Remove Apple Pay from your device in Settings

To stop using Apple Pay, you remove your cards from the Wallet app and turn off the feature in your device settings. The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone, Apple Watch, or Mac. On an iPhone, open Settings, tap Wallet & Apple Pay, then tap each card and select Remove Card. On an Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your paired iPhone, go to Wallet & Apple Pay, tap a card, scroll down, and tap Remove. On a Mac, open System Settings, click Wallet & Apple Pay in the sidebar, select a card, and click the remove button (usually an X or minus sign).

Removing your cards stops them from being available for tap-to-pay transactions, but the cards remain in your Wallet app as reference cards you can view. If you want to fully disable Apple Pay so you cannot use it even accidentally, you also need to turn off the feature itself in Settings. On iPhone and Apple Watch, this is the toggle labeled "Apple Pay" or "Double-click for Apple Pay" (on older models). On Mac, it is a checkbox in the Wallet & Apple Pay settings pane.

Key Takeaways

  • Removing cards from Wallet stops them from working for payments, but you can still see them listed in the app.
  • Turning off Apple Pay in Settings disables the feature entirely so you cannot pay by tapping your device, even if cards are still stored.
  • On iPhone, you remove cards through Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay, then tap each card and select Remove Card.
  • On Apple Watch, use the Watch app on your paired iPhone to navigate to Wallet & Apple Pay and remove cards from there.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, find Wallet & Apple Pay, select a card, and click the remove button next to it.

Disable double-click payments on iPhone

By default, double-clicking the side button (or home button on older iPhones) opens Apple Pay so you can tap to pay. If you want to keep your cards in Wallet but prevent accidental payments, turn off this shortcut. Go to Settings, tap Wallet & Apple Pay, and toggle off "Double-Click Side Button" or "Double-Click Home Button" depending on your iPhone model.

When this toggle is off, double-clicking the button will no longer launch Apple Pay. You can still view your cards in the Wallet app and use them for other purposes like boarding passes or ID, but you cannot initiate a payment from the lock screen or home screen. This is useful if you want to keep your payment information stored but reduce the risk of paying by accident in a crowded place.

Remove Apple Pay from your Apple Watch

Apple Watch stores payment cards separately from your iPhone, so you must remove them from the Watch itself. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Wallet & Apple Pay, and you will see all cards currently on your watch. Tap each card, scroll to the bottom, and tap Remove. This removes the card from the watch but does not remove it from your iPhone.

If you want to prevent payments on your watch entirely, you can also turn off the feature. In the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Wallet & Apple Pay and toggle off "Apple Pay" or "Wrist Detection" if your watch requires authentication for each payment. Disabling Wrist Detection means your watch will ask for your passcode before every transaction, which effectively stops quick tap-to-pay.

What happens to your card information when you remove it

Removing a card from Apple Pay does not delete it from your device or from your bank's records. Your bank still has your account information and your payment history. The card simply stops being available in the Wallet app for contactless payments. You can add the same card back to Apple Pay at any time by opening Wallet, tapping the plus button, and following the prompts to re-enter or re-verify the card.

If you removed a card because it was lost or stolen, contact your bank directly to report it and request a replacement card. Removing it from Apple Pay is a convenience step, not a security measure. Your bank's fraud protection and your card's security features remain active whether the card is in Apple Pay or not.

Disable Apple Pay on Mac

On a Mac, Apple Pay is used for online purchases and in-app payments, not for in-store tap-to-pay. To remove cards, open System Settings, click Wallet & Apple Pay in the sidebar, select a card from the list, and click the remove button. To turn off Apple Pay entirely on your Mac, uncheck the box next to "Apple Pay" in the same settings pane.

When Apple Pay is disabled on your Mac, you cannot use it to pay for purchases on websites or in apps, even if the merchant accepts Apple Pay. You will need to enter your payment information manually or use a different payment method. You can turn it back on at any time by returning to the same settings and re-enabling it.

Turn off Apple Pay notifications

If you want to keep Apple Pay active but reduce the number of notifications you receive about transactions, you can adjust notification settings. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap Notifications, scroll down to Wallet, and turn off notifications or set them to Deliver Quietly. This stops alerts from appearing on your lock screen or in your notification center, though your bank may still send you separate notifications about the transaction.

Turning off Wallet notifications does not disable Apple Pay itself — it only silences the alerts. You will still be able to pay with your device, and your bank will still process the transaction. If you want to see transaction history, you can open the Wallet app and tap the card to view recent payments.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I remove a card from Apple Pay, can I add it back later?

Yes. Open Wallet, tap the plus button, and follow the prompts to add the card again. Your bank may ask you to verify your identity the first time you re-add it, but the process is the same as adding a new card. You do not need to contact your bank or request a new card number.

Does removing Apple Pay from my iPhone also remove it from my Apple Watch?

No. Your iPhone and Apple Watch store payment cards separately. You must remove cards from each device individually. Removing a card from your iPhone does not affect your watch, and vice versa.

What if I forgot my Apple Watch passcode and cannot remove cards?

You can remove cards from your watch using the Watch app on your iPhone without needing the watch passcode. Open the Watch app, go to Wallet & Apple Pay, select the card, and tap Remove. If you want to erase the entire watch, you can unpair it from your iPhone, which removes all data including payment cards.

Can I disable Apple Pay for a specific card but keep others active?

No. You can only remove individual cards or turn off Apple Pay entirely. If you want to stop using one card but keep others, remove just that card and leave the others in place. The remaining cards will still work for payments.

Will my bank know if I remove Apple Pay from my device?

No. Your bank does not receive a notification when you remove a card from Apple Pay. Removing it from your device is a local action that only affects your device. Your bank's records and your account remain unchanged.