How to Use Apple Pay: A Step-by-Step Guide

Key Points:

• Every transaction you make with Apple Pay has to pass through either Face ID or Touch ID authentication first to ensure that your online transactions are secure.
• To use Apple Pay, you’ll need a compatible device–the Apple Watch, iPad, iPhone, or Mac. Unfortunately, the iPhone 5s and earlier are incompatible.
• Apple Pay is a contactless payment system. You don’t even have to unlock your screen or launch a separate app to initiate a payment. Place your device close to the reader and it will do the rest.

Apple Pay is Apple’s contactless payment with NFC technology, allowing users to make payments from their devices. With over 507 million users across the globe, it’s clear that Apple Pay has many benefits, including high security and the opportunity to use a rewards system.

You may be still skeptical about Apple Pay, but don’t worry–it’s very safe. Every transaction you make with Apple Pay has to pass through either Face ID or Touch ID authentication first, so you can rest assured that only you are making these payments.

In fact, Apple Pay ensures it protects your personal information even if your phone is lost or stolen. Additionally, it’s possible to remotely disable the wallet if it can’t be recovered from the “Find My” website.

Setting up Apple Pay is easy, and once you’re set up, you can use your phone or watch at participating retailers with a single touch. Make sure your smartphone supports Apple Pay before adding a credit card.

In order to set up Apple Pay, you’ll also need to download the most recent version of watchOS, iOS, or macOS. And, finally, check the card issuers and confirm they let you connect it to Apple Pay. Thankfully, Apple Pay has joined hands with hundreds of major card issuers, including Chase and American Express, so you shouldn’t have any problems, but it never hurts to double-check.

Which Apple Devices Work with Apple Pay?

If you want to use Apple Pay, you’ll need an Apple Watch, iPad, iPhone, or Mac that’s compatible with Apple Pay. Unfortunately, the iPhone 5s and earlier are incompatible.

Apple Pay helps you simplify your day. Here’s what to do:

• Just launch the Wallet app on your compatible Apple smartphone to activate Apple Pay.
• Next up, add a credit card to your wallet, by selecting the card option on the app.
• Finally, take pictures of your card using your device’s camera.

Once done, you can easily make payments in stores, thanks to NFC technology. NFC allows the terminals in shops to talk to your phone’s NFC chip. When they are close together, you can simply tap your phone on the terminal, which will prompt you for payment. You don’t need to open any other apps or wake your screen up–it’s already done.

Steps to Use Apple Pay on iPhone

If you want Apple Pay to work smoothly, we recommend setting it up on your iPhone. After all, you’ll be carrying your iPhone everywhere you go.

Here are the steps to get started:

1. First, launch Wallet on your iPhone.
2. Select the plus sign (+) in the upper right.
3. Proceed with the Apple Pay setup by tapping “Continue.”
4. Select “Apple Card” or “Credit or Debit Card” depending on the kind of card you’d like to add to Apple Pay. You get the other card options only if you do not already possess an Apple Card.
5. Follow the instructions to add a new card: simply enter your card information manually or scan the front of your card using your iPhone’s camera (card number, name, etc.). Then, click “Next.”
6. The next step requires you to enter the card’s expiration date and security code.
7. You’ll be directed to the terms and conditions. Read everything carefully and click on “I Agree” to continue.
8. Then, select where you’d like to receive the security code.
9. When prompted, enter the verification code sent to your preferred contact mode (text, email, or phone call). Then proceed by tapping “Next.”
10. Then, once your card has been verified by your bank or card issuer, you can begin using Apple Pay by tapping “Next.”

Now that the Apple Watch is available, Apple Pay can be used with the iPhone 5, 5S, and 5C. A linked Apple Watch is needed to make a payment with Apple Pay on one of these gadgets. The NFC chip built inside Apple Watch enables this functionality.

Paired with an iPhone 6s or later, the Apple Watch can also make purchases, eliminating the need to pull out your phone at checkout.

