Your purchase could not be completed on iPhone? 8 fixes

You tap Buy or Subscribe and a message stops you: Your Purchase Could Not Be Completed. The app does not download. The subscription does not start. Maybe a game is waiting on an in-app purchase, or a service you pay for each month has just failed to renew. The message does not say why, and Apple will not either. Apple's support page is clear that it does not know why a bank declined a payment. What Apple does give you is a short list of steps, and most cases clear up with the first two. This guide follows that order, adds the checks for the cases where the first steps are not enough, and explains what to ask your bank.

What does Your Purchase Could Not Be Completed mean?

In plain words, Apple tried to charge you and could not. The usual reasons are:

• The card was declined. It may be expired, out of funds, blocked or flagged by the bank.
• The details do not match. Apple says your name, billing address and other details must match what your bank has on file.
• The method is not accepted where you are. Some cards and methods do not work in every country or region.
• There is an unpaid order. Apple says an outstanding balance may block purchases and even free app downloads.
• The bank needs to confirm the payment. It may require an app, text or other verification, or may have blocked international purchases.
• A purchase review is pending. Apple can ask for one on a purchase.

Fix 1: Add a different payment method, then remove the old one

This is the main fix on Apple's page for a declined payment, and it works more often than you would expect, because it forces Apple to check the details again.

If you only need to update a card, our guide on changing your payment method covers the other options, including the Apple Account balance.

Fix 2: Check that your name and billing address are exact

Apple says to check that your name, billing address and other details are spelled correctly, and that they match what your financial institution has on file. A small difference, such as a missing apartment number, an old address, an abbreviation or a different order of names, can cause a decline. Look at the billing address that appears on your statement, and enter it the same way. If you moved recently, update the address with your bank as well.

Fix 3: Pay any unpaid order

Apple's page says to pay any outstanding balance first, because it may block purchases and free downloads. This is the cause behind a message that says there was a billing problem with a previous purchase. Apple's page for that message says you can retry the purchase after adding a valid payment method, and that you can also pay an unpaid order by redeeming an Apple Gift Card or App Store Card to add funds to your Apple Account. If you see Verification Required instead, read our guide on that message.

Fix 4: Make sure the method works in your region

Apple tells you to make sure the payment method is accepted in your Apple Account's country or region. A card from another country, or a method that your region does not take, will fail even when the card is fine. If your Apple Account is set to a different region than the one you live in, you may need to change the region, which has its own rules, for example about balances and active subscriptions. If you are traveling, the payment may also need the bank's approval for foreign use, which is covered in Fix 5.

Fix 5: Ask your bank to allow it

Apple says that only your financial institution can tell you why a payment was declined, because Apple does not have that information. It also suggests asking the bank to allow international purchases if the card is from another country, and completing any verification the bank asks for, such as an approval in its app or a text. Call the number on the back of the card or use the bank's app. Ask if there is a block, a fraud hold or a limit on online purchases. Then retry the purchase. This is the step to take when a new card also fails.

Fix 6: Handle a Purchase Not Completed review

Apple describes a related message, Purchase Not Completed. In that case, go back to the item and try to buy it again. When the message appears, tap Continue, then follow the onscreen steps to submit a purchase review. Apple says that Apple Support cannot submit the review for you or speed it up, so complete it yourself and wait.

Fix 7: If you are in Family Sharing, check who pays

In a Family Sharing group, the family organizer's payment method pays for purchases, in most cases. If you are not the organizer and the method fails, Apple's billing-problem page lists three options: add your own valid payment method, ask the organizer to change theirs, or redeem a gift card and pay your unpaid order. Ask the organizer to check the card on their Apple Account for expiry or errors.

Fix 8: Restart, update and try on another network

If the payment method is clearly fine, rule out a glitch. Restart the iPhone, update iOS in Settings, General, Software Update, and try on Wi-Fi if you were on mobile data, or the other way around. Sign out of the App Store and back in. If the app is the one that is failing, check whether it needs a different restore step, for example Restore Purchases inside the app. If the App Store itself will not load, see our guide on the App Store not working.

How can you avoid a failed payment next time?

• Keep a second payment method on your Apple Account as a backup, such as a different card.
• Update the card details as soon as the bank sends you a new card or the old one expires.
• Check your Apple Account balance and Subscriptions once a month, and cancel what you no longer use.
• Keep your billing address current with both Apple and your bank.
• Pay unpaid orders quickly, since an outstanding balance can block free downloads too.

Why am I being charged for something I did not buy?

That is a different problem. If you see a charge from Apple that you do not recognize, it may be a subscription. Check Settings, tap your name, tap Subscriptions to see what is active, and cancel what you do not want. Our guide on canceling subscriptions on iPhone shows how, and how to ask for a refund explains what Apple can do. If a charge looks like fraud, contact your bank first.

Still can't complete the purchase?

Contact Apple Support with the exact message, the date and the payment method type, but remember that they cannot see why a bank declined a card. If the problem is with a third-party product, Apple says to contact that vendor. Keep the order details and any messages from the bank. If you can, try a different card, an Apple Gift Card or your Apple Account balance, to see whether the problem is the card or the account. And if you are about to lose a service, a new payment method is the fastest way to restore it.