How to Turn Off Apple Pay and Remove Payment Methods

How to remove Apple Pay from your devices

To stop using Apple Pay, you remove your card from the Wallet app on each device where it is stored. The process differs slightly between iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac, but in each case you delete the card itself rather than disabling a single "Apple Pay" setting. Once removed, the card no longer works for contactless payments, in-app purchases, or online transactions through that device.

On an iPhone or iPad, open the Wallet app, tap the card you want to remove, tap the three dots or information icon in the corner, scroll down, and select "Remove Card." On an Apple Watch, open the Wallet app, swipe left on the card, tap the trash icon, and confirm. On a Mac, go to System Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay, click the card, and click "Remove." You can remove cards one at a time or remove all of them to stop using Apple Pay entirely.

If you have multiple cards stored, removing one does not affect the others. Your default payment method (the card that appears first in Wallet) will change to whichever card remains, or you can manually select a new default before removing the old one.

Key Takeaways

Removing a card from Wallet stops it from working with Apple Pay on that specific device, but the card remains active on other devices where you have stored it.
You remove cards through the Wallet app on iPhone and iPad, the Wallet app on Apple Watch, and System Settings on Mac.
Deleting a card from Apple Pay does not cancel the card itself or close your bank account — it only removes it from that device.
If you want to stop using Apple Pay across all your devices, you must remove the card from each device separately.

Removing Apple Pay from individual devices

Each Apple device stores its own copy of your payment cards in its Wallet app. Removing a card from one device does not remove it from another. If you use Apple Pay on an iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, the card exists on all three until you delete it from each one.

Start with the device you use most often. On iPhone or iPad, tap Wallet, find the card, tap the information icon (usually three dots or a circle with an "i"), scroll to the bottom, and tap "Remove Card." Confirm the removal when prompted. On Apple Watch, open Wallet, swipe left on the card, tap the trash icon, and confirm. On Mac, open System Settings, click Wallet & Apple Pay in the sidebar, select the card from the list, and click "Remove."

After you remove a card, that device can no longer use it for payments. If you have other cards in Wallet, your default payment method will shift to the next card in the list. You can change which card is default before removing the old one if you prefer.

What happens to your bank account and card after removal

Removing a card from Apple Pay does not affect the card itself, your bank account, or any recurring charges tied to that card. The card remains active with your bank, and any subscriptions or automatic payments you have set up will continue to charge it normally.

If you want to stop a subscription or recurring charge, you must cancel it separately through the service that charges you — removing it from Apple Pay will not stop the charge. For example, if you have an Apple Music subscription charged to a card you remove from Wallet, the subscription will continue and your bank will be charged through other means, or the subscription may fail if no other payment method is on file.

To fully disconnect a card from Apple services, you may also need to remove it from your Apple ID payment method in Settings > [Your Name] > Payment & Shipping. This is separate from Wallet and controls what card Apple charges for purchases in the App Store, iTunes, and Apple services.

Removing your payment method from your Apple ID

Your Apple ID can have a payment method on file separate from the cards in Wallet. This payment method is what Apple charges when you buy apps, make in-app purchases, or pay for Apple services like iCloud+ or Apple TV+. Removing it from your Apple ID is different from removing it from Wallet.

On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, tap "Payment & Shipping," and tap "Edit" next to your payment method. You can then remove it or replace it with a different card. On Mac, go to System Settings, click your Apple ID in the sidebar, click "Payment & Shipping," and remove or edit your payment method there.

If you remove your payment method from your Apple ID but keep a subscription active, Apple will attempt to charge you using other payment methods on file, or the subscription may be suspended. You can also set your Apple ID to "None" for payment method if you do not want any card charged, though this will prevent you from making purchases until you add one back.

Stopping Apple Pay for online and in-app purchases

Apple Pay works in three places: contactless payments at physical stores (using NFC), online purchases on websites, and in-app purchases within apps. Removing your card from Wallet stops all three on that device. However, if you want to keep using Apple Pay for some purposes but not others, your options are limited.

You cannot disable Apple Pay for only in-app purchases while keeping it for contactless payments. Your only control is to remove the card entirely, or to remove it from your Apple ID payment method specifically (which stops in-app and online purchases through Apple services, but not contactless payments at stores). If you want to prevent accidental in-app charges, consider removing your payment method from your Apple ID and using a different card in Wallet for contactless payments only.

Some apps also have their own settings for payment methods. If you have added a card to a specific app (like a ride-sharing or delivery app), you can remove it from within that app's settings without affecting Apple Pay elsewhere.

Re-adding a card to Apple Pay later

If you remove a card and later want to use Apple Pay again, you can add it back at any time. On iPhone or iPad, open Wallet, tap the plus icon, and follow the prompts to add a new card. You can use the same card number or a different one. Your bank may ask you to verify the card through a text message or app before it becomes active in Wallet.

Adding a card back does not restore your previous settings — your default payment method will be the newly added card, and you will need to set up any preferences again. The process takes a few minutes and does not affect your bank account or any existing subscriptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does removing Apple Pay from my phone stop my subscriptions from being charged?

No. Removing a card from Wallet or from your Apple ID does not cancel subscriptions or stop recurring charges. Your bank account will still be charged if the card remains active with your bank. To stop a charge, you must cancel the subscription itself through the service that bills you.

Can I remove Apple Pay from just one device and keep it on others?

Yes. Each device has its own Wallet, so you can remove a card from your iPhone while keeping it on your iPad or Apple Watch. You must remove it from each device separately if you want it gone from all of them.

What is the difference between removing a card from Wallet and removing it from my Apple ID?

Wallet is for contactless payments at stores and online purchases on websites. Your Apple ID payment method is what Apple charges for apps, in-app purchases, and Apple services. Removing from Wallet stops store and web payments; removing from Apple ID stops App Store and Apple service charges. You can remove from one without affecting the other.

If I remove my payment method, can I still download free apps?

Yes. You can download free apps without any payment method on file. You only need a payment method to buy paid apps or make in-app purchases. Some free apps include in-app purchases, which will prompt you to add a payment method if you try to buy something inside the app.

Will my bank know I removed my card from Apple Pay?

No. Removing a card from Apple Pay is a change only on your device. Your bank has no record of it and will not be notified. The card itself remains active with your bank unless you cancel it directly with them.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.