How to disable Apple Pay
You can turn off Apple Pay entirely, remove individual cards, or disable it for specific transactions. The steps differ depending on whether you want to stop using Apple Pay altogether, remove a single card, or just turn off contactless payments in stores. On iPhone and iPad, you'll work through the Wallet app or Settings. On Mac, the process is in System Settings. You can re-enable Apple Pay at any time using the same paths.
Apple Pay stays linked to your device until you remove it. Disabling it doesn't delete your card information from Apple's servers if you've saved it to iCloud Keychain — it just stops the payment method from working on that device. If you sell or give away your device, you should remove your cards before handing it over.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone and iPad, open Wallet, tap and hold a card, then tap the three dots and select Remove to delete individual cards.
- To turn off Apple Pay completely on iPhone, go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and toggle off the switch at the top.
- On Mac, open System Settings > General > Wallet & Apple Pay and uncheck the cards you want to remove.
- Disabling Apple Pay on one device does not affect it on your other devices — you must disable it separately on each one.
- You can turn Apple Pay back on at any time by reversing these steps and re-adding your cards if needed.
Remove a single card from iPhone or iPad
Open the Wallet app on your iPhone or iPad. Find the card you want to remove and press and hold it until a menu appears. Tap the three dots (more options) in the corner of the card. Select Remove Card from the menu that appears.
The card is now removed from Apple Pay on that device. If you have the same card saved on another iPhone, iPad, or Mac, it will still work on those devices. You can add the card back to this device later by opening Wallet, tapping the plus sign, and following the prompts to re-enter the card details or select it from your iCloud Keychain.
Turn off Apple Pay completely on iPhone or iPad
Open Settings and scroll down to find Wallet & Apple Pay. Tap it. At the top of the screen, you'll see a toggle switch next to "Wallet & Apple Pay" — tap it to turn the feature off. Your device will ask you to confirm. Tap Turn Off.
When Apple Pay is off, you cannot use contactless payments in stores, in apps, or on websites using Face ID or Touch ID. The Wallet app itself remains on your device, but it will only show your cards without payment functionality. All your card information stays saved in case you turn Apple Pay back on later.
Disable Apple Pay on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then scroll down and click Wallet & Apple Pay. You'll see a list of cards currently saved. Uncheck the box next to any card you want to remove from Apple Pay on this Mac.
Unlike iPhone and iPad, Mac does not have a single toggle to turn off Apple Pay entirely — you remove it by unchecking all your cards. If you want to use Apple Pay on this Mac again, return to the same settings and check the boxes next to the cards you want to re-enable, or add a new card by clicking the plus sign.
Stop Apple Pay from working in apps and websites
If you want to keep Apple Pay available for in-store payments but disable it for online shopping, the process varies. On iPhone and iPad, there is no setting to disable Apple Pay only for apps and websites — you must remove individual cards or turn off Apple Pay entirely. On Mac, you can uncheck cards in Wallet & Apple Pay settings to prevent them from being used for online purchases while keeping them available elsewhere, though this is not a reliable method across all browsers and apps.
A more practical approach is to remove your cards from Apple Pay and add only the ones you want to use for online shopping, or to use a separate payment method (like a virtual card number or a different digital wallet) for online transactions if you want to keep your primary cards off Apple Pay.
What happens to your card information when you disable Apple Pay
Removing a card from Apple Pay on one device does not delete it from your other devices. If you have an iPhone, iPad, and Mac all linked to the same iCloud account, you must remove the card from each device separately. Your card details remain stored in iCloud Keychain unless you also remove them from there.
To remove a card from iCloud Keychain entirely (so it won't appear as an option when you set up Apple Pay on a new device), go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud on iPhone, or System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud on Mac, tap Keychain, and look for the option to manage saved cards. The exact path depends on your device and iOS or macOS version.
Re-enable Apple Pay after disabling it
To turn Apple Pay back on, follow the same steps you used to turn it off. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and toggle the switch back on. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Wallet & Apple Pay and check the boxes next to the cards you want to use.
If you removed all your cards and want to use Apple Pay again, you'll need to add a card. Tap the plus sign in Wallet (iPhone and iPad) or click the plus sign in Wallet & Apple Pay settings (Mac), then enter your card details or select a card from your iCloud Keychain. The process takes a few minutes and may require verification from your bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disabling Apple Pay on my iPhone affect it on my iPad?
No. Each device has its own Apple Pay settings. You must disable Apple Pay separately on each iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you want to stop using Apple Pay across all your devices, you'll need to turn it off on each one individually.
Can I remove Apple Pay from my device before selling it?
Yes, and you should. Open Wallet, press and hold each card, tap the three dots, and select Remove Card. Then go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and toggle off the switch. This prevents the new owner from using your payment methods. You can also sign out of iCloud on the device to remove your Keychain data entirely.
What if I want to keep Apple Pay but remove just one card?
Open Wallet, press and hold the card you want to remove, tap the three dots, and select Remove Card. The other cards stay active. You can add the card back later by tapping the plus sign in Wallet and selecting it from your iCloud Keychain or re-entering the details.
Does removing a card from Apple Pay delete it from my bank?
No. Removing a card from Apple Pay only stops it from working with Apple's payment system on that device. Your card remains active with your bank and can still be used for regular purchases, online shopping, and other payment methods. The card itself is not closed or cancelled.
Can I disable Apple Pay for just one app?
Not directly. You would need to remove the card from Apple Pay entirely or use a different payment method in that app. Some apps let you choose which payment method to use at checkout, so you can select a credit card, debit card, or other option instead of Apple Pay.