How to remove a card from Apple Pay
You can remove a card from Apple Pay in a few taps on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. The card stays active with your bank — removing it from Apple Pay just stops it from being available in the Wallet app for contactless payments. You can add it back later if you change your mind.
The steps differ slightly depending on which device you're using, but the process takes less than a minute on any of them.
Key Takeaways
- Removing a card from Apple Pay does not close the card or affect your account with your bank.
- On iPhone, open Wallet, tap and hold the card, then tap the trash icon and confirm the removal.
- On iPad, go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay, select the card, and choose Remove Card.
- On Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Wallet & Apple Pay, select the card, and tap Remove.
- You can add the same card back to Apple Pay at any time through the same apps.
Remove a card on iPhone
Open the Wallet app on your home screen. Find the card you want to remove and tap and hold it until a menu appears at the bottom of the screen.
Tap the trash icon (it looks like a bin). A confirmation message will appear asking if you want to remove the card. Tap Remove Card to confirm. The card is now off Apple Pay, though your bank still has it active.
Remove a card on iPad
Go to Settings and scroll down to find Wallet & Apple Pay. Tap it to open the menu.
You'll see a list of cards currently on your iPad. Tap the card you want to remove. A details screen opens showing the card number, expiration date, and other information. Scroll down and tap Remove Card. Confirm the removal when prompted.
Remove a card on Apple Watch
On your iPhone (not the watch itself), open the Watch app. Scroll down and tap Wallet & Apple Pay.
You'll see all the cards on your watch. Tap the card you want to remove, then scroll down and tap Remove. Confirm the removal. If you have multiple cards on your watch, you can remove them one at a time using the same steps.
What happens after you remove a card
Once removed, the card no longer appears in your Wallet app or on your Apple Watch. You won't be able to use it for contactless payments through Apple Pay on that device.
Your bank account and the physical card itself are unaffected. The card remains active, and you can still use it in stores by tapping it directly or by entering the number manually online. You can also add the card back to Apple Pay whenever you want by opening Wallet or Settings and selecting Add Card.
If you want to remove a card from all your devices
If you have the same card on multiple devices — an iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, for example — you need to remove it from each one separately. There's no single setting that removes a card from all your Apple devices at once.
Go through each device using the steps above. Start with your iPhone, then your iPad, then your watch. This ensures the card is no longer available for Apple Pay payments on any of them.
Removing a card versus reporting it lost or stolen
Removing a card from Apple Pay is different from reporting it lost or stolen. When you remove a card, it stays active with your bank and you can still use it normally. When you report a card lost or stolen, your bank deactivates it entirely, and you'll need to request a replacement card.
If your card is lost, stolen, or compromised, contact your bank directly rather than just removing it from Apple Pay. Your bank can freeze the card when ready and send you a new one. Removing it from Apple Pay alone won't stop someone from using the physical card if they have it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a card from Apple Pay close my bank account?
No. Removing a card from Apple Pay only removes it from the Wallet app on that device. Your bank account stays open and active, and the card itself remains valid. You can still use the physical card in stores or online.
Can I add the card back to Apple Pay after removing it?
Yes. Open Wallet on your iPhone or go to Settings on your iPad or Apple Watch, select Add Card, and follow the prompts. You can add the same card back in a few seconds.
What if I remove a card by mistake?
You can add it back when ready using the Add Card option in Wallet or Settings. There's no waiting period or penalty for removing and re-adding a card.
Will my bank know I removed the card from Apple Pay?
No. Your bank has no record of whether a card is on Apple Pay. Removing it from Apple Pay is a change only on your device and doesn't notify your bank or affect your account.
Do I need to remove a card before getting a new one?
No. When your bank sends you a replacement card with a new number, you can add it to Apple Pay separately. You can then remove the old card whenever you want. Both can exist on your device at the same time until you remove the old one.