Disable Apple Pay in Settings on iPhone or iPad
To turn off Apple Pay on an iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app and tap Wallet & Apple Pay. At the top of the screen, toggle off the switch next to Apple Pay. This disables the feature entirely — you will no longer see the Wallet app icon on your home screen, and you cannot use Apple Pay at stores, online, or in apps until you turn it back on.
If you want to keep Apple Pay active but remove a specific card, stay in Wallet & Apple Pay settings, tap the card you want to remove, scroll to the bottom, and tap Remove This Card. The card disappears from your Wallet, but Apple Pay itself remains on. You can still use other cards you have added.
Turning off Apple Pay does not delete your card information from Apple's servers — it only hides the feature from your device. If you turn Apple Pay back on later, your cards will still be there. This is useful if you want to pause Apple Pay temporarily without losing your saved payment methods.
Key Takeaways
- Toggle Apple Pay off in Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay to disable the entire feature on your iPhone or iPad.
- Removing a single card keeps Apple Pay on but prevents that card from being used for payments.
- Disabling Apple Pay does not erase your card data; turning it back on restores access to your saved cards without re-entering them.
- On Mac, disable Apple Pay by opening System Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and unchecking the box next to Apple Pay.
- If you have an Apple Watch, turning off Apple Pay on your iPhone does not automatically disable it on the watch — you must disable it separately in the Watch app.
Disable Apple Pay on Mac
On a Mac running macOS Ventura or later, open System Settings and click Wallet & Apple Pay in the sidebar. Uncheck the box next to Apple Pay. This turns off Apple Pay for online purchases and in apps on that Mac. You will no longer see Apple Pay as a payment option when you shop online or make in-app purchases from your computer.
If you want to remove a card from your Mac without disabling Apple Pay entirely, click the card in the Wallet & Apple Pay settings and then click the minus button. The card is removed, but you can still use Apple Pay with other cards you have saved. This approach is useful if you want to retire an old card but keep the feature active for newer ones.
Turn Off Apple Pay on Apple Watch
Apple Pay on your Apple Watch is controlled separately from your iPhone. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap the Wallet & Apple Pay tab at the bottom, and toggle off Apple Pay. You can also remove individual cards from this screen by tapping them and selecting Remove Card.
If you disable Apple Pay on your iPhone but leave it on on your Apple Watch, you can still make payments using the watch. The two devices do not sync this setting automatically. This means you have independent control over whether Apple Pay works on each device, which is helpful if you want to disable it on your phone but keep it active on your watch for convenience.
What Happens When You Disable Apple Pay
When Apple Pay is off, you cannot use it to pay at stores with contactless readers, make purchases in apps, or pay for things on websites that offer Apple Pay as a checkout option. The Wallet app will not appear on your home screen, and Siri will not offer to pay with Apple Pay when you ask to make a payment.
Disabling Apple Pay does not affect other payment methods. You can still use your physical credit or debit cards, other digital wallets like Google Pay or Samsung Pay, or any other payment app you have installed. Your bank account and card information remain find and unchanged. The cards themselves stay active with your bank — only the Apple Pay feature on your device is turned off.
Re-enable Apple Pay When You Need It
To turn Apple Pay back on, go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay on iPhone or System Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay on Mac, and toggle the switch back to on. Your previously saved cards will reappear in your Wallet automatically — you do not need to add them again. This process takes just a few seconds.
If you removed a card before disabling Apple Pay, that card will not return when you re-enable the feature. You will need to add it again by tapping the plus icon in Wallet and entering the card details. However, any cards you kept in your Wallet will be restored without any action on your part.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disabling Apple Pay delete my card information?
No. Your card data stays stored on Apple's servers. When you turn Apple Pay back on, your cards reappear without you having to re-enter them. Disabling Apple Pay only hides the feature from your device.
Can I disable Apple Pay on my iPhone but keep it on my Apple Watch?
Yes. Apple Pay settings on your iPhone and Apple Watch are separate. You can turn it off on one device and leave it on the other. You will need to disable it in the Watch app if you want to turn it off on your watch.
What if I disable Apple Pay but still want to use contactless payments?
You can use other digital wallets like Google Pay or Samsung Pay instead, depending on your phone. You can also use your physical credit or debit card at any contactless reader. Disabling Apple Pay does not prevent you from making contactless payments — it only removes Apple's version.
Will my bank know if I disable Apple Pay?
No. Disabling Apple Pay is a setting on your device. Your bank has no way to know whether the feature is on or off. Your card remains active and can be used with any payment method.