Where to find and change your payment method
Your Apple ID payment method lives in your account settings, not in Apple Pay itself. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap your name at the top, then select Payment and Shipping. You will see your current payment method listed there. Tap Edit next to it, and you can delete it or change it to something else.
On a Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click your Apple ID at the top left, then select Password and Security. Scroll down to Payment and Shipping and follow the same steps. On a web browser, sign into appleid.apple.com, click Payment and Shipping in the left menu, and edit from there.
The payment method you set here is what Apple charges when you buy apps, subscriptions, or content from the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud+, or any other Apple service. It is separate from the cards you add to Apple Pay for in-person or online payments.
Key Takeaways
- Your Apple ID payment method is stored in Settings under your name, then Payment and Shipping, not in the Apple Pay app itself.
- You can add a credit card, debit card, or use an existing payment method from another Apple ID family member if you are part of a Family Sharing group.
- Changes take effect when ready, but any pending charges will still go to your old payment method until they process.
- If a payment fails, Apple will try the card again over several days before disabling your account for purchases.
What payment methods Apple accepts
Apple takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover cards. You can add a debit card using the same networks. Some regions also accept local payment methods — for example, iDEAL in the Netherlands or Bancontact in Belgium — but the core options are the four major card networks.
You do not need to add a payment method at all if you use Family Sharing. If you are part of a family group, you can let the organizer pay for your purchases, or you can set up a child account with spending limits and no payment method attached. The organizer's payment method covers the charges.
You also do not need a payment method on file if you only redeem gift cards or App Store credit. When you redeem a card, that balance covers your purchases until it runs out, and Apple will not charge a payment method unless you spend more than your balance.
The difference between Apple ID payment and Apple Pay
These are two separate systems that confuse many people. Your Apple ID payment method is what Apple charges when you buy something through an Apple service — an app subscription, a movie, an iCloud storage upgrade. Your Apple Pay cards are what you use to pay at stores, restaurants, or websites that accept contactless payments or Apple Pay online.
You can have an Apple ID payment method without using Apple Pay at all. You can also use Apple Pay without ever setting up an Apple ID payment method. They do not depend on each other. If you change your Apple ID payment method, it does not change which cards are in your Apple Pay wallet, and vice versa.
How to remove a payment method
Go to Settings, tap your name, then Payment and Shipping. Tap Edit next to your payment method and select Remove. If you have only one payment method on file and no App Store credit, you will not be able to remove it — Apple requires at least one way to charge you for purchases.
If you want to remove your only payment method, first add a new one. Then you can delete the old card. Alternatively, redeem an App Store gift card for credit, which will let you make purchases without a payment method on file until that credit runs out.
What happens when a payment fails
If a charge to your payment method fails — because the card expired, was reported lost, or has insufficient funds — Apple will retry it automatically over several days. You will receive an email notification each time. If all retry attempts fail, Apple disables your account for purchases until you update your payment method.
You can still use your device and access content you have already bought. You just cannot buy anything new or renew subscriptions. Once you add a working payment method and Apple successfully charges it, your account is re-enabled when ready.
Some subscriptions, like Apple Music or iCloud+, will pause rather than cancel if payment fails. Others, like app subscriptions, may cancel after a certain number of failed attempts. Check your subscription settings to see the status of any subscriptions that failed to renew.
Updating a card that is expiring or expired
If your card is expiring soon, update it before the expiration date. Go to Payment and Shipping, tap Edit, and change the card. Apple will not automatically update your card details even if your bank sends Apple the new expiration date.
If your card has already expired and a charge fails, you will see a notification asking you to update your payment method. Tap it and enter your new card details. If you do not update it, your account will be disabled for purchases after several failed retry attempts.
Some banks issue a new card number when you renew your card, even if you keep the same account. If that happens, you will need to remove the old card from your Apple ID and add the new one manually.
Changing payment method on a family account
If you are the Family Organizer, your payment method is the one that charges for family purchases. To change it, go to Settings, tap your name, then Family Sharing. Tap your name again, then Payment and Shipping, and edit your method there.
If you are a family member but not the organizer, you cannot change the family payment method — only the organizer can. You can set up your own personal payment method for purchases outside the family group, but family purchases will always charge the organizer's card.
If the organizer's payment method fails, all family members will see a notification to update it. Only the organizer can fix it. If it is not fixed within a certain period, family purchases will be disabled for everyone in the group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different payment method for each Apple service?
No. Your Apple ID payment method is used for all Apple services — the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud+, Apple TV+, and everything else. You cannot set different cards for different services. If you want to use different cards, you would need separate Apple IDs, which is not practical for most people.
What if I want to pay with a different card just once?
You cannot choose a different card for a single purchase. Apple always charges your saved payment method. If you want to use a different card, you would need to change your Apple ID payment method first, make the purchase, then change it back.
Does changing my payment method affect my subscriptions?
No. Your subscriptions stay active and continue to renew on their regular schedule. The new payment method will be charged for the next renewal. If the new card fails, Apple will retry just like it would with any other failed payment.
Can I use a prepaid card as my Apple ID payment method?
Yes, as long as it is a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover prepaid card. Apple treats prepaid cards the same as regular debit or credit cards. Make sure the card has enough balance for any pending charges, or future charges may fail.
What if I do not have a credit or debit card?
Redeem an App Store gift card instead. You can buy these at most retailers, and the balance covers your purchases without needing a payment method on file. Once the balance runs out, you would need to add a card or redeem another gift card to continue buying.