How to Remove Apple Pay From Your iPhone and Apple Devices

You can delete Apple Pay in Settings, but the process differs slightly depending on what you want to remove

Removing Apple Pay means different things depending on your situation. You might want to delete a single card, remove all payment methods from a device, or turn off Apple Pay entirely. Each takes a different path through your device settings, and the steps vary between iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. The good news: none of it requires calling Apple or visiting a store.

Before you start, know that deleting a card from Apple Pay does not delete it from your Apple ID or iCloud account — it only removes it from that specific device. If you use the same card on multiple devices, you will need to delete it from each one separately. And if you delete Apple Pay from your iPhone, it does not automatically disappear from your Apple Watch or Mac.

Key Takeaways

Deleting a single card from Apple Pay takes two taps in the Wallet app on iPhone, or three taps in Settings on iPad and Mac.
Removing all cards from a device does not turn off Apple Pay itself — the app stays on your phone, just empty.
If you delete Apple Pay from your iPhone, you must separately remove it from your Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac if you use those devices.
Deleted cards remain in your Apple ID account and can be re-added to any device without re-entering all the card details.

Deleting a card from the Wallet app on iPhone

The fastest way to remove a single card is through the Wallet app itself. Open Wallet, find the card you want to delete, tap the three dots in the corner of that card, scroll down, and tap "Remove Card." Confirm the deletion when prompted. The card vanishes when ready and you can no longer use it to pay with Apple Pay on that phone.

If you have multiple cards and want to delete several, repeat this process for each one. You can also long-press a card to see a quick menu with the delete option, though the three-dot menu is more reliable.

Removing Apple Pay from Settings on iPhone

If you want to turn off Apple Pay entirely rather than just delete cards, go to Settings, tap Wallet & Apple Pay, and toggle off "Double-Click Side Button" (or "Double-Click Home Button" on older iPhones). This disables the quick-access feature but does not remove your cards or delete the Wallet app.

To actually remove all cards and reset Apple Pay, go to Settings, Wallet & Apple Pay, tap each card, and select "Remove Card" for each one. Once all cards are gone, Apple Pay is effectively off — the Wallet app remains on your phone but has nothing in it.

Deleting cards from iPad and Mac

On iPad, open Settings, tap Wallet & Apple Pay, select the card you want to remove, and tap "Remove Card." On Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click Wallet & Apple Pay in the sidebar, select the card, and click the minus button. Both work the same way as iPhone but live in the Settings app rather than a separate Wallet app.

If you use Apple Pay on both iPad and Mac with the same Apple ID, deleting a card from one device does not remove it from the other. You will need to repeat the deletion process on each device separately.

Removing Apple Pay from your Apple Watch

Apple Watch handles Apple Pay differently because it syncs with your iPhone. To remove a card from your Watch, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Wallet & Apple Pay, select the card, and tap "Remove Card." This removes it from the Watch only — it stays on your iPhone unless you delete it there too.

You can also remove cards directly on the Watch itself: swipe left on the card in the Wallet app and tap the trash icon. Either method works, but using your iPhone is usually faster if you have multiple cards to delete.

What happens to your card information after deletion

When you delete a card from Apple Pay, it disappears from that device but stays in your Apple ID account. This means you can add it back to any device without re-entering the full card number, expiration date, and security code — Apple remembers those details. The card issuer (your bank or credit card company) is not notified of the deletion, so your actual account with them remains open and unchanged.

If you want to permanently remove a card from your Apple ID entirely, you need to go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, click "Payment Methods," and delete it there. This removes it from all your devices and from your Apple ID account. You will need to re-enter all card details if you want to add it back later.

Turning off Apple Pay without deleting cards

If you want to keep your cards saved but stop using Apple Pay temporarily, you can disable the feature without deleting anything. On iPhone, go to Settings, Wallet & Apple Pay, and toggle off "Double-Click Side Button." On Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Wallet & Apple Pay, and toggle off "Allow Payments." Your cards stay in the system but Apple Pay will not set up when you double-click the button or raise your wrist.

This is useful if you are concerned about accidental payments or want to take a break from contactless payments without losing your saved card information.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I delete Apple Pay from my iPhone, does it delete from my Apple Watch too?

No. Deleting Apple Pay from your iPhone does not automatically remove it from your Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac. You must delete it separately from each device. However, if you delete a card from your iPhone, it may take a few minutes to sync and disappear from your Watch as well.

Can I get my card back after deleting it from Apple Pay?

Yes. If you deleted the card from a device but it is still in your Apple ID account, you can add it back without re-entering all the details. Go to Wallet & Apple Pay, tap "Add Card," and select the card from your saved list. If you deleted it from your Apple ID account entirely, you will need to re-enter the full card number and security code.

Will my bank know if I delete Apple Pay?

No. Your bank is not notified when you remove a card from Apple Pay. The card itself remains active and your account with the bank is unchanged. Deleting from Apple Pay only affects that app — it does not close your card or change anything with your bank.

What is the difference between removing a card and turning off Apple Pay?

Removing a card deletes that specific payment method from the app. Turning off Apple Pay disables the feature entirely so it will not set up when you double-click your button or raise your wrist, but your cards stay saved. You can turn Apple Pay back on anytime without re-adding cards.

If I delete all my cards, does Apple Pay disappear from my phone?

The Wallet app stays on your phone, but it will be empty. Apple Pay itself does not uninstall — it is a built-in feature. If you want to fully disable it, toggle off the double-click set up in Settings. You can always add cards back later and start using it again.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.