Steps to Use Apple Pay on Your iPad

Setting up Apple Pay on an iPad is quite similar to setting it up on your iPhone, with some minor differences in the initial setup.

1. To access the iPad’s configuration options, use the Settings app.
2. To add a payment method, go to “Wallet & Apple Pay” and then “Add Card.”
3. On the Apple Pay setup screen, select “Continue.”
4. To add a new card, there are two routes to take: you can use the iPad’s camera to scan your card’s front or enter the information manually. Simply proceed by tapping “Next.”
5. The next step requires you to enter the card’s security code and expiration date.
6. You’ll get to the T&C page. Read the page and agree to those terms.
7. Pick your verification method, as you did on your iPhone, and enter the code when prompted. Tap “Next.”
8. Your card issuer will take a while to check and verify your info. Once done, you’ll be ready to use Apple Pay on your iPad.

Steps to Set Up Apple Pay on Your Mac

Touch ID is now standard on Mac models. But, if your Mac doesn’t have it, you can still purchase online with Apple Pay as long as you have an iPhone or Apple Watch.

Here are the steps to take when your Mac comes with Touch ID:

1. Use Touch ID to access your Mac’s System Preferences.
2. Now, go to the “Wallet & Apple Pay” section and select “Add Card.”
3. On the setup screen, select “Continue.”
4. Add your new card using your Mac’s camera to scan or manually enter all the details. Click the “Next” button.
5. Enter the security code along with the expiration date of your credit card.
6. Click “I Agree” on the T&C page and pick your preferred “verification” method to receive the code. Enter it when prompted to complete the setup.

In case your Mac doesn’t support Touch ID but you have an Apple Watch or iPhone, you’re still good to go. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Use your iPhone to set up Apple Pay as described earlier.
2. Go to your phone’s “Settings” and tap “Wallet & Apple Pay.”
3. Simply activate the option “Allow Payments on Mac.”
4. Go back to your Mac and turn on “Bluetooth.”

This way, you can use your Mac to make payments through Apple Pay. Be sure to keep your Apple Watch or iPhone nearby to confirm your payment.

Steps to Set Up Apple Pay on the Apple Watch

If you learn how to set up Apple Pay on iPhone, it will be easier to do it on the Apple Watch. You simply need to use the “Tap My Watch” option on your phone and then go to “Wallets & Apple Pay.”

Then, you have to follow the same steps mentioned above to add a card and start making payments.

How Do You Use Different Devices to Make Payments through Apple Pay?

Once you’ve set up Apple Pay, you can easily use different devices to make payments:

To make a purchase with your Apple Watch, double-click the side button, navigate the watch face to select a card, and then hold the watch near a contactless card reader.

Confirmation that your payment was successfully processed should come in the form of a soft tap and a beep. Always read with the Apple Watch screen facing you.

In the case of an iPhone, you have to double-click the side button and then use your passcode or Face ID to make the payment. The same holds for the iPad.

How Do You Use Apple Pay at Stores?

The Apple Pay system is a contactless payment system, which means all you have to do to pay is hold your device near a payment reader. However, you do need to be somewhat close, typically within a few inches to make it work.

You must wait for the reader’s light to turn on before you can make an Apple Pay payment from your phone. Interestingly, you don’t even have to unlock your screen or launch a separate app to initiate a payment. Place your device close to the reader and it will do the rest.

The transaction will be initiated once all the details have been confirmed. If you have more than one card saved, you’ll be able to select your default or a different one.  The whole process is quite seamless and takes a few seconds, making Apple Pay one of the most preferred payment options for people with Apple devices.

It’s worth mentioning that besides brick-and-mortar stores, you can use Apple Pay where you don’t have to rely on NFC. For instance, many apps and websites allow it.

To use it online, look for the “Buy with Apple Pay” button on the store’s checkout page. Target, Groupon, Etsy, Caviar, Airbnb, and Sephora are just some of the places where you may utilize Apple Pay within their own applications and websites. So, good luck using Apple Pay to buy all that you love!

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