Remove a card in three steps from your Amazon account settings
Log into your Amazon account, go to Account & Lists in the top right, then select Your Account. From there, click Login & security on the left side. Scroll down to the Login section and find Manage your payment methods — this is where all your stored cards live. Find the card you want to remove, click the three dots next to it, and select Delete. Amazon will ask you to confirm; click Delete payment method again, and it's gone.
The card disappears from your account immediately. If you have an active subscription (Prime, Kindle Unlimited, or a recurring order), Amazon will ask you to add a replacement card before you can delete the one currently attached to that subscription. You cannot delete a card that is actively charging for something without first switching that charge to a different payment method.
If you cannot find Manage your payment methods in your account settings, you may be on an older version of the Amazon website. Try logging out completely, clearing your browser cache, and logging back in. If the option still does not appear, try a different browser — sometimes cached data prevents the newer interface from loading.
Key Takeaways
- You remove a card through Account & Lists > Your Account > Login & security > Manage your payment methods, then click the three dots next to the card and select Delete.
- Amazon will not let you delete a card that is currently charging for a subscription or recurring order — you must switch that charge to a different card first.
- The deletion is immediate and permanent; the card is removed from your account right away.
- If you cannot see the payment methods option, try clearing your browser cache or switching to a different browser.
- You can store multiple cards on Amazon, so you do not have to delete one just to stop using it — you can simply choose a different card at checkout.
What happens to pending orders when you delete a card
If you delete a card and have an order that has not yet shipped, Amazon will not cancel the order. Instead, the charge will still go through to that card when the order ships — even though you have deleted it from your account. This happens because the card information is already stored in the order itself, separate from your account payment methods.
If you want to prevent a charge to a card you are about to delete, cancel the order first, then delete the card. You can cancel most orders from Returns & Orders in your account as long as the order has not entered the shipping phase. Once an order has shipped, you cannot cancel it — you would need to return it after it arrives.
Deleting a card linked to an active subscription
Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, Audible, and any other recurring subscription are tied to a specific payment method. If you try to delete the card currently charging for your Prime membership, Amazon will block the deletion and show you a message saying the card is in use.
To delete that card, go to Your Memberships and Subscriptions (also in Account & Lists > Your Account), find the subscription, and click Edit payment method. Choose a different card from your saved list, or add a new one. Once the subscription is switched to a different card, you can go back to Manage your payment methods and delete the old one without any blocks.
If you have multiple subscriptions on the same card, you will need to switch each one individually. Amazon does not have a bulk option to move all subscriptions at once.
Adding a new card before you delete an old one
You do not have to delete a card to stop using it. If you want to use a different card going forward, simply add the new card to your account first, then set it as your default payment method. After that, you can delete the old card whenever you want — or leave it stored as a backup.
To add a new card, go to Manage your payment methods and click Add a payment method. Enter the card number, expiration date, CVV, and billing address. Amazon will verify the card with a small temporary charge (usually under $1) that appears within a few days and then disappears. Once verified, the card is active and ready to use.
Setting a card as your default means it will be pre-selected at checkout, but you can still choose a different card at the moment you place an order. This gives you flexibility without forcing you to delete anything.
Removing a card that is expired or compromised
If your card has expired, Amazon will usually stop trying to charge it automatically, but the card will still sit in your Manage your payment methods list. You can delete it the same way as any other card — three dots, then Delete. There is no special process for expired cards.
If you believe your card has been compromised or used fraudulently, contact your bank or card issuer first, not Amazon. Your bank can cancel the card, issue a replacement, and investigate any unauthorized charges. Once your bank has issued a new card, add it to your Amazon account, then delete the old one from your payment methods. Amazon does not need to be notified of fraud — your bank handles that side.
If you see charges on your Amazon account that you did not make, report them to Amazon through Your Account > Login & security > Suspicious activity. Amazon can investigate and potentially reverse charges, but your bank is the one who can actually cancel the card and protect your account.
Deleting a card from a joint or family account
If you share an Amazon account with someone else (a joint account or family account), any adult on the account can add or delete payment methods. There is no permission system — if you have access to the account, you can change the payment methods. This means if you are on a shared account and delete a card, the other person will see it gone the next time they log in.
If you want to use a card that only you have access to, add it to the account yourself and set it as your default. The other person will see it in the payment methods list, but they cannot use it without your permission — Amazon does not restrict which cards different account holders can use, so this is something you would need to agree on separately.
For family accounts (where one adult is the account holder and others are family members), the account holder controls all payment methods. Family members cannot add or delete cards themselves — only the primary account holder can manage payment methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a card if I have a pending refund?
Yes. A pending refund will go back to the card it was charged to, even if you delete that card from your account afterward. The refund is tied to the card itself, not your account settings, so deleting the card does not affect the refund. The money will still arrive in your bank account on the original card's timeline.
What if I delete a card by mistake?
You can add it back immediately by going to Manage your payment methods and clicking Add a payment method. Enter the same card details and Amazon will recognize it as a card you have used before. There is no waiting period or penalty for re-adding a card you deleted.
Does deleting a card from Amazon affect my credit score?
No. Removing a card from your Amazon account is just account housekeeping — it has no connection to your credit report or credit score. Your credit is only affected by how you pay your bills and how much you owe, not by which payment methods you store online.
Can I delete all my cards and just use a different payment method?
Yes. You can delete every card on file and use a different method at checkout — Amazon accepts debit cards, prepaid cards, gift cards, and bank account transfers (ACH) in addition to credit cards. At checkout, you can enter a new payment method without saving it to your account, so you do not have to store anything permanently.