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How To Remove A Card From Apple Pay In 4 Steps, With Photos

Updated: August 28, 2023 by Nate Williams

Support for Apple Pay, Apple’s mobile payment service, is built into all the latest products from the tech giant. Apple Pay functionality is simple to set up and even easier to use, from the iPhone to the iPad to the Apple Watch to the MacBook. With support at the checkout, both online and in-person, all a user has to do is connect their credit or debit card and start shopping. But what about when you need to remove a card from Apple Pay? How do you do it? Let’s walk through the process, step by step, with photos to help us along the way.

Why Remove a Card From Apple Pay?

A couple of things could make you want to remove a card from Apple Pay in the first place. Maybe the older card has expired and is unusable. Or the card linked to your account has been compromised. You may also want to add a new card to your account. Let’s look at the most popular reasons to remove a card from Apple Pay in detail.

The Linked Card Is Expired

Firstly, you could want to remove a card from Apple Pay because it expired. Apple Pay will not automatically remove expired cards, so you must do it yourself. This is essential if the card happens to be your default payment method. No one wants to be at the checkout ready to pay when they discover the card is actually expired. As such, it helps to know how to remove a card from Apple Pay beforehand.

The Card Was Compromised

Sometimes, you may find yourself with a compromised card. Maybe someone swiped your information remotely at the gas pump or outright stole your credit card from your wallet or purse. Knowing how to remove a card from Apple Pay means you can disconnect the compromised card from your digital wallet and shred it. Just make sure you add the replacement using the steps below!

You Want To Add A New Card

Another reason to remove a card is to create room for a new debit card in your Apple Pay wallet. Apple has set the limit of cards you can add to your digital wallet to eight cards per device. Once you reach the card limit, you won’t be able to add a new card. For this reason, it’s good to know how to remove a card from Apple Pay. This way, you can get under that limit and make space for a new card.

How To Remove A Card From Apple Pay

You can remove a card from Apple Pay on various devices, including iPad and MacBook. For the context of this piece, we’re using Apple Pay on an iPhone. If possible, it’s best to use a different Apple device with a bigger, more accessible screen.

Step One: Open Wallet

Home page of the Wallet app on an iPhone. — *Open up the Wallet app to remove a card from Apple Pay.*
©History-Computer.com

Firstly, open up the Wallet app on your iPhone’s home screen. However, if it’s not there, you may have moved elsewhere. Swipe down the screen and type “Wallet” to pinpoint the app. Once you locate the app, tap to open it.

Step Two: Select Card

A card saved to an Apple Pay account. — Tap a card in your Wallet to see its details and transaction history.
©History-Computer.com

Next, scroll down on the Wallet app until you find your collection of saved cards. Depending on how many you’ve added, you may have as many as eight different cards. Find the card you want to remove, then tap it. This will bring up a list of your recent transactions and the option to make a payment. Don’t tap anything just yet, though.

Step Three: Tap Card Details

Card options in the Apple Pay Wallet. — Remove a card from Apple Pay via Card Details in the Wallet app.
©History-Computer.com

Tap the three little dots in the top right-hand corner of the screen. A menu will appear with the option to see the card number, details, and any card notifications. The option we want is right in the middle: Card Details. Tap this. This action will take you to the Card Details page. You should see the option to call your bank or financial institution and more details.

Step Four: Remove Card

Remove Card option on Apple Pay. — Tap “Remove Card” to delete it from your Apple Pay wallet.
©History-Computer.com

Finally, scroll down to the bottom of the Card Details page, past your unique Apple Pay identifier and other sections. At the very bottom, you’ll see the option to “Remove Card” in bold, red letters. Tap this, then follow the prompts on the screen. By the end, the card will be officially removed. That’s how it’s done!

YouTuber TruFinancials shows you just how quick and easy deleting a card from Apple Pay is in the following 1:16-minute video.

How To Remove A Card From Apple Pay In 4 Steps, With Photos FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is Apple Pay?

Apple Pay is a convenient and secure mobile payment service developed by Apple, Inc. By setting up Apple Pay, the mobile payment service allows you to make purchases using your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, or MacBook. You won’t need to carry physical credit or debit cards. You can make payments at participating stores, online retailers, and even within apps by linking your cards to your Apple Wallet. You also get access to peer-to-peer payment service Apple Cash.

How does Apple Pay work?

Apple Pay works through Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. When your Apple Pay-enabled device is brought near a payment terminal, it communicates like a tap-to-pay credit or debit card would. Hold your device near the terminal and authenticate the payment using Touch ID, Face ID, or your device’s unique passcode. Also, Apple Pay automatically fills in your payment details for online and in-app purchases.

Is Apple Pay safe?

Yes, Apple Pay is generally considered very safe. When you add a card to Apple Pay, the actual card numbers are never stored on your device or Apple’s servers. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted, and securely stored in a dedicated chip within the phone or device called the “Secure Element.” Each transaction is then authorized with a one-time dynamic security code, keeping your card details private and reducing the risk of fraud.

Where can you use Apple Pay?

As of this writing, Apple Pay is currently accepted by millions of in-person and online retailers worldwide. This includes retail stores, restaurants, public transportation, and mobile apps. To know if a store or business accepts Apple Pay, look for the Apple Pay symbol or contactless payment terminals at the checkout. You can also use Apple Pay within certain apps and websites at checkout when given the option.

Does it cost money to use Apple Pay?

Apple does not charge users any fees for using Apple Pay. However, that doesn’t mean that your bank or card issuer might not have their own charges and fees for certain transactions and services. To make sure you won’t be charged any fees for Apple Pay transactions, it’s best to check with your particular bank or financial institution of choice.