Can you remove a card from Apple Pay?

by

Key takeaways:

  • Yes, you can easily remove a credit, debit, or prepaid card from Apple Pay on your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac.
  • To remove a card, open the Wallet app, tap the card, tap the (i) icon, then tap ‘Remove Card’.
  • You can also remove a card by going to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and tapping ‘Remove Cards’ to delete them all.
  • Removing a card from Apple Pay doesn’t cancel or close the account with your bank. The card can still be used outside of Apple Pay.
  • If you have multiple devices linked to the same Apple ID, removing a card on one device will also remove it from all other devices.

Apple Pay allows you to securely make payments using your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac. It stores virtual versions of your credit, debit, and prepaid cards that you can use to make payments in stores, within apps, or online.

Can you remove a card from Apple Pay?

If you no longer want one of your cards stored in Apple Pay, you can easily remove it. Here’s how.

How to remove a card from Apple Pay

Removing a card from Apple Pay only takes a few taps and doesn’t affect the actual card account. Follow these steps:

On iPhone or iPad

  1. Open the Wallet app.
  2. Tap the card you want to remove.
  3. Tap the (i) icon in the top-right corner of the card details.
  4. Tap ‘Remove Card’.
  5. Confirm removal by tapping ‘Remove’ again.

The card will immediately be removed from Apple Pay across any device linked to your Apple ID.

On Apple Watch

  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Go to the My Watch tab.
  3. Tap Wallet & Apple Pay.
  4. Tap the card you want to remove.
  5. Tap ‘Remove’.

On Mac

  1. Click the Apple menu.
  2. Click ‘System Preferences’.
  3. Click ‘Wallet & Apple Pay’.
  4. Select the card you want to remove.
  5. Click the (-) icon to remove it.
  6. Confirm removal by clicking ‘Remove’.

Removing all cards

You can also delete all cards from Apple Pay simultaneously. Just follow these steps:

On iPhone/iPad:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap Wallet & Apple Pay.
  3. Tap ‘Remove Cards’.
  4. Tap ‘Remove’ again to confirm.

On Apple Watch:

  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Go to the My Watch tab.
  3. Tap Wallet & Apple Pay.
  4. Tap ‘Remove All’.

On Mac:

  1. Click the Apple menu.
  2. Click ‘System Preferences’.
  3. Click ‘Wallet & Apple Pay’.
  4. Click ‘Remove All’.
  5. Confirm removal.

Once removed from Apple Pay, you’ll have to re-add any cards you want to use for mobile payments.

Important things to know about removing cards

  • Removing a card from Apple Pay does not cancel your actual credit, debit, or prepaid card account. It simply deletes the virtual card used in Apple Pay. Your physical card will still work normally.
  • When you remove a card, it will be deleted from ALL of your devices using the same Apple ID. So if you delete a card on your iPhone, it’ll also be removed from Apple Pay on any linked iPads, Macs or Apple Watches.
  • You can re-add a removed card back into Apple Pay anytime by selecting it again in the Wallet app and following the prompts.
  • If your iPhone is lost or stolen, you can use Find My on iCloud.com to remotely erase your Apple Pay cards. Log in, click Find iPhone, then click Erase iPhone to remove the cards.
  • You’ll need to re-add the cards even if you find your phone, as the device will have been erased.
  • If you’re switching to a new iPhone or iPad and restore from a backup during setup, your Apple Pay cards will transfer over automatically. Be sure to remove any cards you don’t want before the backup.

Frequently asked questions

Here are answers to some common questions about removing cards from Apple Pay:

  1. Does removing a card from Apple Pay cancel the actual card?
    No, removing a card from Apple Pay does not cancel or close the account with your bank/card provider. It only deletes the virtual card used in Apple Pay. Your physical plastic card will still work normally outside of Apple Pay.
  1. If I remove my only card, will Apple Pay be disabled?
    No, Apple Pay will still function without any cards added. You simply won’t be able to complete any Apple Pay transactions until you add a card back.
  1. What happens if I remove my primary Apple Pay card?
    Your iPhone will prompt you to select a new primary card the next time you make a payment. This primary card will be used by default when you make Apple Pay purchases using your iPhone.
  1. Do I need to call my bank if I remove a card?
    No, you do not need to contact your bank. Removing a card can be done entirely within Apple Pay settings without involving your bank.
  1. Why do I have to re-add my cards if I get a new iPhone?
    When you set up a new iPhone, it starts with a blank Apple Pay wallet. So you’ll need to manually re-add any cards you want to use, even if restoring from a backup. This is a security feature.
  1. What if I removed the wrong card by accident?
    No worries! You can easily re-add any cards that were removed by mistake. Just open the Wallet app and select the card again.
  1. Will my Apple Pay transactions history be deleted if I remove a card?
    No, your transaction history will not be impacted. Apple Pay keeps your past transaction data even if you delete cards.
  1. Does removing a card also delete it from iTunes/App Store?
    No. Removing a card only deletes it from Apple Pay. The card will remain saved in your iTunes/App Store accounts for purchases.
  1. What if my removed card shows back up in Apple Pay?
    In some cases, your bank may automatically re-add a card you deleted. If this happens, remove it again and contact your bank to prevent the card from being added without your permission.
  1. How do I remove a card if my iPhone is lost/stolen?
    Use Find My on iCloud.com to erase your iPhone remotely. This will also remove all cards from Apple Pay as a security measure.

Conclusion

Removing a credit, debit, or prepaid card from Apple Pay is quick and easy right from your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac settings. Just tap the card, then tap ‘Remove’ and confirm deletion. This provides a way to manage which payment methods you have stored in Apple Pay. Keep in mind that removing a card does not affect the actual account or cancel the card. You can always re-add cards you delete by mistake. Now go enjoy using Apple Pay conveniently and securely!

Leave a Comment