How to use Apple Pay

Apple Pay makes shopping more convenient while protecting your credit card information. Launched in 2014, the payment service supports tap-to-pay in physical retail stores, online apps and websites, as well as person-to-person payments using Apple Cash. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to use Apple Pay.

How to use Apple Pay on iPhone or Apple Watch

Before using Apple Pay, you need to add at least one credit or debit card to Apple Wallet. You can visit Engadget’s Apple Pay setup guide for detailed instructions.

The first thing to know about using Apple Pay in physical retail stores is that only some vendors support it. Walmart, for example, has long resisted, choosing instead to launch its (QR code-based) Walmart Pay. Home Depot doesn’t support it either, although rival Lowe’s will finally start accepting Apple Pay (in stores and in its app) in late 2023.

If you’re not sure if a store supports it, you can look for the Tap to Pay logo (which makes a wave when you tap the card with your hand) or the Apple Pay icon. You can also ask Siri to show you nearby locations that accept the service.

Once you get to an Apple Pay-enabled terminal, do the following on your iPhone:

1. Double-click the Side button on the right side of your iPhone.

2. Look at your iPhone to authenticate with Face ID (or place your finger on the Touch ID sensor if you have an older model).

3. Touch the top of your phone to the card reader (usually near where you see the Tap to Pay symbol). When the payment is read successfully, you’ll see a check mark and hear a ding.

If you use your Apple Watch to pay, follow these instructions:

1. Double-click the side (lower right) button on your watch.

2. Touch your Apple Watch near the “Tap and Pay” logo on the payment terminal. When the transaction is complete, you’ll hear a jingle and see a check mark.

If that doesn’t work, make sure the location accepts Apple Pay and that its system is working. If so, ask the staff there for the best location to use their payment terminal.

If you want to use Apple Pay with a card other than the default card, tap the card on the screen after double-clicking the button on the side of your device (but before making a payment). You can swipe through the added cards and select the one you want, then tap OK.

How to use Apple Pay for online shopping

Many websites and third-party apps accept Apple Pay. Not only does this save you from entering your credit card information, but it also adds an extra layer of security. Apple Pay uses an encrypted one-time “virtual token” instead of your actual credit card information. So if a hacker breaks into a provider’s system, they’ll only see the cryptographic token tied to your Apple Pay and won’t be able to use it for other transactions.

You can use Apple Pay for online (web and in-app) transactions on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro:

1. When checking out, look for Apple Pay on the website or in the app. Select this as your payment option during checkout.

2. When it prompts you to verify, use Face ID (newer iPhones and iPads), Touch ID (Mac and older iPhones and iPads), or Optic ID (Vision Pro) to approve the secure transaction. When it accepts it, you’ll hear a jingle and see an approval animation.

Note that if you use a MacBook connected to an external monitor (with the lid closed), you can use the Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID without opening the laptop’s lid to access its sensors.

How to send money using Apple Pay

Apple Cash lets you send, receive, and request funds through the Messages app. It’s designed as an alternative to services like Venmo and Cash App, allowing you to exchange money with people you know and trust.

First, make sure you have Apple Cash set up. On your iPhone, open the Wallet app and tap Apple Cash Card. If prompted, click “Set Up Apple Cash.”On your iPad, Apple Watch, or Vision Pro, you’ll go to settings > Wallet and Apple Paythen select the Apple Cash card and follow the instructions to set it up.

Once you activate Apple Cash, you can send money in the following ways:

1. Open the Messages app and select the chat thread of the person you want to send money to.

2. Click the plus button to the left of the text input box.

3. Select Apple Cash from the fan menu on the left.

4. Enter the amount you want to send.

5. Click Send.

6. The Apple Cash symbol will appear in draft messages. When you’re ready to send, click the up arrow.

7. Follow the security prompts to complete the transaction. That means Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode on your iPhone or iPad. On Apple Watch, you need to double-click the side button. On Vision Pro, it will use Optic ID.

How to use Apple Pay on Amazon

Unfortunately, you can’t use Apple Pay on the Amazon website or mobile app at this time. The closest ones are vendors who use Amazon Payments in storefronts other than Amazon. The online retailer offers these sellers the option to accept Apple Pay.

If you encounter a third-party website or application that uses Amazon Payment Services, the steps are the same as in “How to use Apple Pay online” above. Add the items you want to your cart, select Apple Pay as your payment option, then follow the security steps to verify and complete the transaction.