You can remove Apple Pay by deleting your card from the Wallet app or turning off the feature entirely
Removing Apple Pay from your iPhone takes about two minutes and works differently depending on whether you want to delete a single card or disable the service altogether. If you're keeping Apple Pay but removing one card — say, after switching banks or canceling a credit card — you delete it from the Wallet app. If you want to turn off Apple Pay completely so it no longer appears on your lock screen or in stores, you disable it in Settings. Both methods are reversible; you can add cards back or re-enable the feature at any time.
The process varies slightly depending on your iPhone model and iOS version, but the core steps remain the same across all devices. Deleting a card takes seconds, while disabling the entire Apple Pay feature requires navigating to one settings menu. Neither action affects your actual bank account or credit card — you're only removing the card from this iPhone's payment system.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a card from Wallet removes that specific payment method but leaves Apple Pay active for other cards you may have added.
- Disabling Apple Pay in Settings turns off the entire feature, including contactless payments and in-app purchases, across your iPhone.
- You can delete a card by opening Wallet, tapping the card, selecting the three-dot menu, and choosing "Remove Card."
- Turning off Apple Pay requires going to Settings, selecting Wallet & Apple Pay, and toggling off the feature you want to disable.
- Removing a card does not affect your bank account or credit card itself — the card remains active everywhere else.
How to delete a single card from Wallet
Open the Wallet app on your home screen. Tap and hold the card you want to remove, or tap the card once and look for a three-dot menu icon (⋯) in the corner. Tap that menu, then select "Remove Card" or "Delete Card" depending on your iPhone model and iOS version.
A confirmation message will appear asking if you're sure. Tap "Remove" or "Delete" to confirm. The card disappears from Wallet immediately, but you can add it back later by tapping the plus icon in Wallet and re-entering the card details or scanning it with your camera. Deleting a card from Wallet does not cancel the card itself or notify your bank. The card remains active in your bank's system and at physical stores. You're only removing it from Apple Pay on this iPhone.
How to turn off Apple Pay entirely
If you want to disable Apple Pay completely rather than just remove one card, open Settings and scroll down to "Wallet & Apple Pay." Tap it, then toggle off "Double-Click Side Button" (on newer iPhones) or "Double-Click Home Button" (on older models). This disables contactless payments at stores.
You can also toggle off "Allow Payments on Lock Screen" to prevent Apple Pay from appearing when your phone is locked. If you want to stop Apple Pay from working in apps and online, go back to Settings, tap "Wallet & Apple Pay," and toggle off "Apple Pay" itself if that option appears on your model. Turning off these toggles does not delete your cards — they remain stored in Wallet. You can re-enable Apple Pay at any time by returning to the same settings and toggling the features back on.
What happens to your cards when you remove Apple Pay
Your actual credit card or debit card is not affected. The card continues to work everywhere else — at physical stores, online, in other payment apps like Venmo or PayPal, and through your bank's own app. Removing Apple Pay only removes the card from this specific iPhone's contactless payment system.
Your bank has no record that you removed the card from Apple Pay. You won't see any change in your account, statements, or credit score. If you later want to use Apple Pay again, you can add the same card back by opening Wallet, tapping the plus icon, and either scanning the card or entering the details manually.
Removing Apple Pay from a specific iPhone but keeping it on others
If you own multiple Apple devices — an iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch — removing Apple Pay from one device does not affect the others. Each device stores its own copy of your cards and has its own Apple Pay settings.
To remove Apple Pay from your Apple Watch while keeping it on your iPhone, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to "Wallet & Apple Pay," and tap the card you want to remove. Then tap "Remove Card." Your iPhone's Apple Pay remains unchanged. The same logic applies if you want to remove Apple Pay from an iPad but keep it on your iPhone.
Removing Apple Pay before selling or giving away your iPhone
Before selling or giving your iPhone to someone else, you should remove all your payment cards and sign out of your Apple ID. Open Wallet and delete each card individually, or go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and toggle off all Apple Pay features. This ensures the new owner cannot use your stored payment methods.
You should also go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out to remove your Apple ID from the device entirely. This step is more important than removing Apple Pay alone, because signing out removes access to iCloud, email, and other personal data. If you're trading the phone in to Apple or a carrier, they typically wipe the device for you, but removing your cards and signing out first is the safest approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing Apple Pay delete my card information permanently?
No. Removing Apple Pay from your iPhone only removes the card from that device's Wallet app. Your card information remains stored with your bank and credit card company. You can add the card back to Apple Pay on the same iPhone or any other Apple device at any time.
Can I remove Apple Pay from my iPhone but keep it on my Apple Watch?
Yes. Each Apple device has separate Apple Pay settings. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Wallet & Apple Pay, and remove the card from your watch. Your iPhone's Apple Pay and cards remain unchanged. You can also disable Apple Pay on your iPhone while leaving it active on your watch.
What if I remove a card by mistake?
You can add it back immediately. Open Wallet, tap the plus icon, and either scan the card with your camera or enter the card number, expiration date, and security code manually. Apple will verify the card with your bank, which usually takes a few seconds. Your card details are still on file with your bank, so re-adding it is quick.
Does removing Apple Pay affect my credit score or bank account?
No. Removing Apple Pay is a change only to your iPhone's settings. Your bank account, credit card, and credit score are not affected. The card itself remains active and can still be used everywhere else. Your bank has no notification that you removed it from Apple Pay.
Can I turn off Apple Pay payments at stores but keep using it in apps?
Yes. Go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and toggle off "Double-Click Side Button" or "Double-Click Home Button" to disable contactless payments at stores. You can leave other toggles on so Apple Pay still works in apps and online. The settings are separate, so you can mix and match which features you want active.