How to delete a card from Amazon
To remove a credit card from Amazon, sign into your account, go to Account & Lists, select Your Account, then Login & security. Scroll to Manage payment methods and click the card you want to remove. Select Delete and confirm. The card is removed from your account immediately, though any pending charges using that card will still process.
You cannot delete a card that is currently set as your default payment method. If the card you want to remove is marked as default, you must first add a different card or select an existing card as your primary payment method, then delete the old one.
If you are trying to remove a card because it is expired, compromised, or you no longer use it, deletion is permanent — Amazon does not keep a record of deleted cards on your account. You can add it back later if needed, but you will have to enter the full card number again.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Account & Lists > Your Account > Login & security > Manage payment methods to reach your stored cards.
- You cannot delete a card that is set as your default payment method — you must assign a different card as default first.
- Deletion is immediate and permanent; Amazon does not retain the card information after removal.
- Any charges already authorized on that card will still go through even after you delete it from your account.
- If you want to stop using a card without deleting it, you can simply set a different card as your default instead.
Why you might need to remove a card
The most common reason to remove a card is that it has expired or been replaced. When your bank issues a new card with a new number, the old card no longer works for new purchases, but Amazon may still have it stored. Removing it prevents accidental selection during checkout.
You may also remove a card if you believe it has been compromised or if you want to stop using a particular card for security reasons. Deleting it from Amazon does not affect your bank account or the card itself — it only removes Amazon's stored record of that card number.
Some people remove cards to simplify their payment method list, especially if they have added multiple cards over time and no longer use most of them. Keeping only the cards you actually use makes checkout faster and reduces the chance of selecting the wrong payment method by mistake.
What happens to pending charges when you delete a card
If you delete a card from Amazon, any charges that have already been authorized will still process to that card. The deletion only prevents new purchases from using that card going forward. This matters if you have placed an order but have not yet received it — the payment may still be pending.
To check whether a charge is still pending, go to Returns Orders in your account and look at the order status. If the order shows as "Processing" or "Preparing to ship," the payment is likely still being processed. Deleting the card will not stop that charge.
If you are concerned about a charge on a card you want to delete, contact your bank or Amazon customer service before removing the card. They can tell you whether the charge is final or still pending, and whether deleting the card will affect it.
Setting a different card as your default before deletion
If the card you want to delete is currently your default payment method, you must change your default first. Go to Manage payment methods, find the card you want to use instead, and click Make default. That card will now be selected automatically at checkout.
Once you have set a new default, go back to the card you want to remove and select Delete. The old card will be removed from your account, and your new default will be used for all future purchases unless you manually select a different card at checkout.
If you do not have another card saved to your account, you will need to add one before you can delete your current default. You can add a new card in the same Manage payment methods section by selecting Add a payment method.
Removing a card that is linked to a subscription or Prime membership
If a card is linked to an active Amazon Prime membership or a subscription (such as Subscribe & Save), you cannot delete it until you update the payment method for that subscription. Amazon will not let you remove a card that is actively billing for a recurring service.
To remove the card, first go to Your Subscriptions or Manage Prime membership and update the payment method to a different card. Once the subscription or membership is using a new card, you can return to Manage payment methods and delete the old card.
If you are unsure whether a card is linked to an active subscription, check Your Subscriptions in your account. This page shows all recurring charges and which card is being used for each one. If the card you want to delete is listed, update it before attempting deletion.
Removing a card from a joint or family account
If you share an Amazon account with another person or use Amazon Household, removing a card affects the entire account, not just your portion of it. Any family member or account holder will no longer be able to use that card for purchases on the shared account.
Before removing a card from a shared account, check with other account holders to make sure they are not relying on that card. If they are, add a new payment method first and set it as default, so they have an alternative card to use.
If you want to prevent other account holders from using a specific card, removing it is the only way to do so. Amazon does not offer per-user payment restrictions on a shared account.
What to do if you cannot delete a card
If you see an error message when trying to delete a card, the most common reason is that the card is set as your default payment method or is linked to an active subscription. Follow the steps in the sections above to change your default or update subscription payment methods first.
If you have already changed your default and updated any subscriptions but still cannot delete the card, try signing out of your Amazon account and signing back in. Sometimes the account needs to refresh before the deletion option becomes available.
If the problem persists, contact Amazon customer service through Contact Us in your account. Provide the last four digits of the card you want to remove and explain what error message you are seeing. Amazon can manually remove the card if there is a technical issue preventing you from doing so yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a card without adding a new one first?
Only if the card you want to remove is not your default payment method. If it is your default, you must add a new card and set it as default before you can delete the old one. Amazon requires at least one payment method on file at all times.
Will removing a card affect my credit score?
No. Removing a card from Amazon does not affect your credit score or your relationship with your bank. It only removes Amazon's stored record of the card number. Your credit history and account with the card issuer are not changed.
Can I remove a card if I have an open dispute or return?
You can remove the card from your account, but if you have an open return or dispute, the refund may not process correctly if it was supposed to go back to that card. Contact Amazon customer service before removing a card if you have a pending refund or chargeback.
What if I delete a card by mistake?
You can add the card back to your account at any time by going to Manage payment methods and selecting Add a payment method. You will need to enter the full card number, expiration date, and CVV again. There is no recovery of the deleted card information — you must re-enter it manually.
Does removing a card from Amazon remove it from other websites?
No. Removing a card from Amazon only affects your Amazon account. The card remains stored on any other websites where you have saved it, and it continues to work normally with your bank. You would need to remove it separately from each website.