How to set up Apple Pay on iPhone and Apple Watch

What you need before you set up Apple Pay

You need an iPhone that supports Apple Pay, an Apple Account signed in to iCloud, a passcode, and a card from a bank that supports it. Most large US banks and credit unions do, including Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Capital One and Citi, but some smaller institutions may not. If your card is refused, check your bank's app or website for an Apple Pay page. Your iPhone should be running a current version of iOS, because bank verification and Wallet features are updated often.

Add a card in more detail

Open Wallet, tap + in the top right and choose Debit or Credit Card. If you have a card saved with your Apple Account, you may see it offered first. Otherwise tap Continue and line the card up in the camera frame, or enter the number, expiration date and security code by hand. You may need to accept the card issuer's terms and conditions. Newer iPhones can also scan a card by holding it close to the top of the phone.

Verify the card with your bank

After you add the card, the bank may ask you to confirm it is yours. Common options are a text message code, an email, a call from the bank or confirmation inside the bank's own app. Pick one, enter the code and tap Next. If the card says Pending or Verification needed, open the bank's app and look for a message. Some banks activate the card right away and others take a few minutes. If you never get a code, call the number on the back of the card.

Set a default card and add more cards

The first card you add becomes your default. To change it, go to Settings › Wallet & Apple Pay › Default Card. You can add more debit and credit cards, transit cards, store cards and rewards cards. In Wallet, press and hold a card and drag it to the front to make it the one that comes up first. If you use rewards credit cards, putting the card with the best rewards first can save you effort at checkout.

Pay in stores, apps and online

• In a store: double-press the side button, authenticate and hold the top of the iPhone near the reader. Look for Done and a check mark.
• In an app or on a website: tap the Apple Pay or Buy with Apple Pay button, confirm the card and shipping, then authenticate.
• Person to person: use Apple Cash in Messages if you have it set up and meet the age and location requirements.

Set up Apple Pay on Apple Watch

Open the Watch app on the iPhone, tap Wallet & Apple Pay and then Add Card. You may need to enter the security code again. After that, double-press the watch's side button to pay without taking out your phone. Make sure Wrist Detection is on and your watch has a passcode, otherwise Apple Pay on the watch will not work.

Express Transit, Wallet keys and other cards

In Settings › Wallet & Apple Pay, you can set up Express Transit so a transit card works without Face ID, which is useful at turnstiles. Wallet can also hold driver's licenses in some states, car keys and hotel keys, plus boarding passes and tickets. Features vary by region and bank, so check what appears on your screen. For how the phone talks to terminals, see how NFC works on iPhone.

Is Apple Pay safe?

Yes. Apple Pay uses a device account number instead of your real card number, so the merchant never sees it. Each payment needs your face, finger or passcode. If you lose your iPhone, you can suspend or remove the cards through Find My, so protecting your Apple Account matters. Use a strong password and two-factor authentication. If you ever forget the password, read how to reset your Apple Account password.

Cards that often will not add

Not every card works with Apple Pay. Some prepaid cards, gift cards, certain business cards and cards from small banks are not supported. International cards may also be refused, depending on the issuer. If you see a message that the card cannot be added, check with the bank before trying again and again, since repeated attempts can trigger a fraud flag. You can also check the bank's own app, since many banks let you add the card to Apple Pay directly from their app with fewer steps.

Apple Cash, family and travel

Apple Cash is a separate card in Wallet that you can use to send and receive money in Messages, and some features have age and location requirements. Parents can set up Apple Cash Family for children in Family Sharing. When you travel, Apple Pay works at many terminals around the world that accept contactless payment, but whether your card works depends on the issuer and local rules. Carry a physical backup card and tell your bank about travel so a payment is not blocked.

New phone, lost phone and removing a card

When you set up a new iPhone, cards may transfer through iCloud, but your bank can still ask you to verify each one again. To remove a card, open Wallet, tap the card, tap the three dots and choose Remove This Card. If you lose your iPhone, use Find My or iCloud.com to mark it as lost, which suspends Apple Pay, and tell your bank if you see charges you do not recognize. Do this before you sell, trade in or recycle an old phone, since a card left behind could be a risk.

Apple Pay vs other contactless options

Apple Pay works at any reader with the contactless symbol, so you do not need to look for a special Apple logo. If you also own an Android phone or a smart watch, remember that Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet do the same job on those devices, and they use their own setup steps. Choose one wallet per device and keep your physical card as a backup in case the battery dies.

If Apple Pay will not set up or work

1. Check that the date, time and region are correct, and that you are on Wi-Fi or cellular.
2. Update iOS, then restart the iPhone and try adding the card again.
3. Make sure Face ID or Touch ID is set up and not blocked, and that a passcode is set.
4. Remove the card from Wallet and add it back, or call your bank to confirm it supports Apple Pay.
5. At the store, hold the top of the iPhone near the reader for a few seconds and take off thick cases or metal wallets that block the signal.

If a card keeps getting declined, the problem is often on the bank side, such as a fraud hold or an expired card. Call the bank, and consider whether another card has better protection for online purchases. To fix a payment method for apps, read your App Store payment method.

Is Apple Pay safe?

Yes. Your card number is not stored on the iPhone or shared with stores. Each payment uses a unique code and needs Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode, which makes it safer than swiping a physical card.