How to change your credit card in Apple Pay
To change the card Apple Pay uses for payments, open the Wallet app on your iPhone or iPad, tap the card you want to replace, then tap the three dots in the top right corner and select Remove This Card. After removal, tap the plus icon to add a new card. You can also change which card is your default by opening Wallet, pressing and holding the card you want as default, then tapping Set as Default Card.
On Apple Watch, open the Wallet app, swipe left on the card you want to remove, tap the trash icon, then confirm. To add a new card, tap the plus icon and follow the prompts. The process is the same whether you're using an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch — the card information syncs across all your devices once you add it.
If you want to keep the card but update its details — such as a new expiration date or security code after your bank reissued it — you do not need to remove it. Instead, open Wallet, tap the card, then tap the three dots and select Card Details. Your bank may push an update automatically, which you can accept without removing the card.
Key Takeaways
- Removing a card from Apple Pay takes two steps: open Wallet, tap the card, tap the three dots, and select Remove This Card.
- To set a different card as your default payment method, press and hold the card in Wallet and tap Set as Default Card.
- If your card was reissued with a new expiration date or security code, your bank usually sends an automatic update that you can accept without removing the card.
- Changes you make in Wallet on your iPhone sync to your iPad and Apple Watch, so you only need to update once.
Removing a card versus updating card details
Removing a card and updating its details are two different actions. Removing deletes the card from Apple Pay entirely — you will no longer be able to use it for contactless payments, in-app purchases, or online transactions. Updating keeps the card active but refreshes information like the expiration date or CVV code.
Most of the time, your bank handles updates automatically. When your card is reissued — whether because it expired, was compromised, or your bank sent you a replacement — the bank sends Apple a notification. You will see a prompt in the Wallet app asking you to confirm the new details. Tap Update and the card stays active without interruption.
Remove the card only if you no longer want to use it with Apple Pay, if you are switching to a different card from the same bank, or if you are troubleshooting a payment problem. Removal does not affect your account with the bank itself — the card remains active for in-person purchases, online transactions outside Apple Pay, and any other use.
Setting a default payment card
Your default card is the one Apple Pay uses automatically when you hold your phone or watch near a contactless reader, unless you select a different card at the moment of payment. To change which card is default, open the Wallet app, press and hold the card you want to use most often, then tap Set as Default Card.
You can change your default card as often as you want. This is useful if you have multiple cards in Wallet but use one for most purchases and another for specific purposes — for example, a rewards card for groceries and a different card for travel. Each time you change the default, that card becomes the one Apple Pay reaches for first.
If you do not set a default, Apple Pay will ask you to choose a card each time you make a payment. Some readers are faster than others, so you may notice that selecting a card takes an extra second or two depending on your phone model and the reader's speed.
Syncing changes across your devices
When you add, remove, or update a card in Wallet on your iPhone, the change appears on your iPad and Apple Watch automatically — as long as all devices are signed into the same Apple ID and have iCloud Keychain turned on. You do not need to repeat the process on each device.
Syncing usually happens within a few seconds, but can take up to a minute if your devices are not connected to the internet at the same time. If a change does not appear on your other devices after a few minutes, check that iCloud Keychain is enabled. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and make sure Keychain is toggled on. The same setting exists on iPad under Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
If you have an Apple Watch paired to your iPhone, the watch syncs cards through the paired phone. You cannot add a card directly to the watch without an iPhone — the watch relies on the phone to manage Wallet.
What happens to recurring payments and subscriptions
If you remove a card from Apple Pay that is linked to a subscription or recurring payment, that payment method stops working. Your subscription does not cancel automatically, but the next billing date will fail because the card no longer exists in Apple Pay.
Before you remove a card, check your subscriptions and recurring charges. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions on iPhone to see which cards are tied to active subscriptions. If you are removing a card that has subscriptions attached, update those subscriptions to use a different card first. Tap the subscription, select Edit Payment Method, and choose a new card from your Wallet.
For payments outside Apple Pay — such as a utility bill or insurance premium that charges your card directly — removing the card from Wallet has no effect. Those payments continue because they are tied to your bank account or card number, not to Apple Pay. You only need to update the payment method with the company itself if you want to use a different card.
Troubleshooting payment problems with your card
If a card stops working in Apple Pay even though it is still active with your bank, try removing and re-adding it. Open Wallet, tap the card, tap the three dots, select Remove This Card, then add it again by tapping the plus icon. This forces Apple Pay to re-register the card and often fixes temporary glitches.
If the card still does not work after you re-add it, contact your bank. They can check whether the card is flagged for fraud, whether Apple Pay is blocked on your account, or whether there is a technical issue on their end. Some banks require you to turn on Apple Pay in their app or online banking portal before the card will work — this is a security measure, not a problem with your phone.
If you see an error message when you try to add a card, the issue is usually one of these: the card number or expiration date is entered incorrectly, the card is not supported by Apple Pay (some prepaid or business cards are not), or your bank has not activated Apple Pay support for that card. Double-check the card details, then contact your bank if the error persists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have multiple credit cards in Apple Pay at the same time?
Yes. You can add as many cards as you want to Wallet. Each card appears as a separate tile in the Wallet app, and you can swipe between them or select one at the moment of payment. One card is set as your default, but you can use any of them whenever you want.
Does removing a card from Apple Pay close my account with the bank?
No. Removing a card from Apple Pay only removes it from that app. Your account with the bank stays open, the physical card remains active, and you can still use it for in-person purchases, online shopping, and any other transaction. You are only stopping Apple Pay from using that card.
What if my bank issued a new card and I want to replace the old one in Apple Pay?
Your bank usually sends an automatic update to Apple Pay with the new card details. You will see a notification in Wallet asking you to confirm. Tap Update and the old card information is replaced with the new one. If you do not see an update after a few days, remove the old card and add the new one manually.
Can I change my default card on Apple Watch without using my iPhone?
No. You must use your iPhone to manage cards in Wallet. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone, press and hold the card you want as default, and tap Set as Default Card. The change syncs to your Apple Watch automatically.
What should I do if I lost my phone and need to remove a card from Apple Pay?
Use Find My iPhone to remotely erase your phone, which removes all cards from Apple Pay on that device. Go to iCloud.com, select Find My, choose your phone, and tap Erase iPhone. You can also contact your bank and ask them to deactivate the card itself, which stops it from working anywhere, including Apple Pay.