Where to find and update your card in Settings

To change the card on your iPhone, open Settings, then tap Wallet & Apple Pay. You'll see a list of cards you've added. Tap the card you want to replace, then scroll down and tap Remove Card. After you remove it, go back to the main Wallet & Apple Pay screen and tap the plus icon (+) in the upper right corner to add a new card.

Your iPhone will ask you to either photograph the card or enter the details manually. If you photograph it, the camera reads the card number and expiration date automatically—you'll still need to type in the three-digit security code on the back. Manual entry takes longer but works if your camera won't focus or you prefer typing.

After you enter the card information, your bank will send a verification code by text or email. Type that code into your iPhone to confirm the card is yours. Once verified, the new card appears in Wallet & Apple Pay and is ready to use.

Key Takeaways

  • Remove your old card by going to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay, tapping the card, and selecting Remove Card.
  • Add a new card by tapping the plus icon in Wallet & Apple Pay and either photographing the card or typing the details manually.
  • Your bank will send a verification code by text or email that you must enter to confirm the card works.
  • You can photograph the card to fill in the number and expiration date automatically, but you must type the security code yourself.
  • The new card is ready to use in Apple Pay, Siri, and Safari as soon as verification is complete.

Using the camera to add a card faster

When you tap the plus icon to add a card, your iPhone opens the camera by default. Hold the card flat in good lighting and position it so all four corners are visible on screen. The camera reads the card number, expiration date, and cardholder name without you typing anything.

This method saves time, but the camera sometimes misreads numbers or dates, especially if the card is worn, bent, or has a reflective surface. If the camera struggles, switch to manual entry by tapping Enter Card Details Manually at the bottom of the screen. You'll type the number, expiration date, and cardholder name yourself, but you avoid the frustration of repeated camera attempts.

Either way, you must type the three-digit security code (CVV) on the back of the card by hand—the camera cannot read it for security reasons.

What happens to your old card after you remove it

Removing a card from Wallet & Apple Pay does not close the card or contact your bank. It only deletes the card from your iPhone. The card itself remains active at your bank, and you can still use it physically or add it back to your iPhone later if you want.

If you want to close the card entirely, you must contact your bank directly. Removing it from your iPhone is just a local deletion—your bank has no record of it unless you tell them.

Setting a default card for payments

If you have multiple cards in Wallet & Apple Pay, you can choose which one is your default. When you pay with Apple Pay at a store or online, your iPhone uses the default card unless you tap to change it before confirming the payment.

To set a default card, go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and tap Default Card at the top of the screen. Select the card you want to use most often. You can change this anytime—it does not affect the card itself, only which one your iPhone uses first when you pay.

Troubleshooting when your bank rejects the card

If your bank sends back an error message during verification, the most common reasons are a typo in the card number, an expired card, or a card that your bank does not support with Apple Pay. Check that you entered the number correctly—even one wrong digit will fail.

If the number is correct, contact your bank. Some banks require you to call them to approve Apple Pay on a new card, especially if the card is brand new. Your bank may also block the card if they think it is suspicious activity. Once your bank approves it, remove the card from your iPhone and add it again.

A small number of banks and card types do not work with Apple Pay at all. If your bank tells you they do not support it, you can still use the card in Safari for online shopping by saving it to your iPhone's autofill settings, but you cannot use it in physical stores with Apple Pay.

Adding a card to a family member's iPhone

If you want to add your card to someone else's iPhone—for example, a child's device—you can do this through Family Sharing. Go to Settings > Family Sharing and tap the person's name. Select Payment Method and choose the card you want to share. That person's iPhone will now have access to your card when they use Apple Pay.

You can remove the card from their device anytime by going back to Family Sharing and changing the payment method. The card is not deleted from your own iPhone—it is only removed from their access.

Using Apple Pay on websites and in apps

After you add a card to Wallet & Apple Pay, you can use it to pay on websites and in apps without typing your card number each time. When you see the Apple Pay button during checkout, tap it. Your iPhone asks you to confirm the payment with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. Once you confirm, the payment goes through using the default card you set.

If you want to use a different card for that specific purchase, tap the card at the top of the payment screen before confirming. This does not change your default card—it only uses a different card for that one transaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my card without removing the old one first?

No, you must remove the old card before adding a new one if you want to replace it. However, you can have multiple cards in Wallet & Apple Pay at the same time. If you want to keep both cards, just add the new one without removing the old one.

What if I lose my iPhone before I remove my old card?

You can remotely disable Apple Pay on your lost iPhone using Find My iPhone on another device or at iCloud.com. Go to Find My, select your lost iPhone, tap it, and choose Erase This Device. This removes all cards from that iPhone. You can then add your cards to a new iPhone.

Do I need to tell my bank before I add a card to Apple Pay?

You do not need to tell your bank beforehand, but some banks require you to approve Apple Pay after you add the card. Your bank will send a verification code by text or email, and you enter it into your iPhone to confirm. If your bank blocks the card, call them to ask why and request approval.

Can I use the same card on multiple iPhones?

Yes, you can add the same card to as many of your own iPhones as you want. Each iPhone stores the card separately, so you can use Apple Pay on any of them. If you want to add your card to someone else's iPhone, use Family Sharing instead.

What if my card number changes but it is the same account?

If your bank sends you a new card with a new number but the same account, you must remove the old card from your iPhone and add the new one. Your iPhone treats them as two different cards because the numbers are different, even though they are linked to the same bank account.