to hasn’t been added yet, open the Wallet app on your iPhone and tap the plus button in the upper right corner. You can scan your physical card with your camera or type in the card number manually. Your bank will verify the card, sometimes instantly and sometimes by sending a code via text, email, or a call. Once verified, the card is ready to use and you can set it as your default using the steps above.
For Apple Watch, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, then Wallet & Apple Pay, and tap Add Card. The verification process works the same way.
Remove an Old Card
To take a card out of Apple Pay entirely, open the Wallet app on your iPhone, tap the card you want to remove, then tap the More button (the three dots). Tap Card Details, then scroll down and tap Remove Card. The card disappears from Apple Pay on that device but stays active with your bank for physical use.
If you’ve lost your iPhone or need to remove cards remotely, sign in to your Apple Account through a web browser, click Devices, select the device, and click Remove Items in the Wallet & Apple Pay section. You can also do this from another iPhone or iPad by going to Settings, tapping your name, selecting the lost device, and tapping Remove Items.
When Your New Card Has the Same Number
If your bank sent you a replacement card with the same account number (common when a card expires), Apple Pay often updates automatically. Your bank pushes the new expiration date and security code to your Wallet without you doing anything. If the update doesn’t happen on its own, remove the old card and add the replacement manually.
If your bank issued a completely new card number, perhaps due to fraud or an account change, you’ll need to add it as a new card. The old card number will stop working in Apple Pay once your bank deactivates it, so remove it to keep your Wallet tidy.