Where to find and change your payment method
Your payment method on iPhone lives in the Settings app, not in the App Store itself. Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Payment & Shipping. From there you can add a new card, remove an old one, or set which card charges when you buy apps, make in-app purchases, or renew subscriptions.
If you have never added a payment method, you will see an option to add one. If you already have cards on file, you will see them listed with the last four digits. The card with a checkmark is your default — the one that will be charged unless you pick a different one at checkout.
The process is the same whether you use an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Everything syncs across your devices because it is tied to your Apple ID, not to the device itself.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Settings, tap your name, then Payment & Shipping to see and change your payment methods.
- You can add a credit card, debit card, or Apple Gift Card as a payment method on file.
- The card with a checkmark is your default and will be charged unless you pick a different one at purchase.
- If a payment fails, remove the old card and add a new one rather than trying to edit the existing card.
- Changes to your payment method take effect immediately and sync across all your Apple devices.
How to add a new payment method
Tap Add Payment Method at the bottom of the Payment & Shipping screen. You will be asked to choose the type: credit card, debit card, or Apple Gift Card. If you are adding a card, enter the card number, expiration date, and the three-digit security code on the back.
Next you will enter your billing address. This must match what your bank has on file — if it does not, the card may be declined when you try to use it. Enter your street address, city, state, and ZIP code exactly as your bank records them.
Once you tap Save, the card is added to your account. If you want it to be your default payment method, tap it and then tap Make This My Default Payment Method. If you do not set a default, iOS will ask you which card to use each time you make a purchase.
Removing a card that no longer works
If a card has expired, been cancelled, or is being declined, the fastest fix is to remove it and add a new one. Do not try to edit the old card — Apple does not let you change the card number on an existing payment method.
Go to Settings > Your Name > Payment & Shipping, find the card you want to remove, and swipe left on it. A red Delete button will appear. Tap it to remove the card. If that card was your default, iOS will automatically switch to your next card on file. If you have no other cards, you will be asked to add one the next time you make a purchase.
Removing a card from your iPhone does not cancel any subscriptions charged to that card. If you want to stop a subscription, you need to cancel it separately in the App Store.
What to do if your payment keeps failing
A failed payment usually means one of three things: the card has expired, the billing address does not match your bank's records, or your bank declined the charge for security reasons.
First, check the expiration date on the card itself. If it has expired, remove the old card and add the new one your bank sent you. If the expiration date is correct, remove the card and add it again, making sure the billing address matches exactly what your bank has on file — including spelling, abbreviations, and spacing.
If the payment still fails after you have re-entered everything correctly, contact your bank. They may have flagged the charge as suspicious, or there may be a hold on the account. Your bank can tell you whether the card is active and whether they are blocking Apple charges.
Using Apple Gift Cards as your payment method
You can add an Apple Gift Card to your account instead of a credit or debit card. This is useful if you want to control your spending or if you do not want to use a bank card for App Store purchases.
To add a Gift Card, go to Settings > Your Name > Payment & Shipping and tap Add Payment Method. Choose Apple Gift Card and enter the code from the back of the card or from your email receipt. The balance will be added to your Apple ID account.
When you make a purchase, the charge will come from your Gift Card balance first. Once the balance runs out, iOS will ask you to add another payment method. You can have both a Gift Card and a credit card on file at the same time.
Changing your default payment method for subscriptions
If you have multiple cards on file, you can choose which one gets charged for subscriptions and app purchases. The card with a checkmark in Payment & Shipping is your default.
To change your default, go to Settings > Your Name > Payment & Shipping, tap the card you want to use, and then tap Make This My Default Payment Method. From that point forward, any new purchases or subscription renewals will charge that card instead.
This does not change which card is charged for subscriptions you already have. Existing subscriptions will keep charging the card they were set up with. To move an existing subscription to a different card, you need to cancel it and sign up again with the new card selected.
Why your payment method might disappear from your account
Sometimes a card vanishes from Payment & Shipping even though you did not delete it. This usually happens when your bank or card issuer notifies Apple that the card has been closed or replaced. Apple removes it automatically to prevent failed charges.
If this happens, add your new card to your account. If you are not sure whether your card is still active, contact your bank before adding it again. Once you add the new card, any subscriptions that were charging the old card will start charging the new one on the next renewal date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different payment method for each app purchase?
Yes. If you have multiple cards on file, iOS will ask you which one to use at checkout for each purchase. You can also set a default card that charges automatically, then pick a different one when you want to.
What happens to my subscriptions if I remove a payment method?
Your subscriptions will not cancel. Instead, iOS will charge your default payment method on the next renewal date. If you have no other cards on file, you will get a notification asking you to add one before the subscription renews.
Can I use a debit card instead of a credit card?
Yes. Debit cards work the same way as credit cards in Payment & Shipping. Enter the card number, expiration date, security code, and billing address just as you would for a credit card.
Why does Apple ask for my billing address when I add a card?
Your billing address must match your bank's records for the charge to go through. If it does not match, your bank will decline the purchase. Make sure you enter it exactly as it appears on your bank statement, including abbreviations and spacing.
Can I change my payment method without going to Settings?
You can pick a different card at checkout when you buy an app or make an in-app purchase. Tap the payment method shown, and iOS will let you choose a different card or add a new one. But to manage which cards you have on file, you must go to Settings > Your Name > Payment & Shipping.