How to request a payment on Apple Pay

You request money on Apple Pay by opening the Wallet app, tapping the plus icon or "Add Money" option, selecting the person you want to request from, entering the amount, and sending the request. The person you request from will see a notification on their device and can approve or decline the request from their lock screen or Wallet app. Once they approve, the money moves into your Apple Cash balance, which you can then transfer to your bank account or use to pay others.

The process works the same way whether you're requesting from a friend, family member, or someone who owes you money. Apple Pay doesn't charge a fee for sending or receiving payment requests, though your bank might charge fees for transferring the money out to your account later.

Key Takeaways

  • Payment requests go through the Wallet app, not Messages or other Apple apps, and the recipient sees the request as a notification they can tap to respond.
  • You need both people to have an Apple Cash account or a supported debit or credit card linked to Apple Pay for the request to work.
  • The person you request from can approve the payment directly from their lock screen without opening the full Wallet app.
  • Money received sits in your Apple Cash balance until you move it to a bank account or spend it through Apple Pay.
  • If the person declines or ignores the request, you can send a reminder or cancel the request and try again.

Step-by-step: sending a payment request

Open the Wallet app on your iPhone or Apple Watch. Tap the plus icon in the upper right corner (on iPhone) or scroll to find the option to add or request money. Select "Request Money" from the menu that appears.

Tap the contact you want to request from. If they're not in your recent contacts, you can search by name or phone number. Enter the amount you're requesting and add a note if you want to explain why—for example, "dinner last night" or "half the gas." Tap "Request" to send it. The person will get a notification on their device right away.

What happens after you send a request

The person you requested from will see a notification that says you've sent them a payment request. They can tap the notification directly from their lock screen to approve or decline without opening any apps. If they approve, the money goes into your Apple Cash balance when ready.

You'll get a notification when they approve. If they decline or don't respond within a few days, you can send a reminder by opening the request in your Wallet app and tapping "Remind." You can also cancel the request if you no longer need it.

Requirements for both people

The person you're requesting from needs to have either an Apple Cash account or a supported debit or credit card linked to Apple Pay. They also need to be in the United States—Apple Pay's person-to-person payment feature doesn't work across borders yet. Both of you need to be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your state).

If the person doesn't have Apple Pay set up, they won't be able to receive or respond to your request. You'll need to use a different payment method like Venmo, PayPal, or a direct bank transfer instead.

Moving money out of Apple Cash after you receive it

When someone approves your payment request, the money lands in your Apple Cash balance. From there, you have three options: spend it through Apple Pay at stores or online, send it to someone else through another payment request, or transfer it to your bank account.

To transfer to your bank account, open Wallet, tap your Apple Cash card, tap the three dots in the upper right, select "Transfer to Bank," enter the amount, and choose your bank account. The transfer usually takes one to three business days, though some banks process it faster. Apple doesn't charge a fee, but your bank might.

What to do if a request is declined or ignored

If the person declines your request, you'll get a notification. The request disappears from your active list, but you can send a new one if you want to try again. If they ignore it, you can send a reminder after a few days by opening the request and tapping "Remind."

If the person says they never saw the request, make sure they have notifications turned on for the Wallet app and that they're signed into iCloud with their Apple ID. Sometimes requests don't come through if their device isn't connected to the internet or if they've turned off payment notifications in their settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request money from someone who doesn't have an iPhone?

No. The person you request from needs an Apple device with Apple Pay set up. If they use Android or don't have Apple Pay, you'll need to use a different payment app like Venmo, PayPal, or Square Cash.

Does Apple charge a fee to request or receive money?

Apple doesn't charge a fee for sending or receiving payment requests. Your bank might charge a fee when you transfer the money out to your account, so check with them about their policy.

What if I request money from the wrong person by accident?

You can cancel the request before they approve it. Open Wallet, find the request, and tap "Cancel Request." Once they approve the payment, you can't cancel it, but you can ask them to send the money back.

How long does it take for money to show up after someone approves?

The money appears in your Apple Cash balance when ready when they approve. If you transfer it to your bank account, it usually takes one to three business days depending on your bank.

Can I request money from multiple people at once?

No. You have to send individual requests to each person. There's no way to send one request to a group, so you'll need to repeat the process for each person who owes you money.