With contactless options now a standard payment method for every transaction, from deliveries and pickups to good old cash register, Apple Pay has become the preferred option for many iPhone users when making payments online and in stores. Plus, Apple Pay isn’t difficult to learn.
In fact, getting started with Apple Pay is easy: all you need to do is enter your credit or debit card number into the Wallet app. Once you’ve set up the app, you can use Apple Pay to make contactless payments at most retailers using your iPhone or even your Apple Watch. You can also use it to pay at the many online stores that accept Apple Pay.
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Before you use Apple Pay in stores and online, here’s what you need to know.
How to use Apple Pay online and in stores
What you need: iPhone, bank details
Before you can use Apple Pay as a contactless payment method, you need to set it up by adding your credit or debit cards to your iPhone. You can set up Apple Pay in your iPhone’s settings or simply by going to the Wallet app and adding your cards there.
Tap the Wallet app to open it.
Screenshot by Maria Diaz/ZDNET
In the Wallet app, tap the + (plus) sign in the top right of your screen to add a card. Then select the type of card you want to add. If it’s a payment method, select debit or credit card. The other options are for transit passes and driver’s licenses or ID cards, and are limited to some states in the US.
Also: How to add your driver’s license to Apple Wallet
Next, you’ll be asked to place your card in the frame to scan it. Alternatively, you can select “Manually enter card details” to enter your card information and edit your settings, such as choosing a default payment card. Apple will then contact the card issuer to verify that your payment information is valid. Once this step is complete, you’ll be able to use Apple Pay. It usually takes no more than a few minutes to verify your information with your bank or card issuer.
Tap the plus button to add a card to your Apple Wallet and follow the instructions.
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Double-clicking, or rather double-tapping, the button on the right side of your iPhone will display the cards available for Apple Pay. Do this when it’s at the checkout at the checkout and then select your preferred payment card when the Wallet appears.
Press the right button on your iPhone twice to access Apple Pay.
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Once you tap a card from your iPhone’s Wallet, you’ll be asked to enter your passcode or use Face ID to authorize and pay for your purchase with Apple Pay.
Enter your passcode to confirm the Apple Pay payment.
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Entering your passcode authenticates your payment. All you have to do then is hold your phone about an inch in front of the card reader to complete the transaction.
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Payment with Apple Pay only works if the payment terminal accepts contactless payment via NFC.
After unlocking your iPhone, hold it near the payment terminal to use Apple Pay.
Apple
That’s it! Apple Pay is super easy. (Sorry, I had to do that.)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up Apple Pay in my iPhone settings?
To set up Apple Pay, go to your iPhone’s Settings and follow these steps:
- Find Wallet and Apple Pay.
- Tap Add Card and follow the instructions to add your new card.
Once you’ve added your card to your Wallet, you can edit your settings to suit your needs. You can enable Apple Cash, use the side double-click button as a keyboard shortcut for Apple Pay, add Express Transit cards to automatically pay for public transit without a passcode or Face ID, edit your transaction information like default card, shipping address, and contact information, and turn payments on and off on your Mac.
Where can I pay with Apple Pay in stores and online?
You can use Apple Pay with an iPhone or Apple Watch at the checkout anywhere there is a payment terminal with NFC. Most retailers have them at the checkout, with some exceptions. Just look for the NFC symbol on the card reader or an Apple Pay logo. Some banks even support Apple Pay at NFC-enabled ATMs, allowing you to make withdrawals or access your account.
What is NFC?
NFC stands for Near Field Communication. It is a technology that uses magnetic field induction to enable wireless communication between two electronic devices over a short distance, usually less than 4 centimeters or 1.5 inches.
Can I use Apple Pay online?
In addition to using Apple Pay in stores, you can also use it in some apps and at the many online retailers that support it. In fact, the list of online retailers that not Support for Apple Pay is dwindling by the day. At the time of writing, Walmart and Home Depot are among the few major retailers that do not (yet) accept Apple Pay for online purchases.
Using Apple Pay online is not only safer but also more convenient because you don’t have to enter your delivery address or card number when paying.
Also: Venmo and PayPal now offer “Tap to Pay” on the iPhone for businesses
To use Apple Pay online, choose Apple Pay at checkout on your iPhone or other Apple device, where available. Next, you’ll be asked to either enter your passcode or authorize the payment with Face ID. Then you can checkout as usual with your Apple Pay information already entered, so you don’t have to sign in or enter your card information again.
What is Apple Cash?
Apple Cash is a digital card in your Apple Wallet that lets you send or receive money through the Messages app. Similar to Venmo or Cash App, Apple Cash lets you send money to a friend to reimburse them for a meal, for example, and that friend can use their accumulated Apple Cash to pay at merchants that support Apple Pay.
Also: Have you used Cash App in the last 6 years? You may be eligible for $2,500
Some Apple services offer rewards, such as cashback on credit cards, which can also be converted into Apple Cash.
How to use Apple Pay on your Apple Watch
The days of “I forgot my wallet” are long gone. Once you add a card to your Apple Wallet, you activate Apple Pay on your iPhone. However, if you have an active Apple Watch linked to that iPhone, you can also use Apple Pay with just your watch, even if you don’t have your iPhone with you when you pay.
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To use Apple Pay for contactless payments with your Apple Watch, you’ll need to set up Apple Wallet on your watch by adding your credit or debit cards separately. If you only add them to your iPhone, they won’t be enabled on other Apple devices. To add your payment card to your Apple Watch, follow these steps:
- Go to the Wallet app on Apple Watch.
- Tap Add Card.
- Select Previous Cards to add all payment cards previously linked to your iPhone. You will be asked to enter the security code for each card, or
- Tap Debit or Credit Card to add a new one, or
- Select Transit Card to add a valid transit payment card.
Is Apple Pay secure?
Using Apple Pay or Google Pay at checkout is more secure than swiping or inserting your card. Apple Pay ensures that your credit or debit card number and information is encrypted and never shared with the merchant when you pay. A new code is generated each time you pay at a location that accepts Apple Pay, making your financial information more secure from cloning or theft.
