11 Fixes Apple Pay Not Working On iPhone

I was just grabbing a quick coffee at the local café the other day, iPhone in hand, ready to make payment with Apple Pay. It’s become a kind of ritual, you know? But, this time, it wouldn’t work. The cashier gave me that “hurry up” look, but my Apple Pay was on strike. So, I figured, it’s high time we all learned a thing or two about troubleshooting this modern inconvenience.

Table of Contents

1. Check If Apple Pay Is Available In Your Country Or Region

Before you start tinkering with your iPhone settings, remember that Apple Pay is not available everywhere (yet). Take a minute to check if your location is on the list of countries where Apple Pay is available.

Related:

2. Confirm Your Card’s Eligibility

Not all cards are eligible for Apple Pay. If your card isn’t accepted, give your bank or card issuer a call and see if they can help. Sometimes, they just need to approve your card for Apple Pay.

3. Ensure You Are Signed Into iCloud

Your Apple ID ties all your devices and services together. Make sure you’re signed in:

Head to Settings on your iPhone.
Tap [your name] at the top.
Check you’re signed in to iCloud (it should show your iCloud email).

If you’re not signed in, tap “Sign in to your iPhone” and enter your Apple ID details. (screenshot)

And there we go. All the nitty-gritty details, and hopefully, your Apple Pay is up and running again. If it isn’t, don’t despair – the Apple Support team is always ready to help.

Remember, every tech hiccup is just a puzzle waiting to be solved. So let’s embrace the challenge and keep exploring this ever-evolving digital world. Until next time!

4. Double-Check Your Device Settings

Making sure your iPhone is set up correctly for Apple Pay is crucial. Here’s what you need to check:

Update your iPhone to the latest iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Set up Face ID or Touch ID. Head to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode for older models), and follow the instructions.
Make sure your Region is set correctly. You’ll find this in Settings > General > Language & Region.

Apple Pay relies on these settings, so they need to be correct for it to work.

5. Try Restarting Your iPhone

The classic. The universal solution. And it’s so simple:

For iPhone 8 or later, press and quickly release the volume up button, press and quickly release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button.
For iPhone 7, press and hold both the volume down button and the side button.
For iPhone 6s and earlier, press and hold both the home button and the side (or top) button.

When the Apple logo appears, release the button and let your iPhone start up. Try using Apple Pay again once it’s back on.

6. Reset Your Network Settings

This is a bit like turning your iPhone off and on, but for your network settings.

Head to Settings.
Tap on General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Remember, this will remove your saved Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth pairings, so you’ll need to set those up again. But it could also shake loose whatever was causing your Apple Pay problem.

7. Remove And Re-add Your Card

Think of this as a do-over for your card. To do this:

Open the Wallet app.
Tap on the card you want to remove.
Scroll down and tap on “Remove Card”.
To re-add it, tap the “+” sign on the top right corner and follow the steps.

Re-adding your card might give it the reset it needs to start working again.

8. Update Your Card’s Information

Sometimes, all it takes is refreshing your card information. Here’s how:

Go to Settings on your iPhone.
Tap “Wallet & Apple Pay”.
Select the card that’s causing trouble.
Tap on “Update” or “Edit”, depending on your iPhone version.

Make sure all your card details are accurate. This could be the key to solving the issue.

9. Set Your Card as the Default Card

Setting your card as the default can sometimes resolve issues, especially if you have multiple cards and there’s some confusion about which one to use.

Open Settings on your iPhone.
Go to “Wallet & Apple Pay”.
Tap on “Default Card” and choose your card from the list.

This might be the nudge your card needed to start working with Apple Pay again.

10. Turn Off/On Apple Pay

There’s something magical about turning things off and on again, it’s like giving your device a short nap.

Head to Settings on your iPhone.
Scroll down to “Wallet & Apple Pay”.
Toggle the switch off, then back on again.

Doing this can reset some of the underlying processes and might just kick Apple Pay back into action.

11. Seek Apple Support

If you’ve diligently gone through the common troubleshooting steps for Apple Pay and it’s still not working, seeking official assistance is a smart move. Here’s why and how to do it:

Expertise: Apple’s customer support is trained to handle a variety of issues. They’ll likely be aware of any new or rare problems with Apple Pay that you might not find in online forums or articles.
Up-to-date Information: Apple Support is always updated with the latest information about any ongoing service disruptions, bugs, or updates that might be affecting users.
Device Diagnostics: When you contact Apple Support, they have the ability to run remote diagnostics on your device (with your permission), which can pinpoint any underlying issues that are not immediately visible.
Safety and Security: With financial transactions, there’s always a need for security. Apple’s support ensures your details are kept private and secure during any troubleshooting process.

How to Contact Apple Support for Apple Pay Issues:

Via Phone or Chat: Go to Apple’s official support website, select “iPhone”, then choose “Apple Pay” from the topics. From there, you’ll be provided with options to chat with a support representative or call them.
Apple Support App: If you have the Apple Support app installed on your iPhone, you can directly report your issue there. This app also provides recommended solutions before connecting you to a representative.
Visit an Apple Store: Schedule an appointment at the Genius Bar if you live near an Apple Store. It’s a good idea to have a face-to-face interaction, especially if the issue might be hardware-related.
Service Providers: If you bought your iPhone from a service provider or an authorized dealer, they might also have trained personnel to assist with Apple Pay issues.