You can delete a card from Amazon in two minutes through your account settings
Amazon stores your payment methods in your account so you can check out faster. If you want to remove a card — whether you're closing that account, switching to a different one, or just cleaning up old payment methods — you do it through the "Your Account" menu, not through your card issuer or bank. The card stays active at your bank; Amazon straightforward stops having permission to charge it.
The process is the same whether you added the card as a credit card, debit card, or through a digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay. You can delete any card except the one Amazon currently has set as your default payment method, so if you want to remove your only card, you'll need to add a replacement first.
Key Takeaways
- Go to "Your Account" from the menu, then "Your Payments," then "Manage Payment Methods" to see all cards linked to your Amazon account.
- Click the three dots next to the card you want to remove and select "Delete" — Amazon will ask you to confirm, and the card is gone when ready.
- You cannot delete the card Amazon has marked as your default payment method, so add a new default card first if that's the one you want to remove.
- Deleting a card from Amazon does not close the card itself or affect your credit score; it only stops Amazon from being able to charge that card.
Step-by-step: removing a card from your Amazon account
Start by signing into your Amazon account on a computer or the mobile app. On a computer, click the account icon in the top right corner (it looks like a person's head and shoulders). On the mobile app, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right, then tap "Your Account."
Look for "Your Payments" in the menu that appears. Click or tap it. Then select "Manage Payment Methods." You'll see a list of every card, digital wallet, and other payment method linked to your account. Each one will show the last four digits and the card type (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover).
Find the card you want to delete. To the right of it, you'll see three dots arranged vertically (called a menu button). Click or tap those dots. A small menu will pop up with the option "Delete." Click or tap "Delete." Amazon will ask you to confirm — click "Delete" again, and the card is removed from your account when ready.
What happens if the card you want to delete is your default payment method
Amazon won't let you delete the card marked as your default. You'll see a lock icon next to it, and when you click the three dots, the "Delete" option will be grayed out.
To remove this card, you need to set a different card as your default first. Click the three dots next to a different card and select "Set as Default Payment Method." Once that card is marked as default, go back to the original card and delete it using the steps above.
If you don't have another card on your account yet, you'll need to add one before you can delete your current default. Click "Add a Payment Method" at the top of the "Manage Payment Methods" page, enter the new card details, set it as default, and then delete the old one.
Deleting a card does not close the card itself
Removing a card from Amazon only stops Amazon from being able to charge it. The card itself remains open and active at your bank or credit card company. Your credit score is not affected — you're not closing an account, just removing a payment method from one retailer.
If you actually want to close the card, you'll need to contact your bank or credit card issuer directly. They can walk you through their process, which usually involves confirming you have no pending charges and then officially closing the account.
Why you might want to delete old payment methods
Removing cards you no longer use is a basic security habit. If a card is compromised — either through a data breach or because you lost the physical card — having it linked to your Amazon account means someone could potentially use it to make purchases. Deleting cards you've replaced reduces the number of payment methods a hacker could access if your Amazon account is compromised.
It also makes your account cleaner and easier to manage. If you have five old cards listed and only use one, deleting the others means you won't accidentally select the wrong one during checkout.
What to do if you can't find the delete option
If the "Delete" option is grayed out or missing, the card is likely set as your default payment method. Follow the steps in the section above to set a different card as default first.
If you're using a very old version of the Amazon app or website, the menu layout might be slightly different. Try updating the app to the latest version, or use a computer and a web browser instead. If you're still stuck, Amazon's customer service can walk you through it — contact them through the "Help" section of your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Amazon charge a fee to delete a card?
No. Removing a payment method from your account is free and takes effect when ready. There are no fees from Amazon or your bank for deleting a card from a retailer's system.
If I delete a card, will my past Amazon orders be affected?
No. Orders you've already placed and paid for are complete — deleting the card doesn't change them or refund them. The card deletion only affects future purchases.
Can I delete a card if I have a pending order?
Yes, as long as the order has already been charged. If an order is still pending and hasn't been charged yet, deleting the card might cause the order to fail. Check your order status first — if it shows "Ordered" or "Shipped," the charge went through and you can safely delete the card.
What if I delete a card by mistake?
You can add it back anytime by going to "Manage Payment Methods" and clicking "Add a Payment Method." Enter the card details again and you're done. There's no waiting period or penalty for re-adding a card you've deleted.
Do I need to tell my bank that I'm deleting the card from Amazon?
No. Your bank doesn't need to know. Deleting a card from Amazon is just removing Amazon's permission to charge it — it doesn't affect the card itself or your account with the bank.