You can use your Cash App card on your phone in several ways: add it to Apple Pay or Google Pay for tap-to-pay at stores, pull up your virtual card details in the app for online shopping, or simply use the physical card you’ve activated through your phone. Each method lets you spend your Cash App balance without needing to carry a plastic card around.
View Your Virtual Card Details
Before your physical Cash App card even arrives in the mail, you can access a virtual version of it directly in the app. This gives you a full card number, expiration date, and CVV that work anywhere online. To find these details:
- Tap the Money tab on your home screen
- Select the card icon at the top of the screen
- Swipe your virtual card image to display the card info
- Tap the eye icon in the right corner to reveal the full card number, CVV, and expiration date
- Tap “Copy number” to paste it into any checkout form
This is the fastest way to start spending on your phone. You can use these details to buy something online, subscribe to a streaming service, or pay for an app purchase. If you’re unable to see your card details in the app, you may need to wait until your physical card arrives and is activated first.
Activate Your Physical Card
Once your Cash App card shows up in the mail, you need to activate it through the app before it will work anywhere. There are two ways to do this.
The quickest method is scanning the QR code printed on the card’s packaging. Open Cash App, tap Activate Cash Card, and allow camera access when prompted. Point your phone’s camera at the QR code and wait for the confirmation screen.
If the QR code isn’t scanning properly, you can enter your card details manually instead. Tap Activate Cash Card, then choose “Use CVV Instead.” Type in the CVV (the three-digit number on the back of the card) and the expiration date. The card activates immediately either way.
Add Your Card to a Mobile Wallet
Adding your Cash App card to Apple Pay or Google Pay lets you tap your phone at any contactless payment terminal, the same way you’d tap a credit card. This is arguably the most convenient way to use your Cash App card on your phone, since you don’t need to open the Cash App itself to pay.
Google Pay
Open the Google Wallet app and tap “Add to Wallet” at the bottom of the screen. Select “Payment card,” then “New credit or debit card.” You can either scan your Cash App card with your phone’s camera or tap “Enter details manually” and type in the card number, expiration date, and CVV from your virtual card in the Cash App. Tap “Save and continue,” accept the issuer terms, and verify the card if prompted. Once added, you can hold your phone near any contactless terminal to pay.
Apple Pay
On an iPhone, open the Wallet app and tap the plus sign to add a new card. Choose “Debit or Credit Card” and either scan your physical Cash App card or enter the details manually. You can pull the card number from the virtual card view in Cash App if you don’t have the physical card handy. Complete the verification step, and your Cash App card will be ready for tap-to-pay at stores, in apps, and on websites that accept Apple Pay.
Spending Limits to Know
Your Cash App card has the same limits whether you’re tapping your phone at a register or typing your card number into a website. The maximum is $7,000 per single transaction, $7,000 per day, $10,000 per week, and $25,000 per month. These limits cover everything: in-store purchases, online orders, and ATM withdrawals combined.
One detail worth noting: declined transactions still count toward your limits. If you try a $500 purchase and it gets declined for any reason, that $500 is subtracted from your daily and weekly caps until they reset. Daily limits reset at 7 p.m. ET each day, weekly limits reset at 7 p.m. ET every Saturday, and monthly limits reset at 7 p.m. ET on the last day of the month.
Lock Your Card Instantly
If your phone is your primary way of managing your Cash App card, the in-app lock feature is worth knowing about. You can freeze your card in seconds if it’s lost, stolen, or you notice a charge you didn’t make. Tap the Money tab, select the card at the top of the screen, and tap “Lock card.” Every new transaction will be blocked until you unlock it.
To unlock, follow the same steps and enter your Cash PIN. Keep in mind that locking your card won’t stop transactions that are already pending. If a charge was processed before you hit the lock button, it will still go through.