Remove a credit card from Apple Pay in Settings
To disable a credit card on your iPhone, open the Wallet app, find the card you want to remove, swipe left on it, and tap the trash icon. The card is then deleted from Apple Pay and cannot be used for contactless payments through that app.
If you use Settings instead, go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay, tap the card, scroll to the bottom, and select Remove Card. Both methods do the same thing — they remove the card from Apple Pay's stored payment methods. The card itself remains active with your bank; you are only removing it from your phone's payment system.
Removing a card from Apple Pay does not affect your ability to enter that card's details manually when shopping online or in apps. It only stops the card from being available for tap-to-pay transactions at physical stores or for in-app purchases that use Apple Pay.
Key Takeaways
- Removing a card from Apple Pay takes 10 seconds and does not close the card or notify your bank.
- You can remove a card through the Wallet app by swiping left and tapping the trash icon, or through Settings under Wallet & Apple Pay.
- Removing a card from Apple Pay does not stop you from using that card for online purchases or manual entry in apps.
- If you want to temporarily disable a card without deleting it, set a different card as your default payment method instead.
- Deleted cards can be re-added to Apple Pay at any time by opening Wallet and tapping the plus icon.
Difference between removing and disabling
Apple Pay does not have a "disable" button that keeps the card stored but inactive. You either remove the card entirely or you leave it active. If you want to stop using a card without deleting it, the practical workaround is to set a different card as your default payment method.
To change your default card, go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and tap Default Transaction Card. Select a different card. Now when you tap your phone to pay, that new card will be used instead. The old card remains in your Wallet but will not be the one charged unless you specifically select it at the payment terminal.
This approach is useful if you want to keep a card in Apple Pay but use it less often, or if you are testing whether removing it is the right move before you actually delete it.
What happens to your card after you remove it
Removing a card from Apple Pay sends no notification to your bank or card issuer. Your card account itself is not affected. The card continues to work everywhere else — you can still use the physical card, call the bank, or enter the card number manually online.
Your transaction history and rewards points tied to that card remain unchanged. Removing it from your phone is purely a convenience change on your device, not a financial action. If you later want to use that card with Apple Pay again, you can add it back by opening Wallet, tapping the plus icon, and following the prompts to re-enter the card details or let your bank verify it.
Remove a card from other payment apps
If you use Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or another payment app instead of Apple Pay, the process is similar but the exact steps differ. In Google Pay, open the app, tap the card, tap the three-dot menu, and select Remove. In Samsung Pay, swipe up from the bottom, find the card, swipe left, and tap Remove.
Each app stores payment methods separately, so removing a card from Apple Pay does not remove it from Google Pay or any other app. If you want the card off your phone entirely, you will need to remove it from each payment app individually.
Removing a card if you forgot your passcode
If you cannot access your iPhone because you forgot the passcode, you cannot remove cards through the normal Settings or Wallet routes. You would need to either reset your iPhone (which erases all data and settings, including stored cards) or restore from a backup after resetting.
If you are concerned about a lost or stolen phone, contact your card issuer directly and report the card as compromised. The bank can cancel the card and issue a replacement. This is faster and more secure than trying to remove it from the phone remotely, since Apple Pay requires your device passcode or Face ID to make payments anyway.
Removing a card you no longer own
If you are selling or giving away your iPhone, remove all payment cards before handing it over. Go through Wallet and Settings to delete every card you have stored. This prevents the new owner from using your cards if they reset the phone or if they know your passcode.
For extra security, also remove any saved payment methods from Safari. Go to Settings > Safari > Autofill and turn off Credit Cards, or tap Saved Credit Cards and delete each one. These are separate from Apple Pay and will not be removed when you delete cards from Wallet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a card from Apple Pay close the card?
No. Removing a card from Apple Pay only removes it from your phone's payment system. Your card account remains open and active with your bank. You can still use the physical card or enter the card number manually anywhere.
Can I remove a card without a passcode?
No. You need your iPhone passcode or Face ID to remove a card from Apple Pay or Settings. If you forgot your passcode, you would need to reset your iPhone, which erases all stored cards along with everything else on the device.
What if I remove a card by mistake?
You can add it back immediately. Open Wallet, tap the plus icon, and re-enter the card details or let your bank verify it. The process takes a few minutes and your card account is not affected.
Will my bank know I removed the card from Apple Pay?
No. Your bank receives no notification when you remove a card from Apple Pay. Removing it is a change only on your device and does not affect your card account or your ability to use the card elsewhere.
Can I remove a card from Apple Pay but keep it in Google Pay?
Yes. Payment apps store cards separately. Removing a card from Apple Pay does not remove it from Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or any other app. You would need to remove it from each app individually if you want it off your phone entirely.