Apple Pay on iPhone: how to set it up and where you can pay with it
Apple Pay is contactless payment with your phone. You set it up in the Wallet app → + → Debit or Credit Card, scan your card with the camera and confirm with an SMS code from your bank. At a terminal, you double-click the side button, verify with Face ID or Touch ID, and hold the phone up to the payment terminal. It works anywhere that accepts contactless payments — amounts above the limit are handled by verification on the phone, not a PIN on the terminal. Apple Pay works on iPhone 6 and later, and on pre-owned iPhones exactly the same as on new ones. Your card number is never given to the merchant — a one-time token is used instead, making the payment safer than a plastic card.
Apple Pay is contactless payment with your phone. You set it up in the Wallet app → + → Debit or Credit Card, scan your card with the camera and confirm with an SMS code from your bank. At a terminal, you double-click the side button, verify with Face ID or Touch ID, and hold the phone up to the payment terminal. It works anywhere that accepts contactless payments — amounts above the limit are handled by verification on the phone, not a PIN on the terminal. Apple Pay works on iPhone 6 and later, and on pre-owned iPhones exactly the same as on new ones. Your card number is never given to the merchant — a one-time token is used instead, making the payment safer than a plastic card.
In this article
- What Apple Pay is and how it works
- How to set up Apple Pay step by step
- How to pay with Apple Pay at a terminal
- Where Apple Pay works
- Which iPhones support Apple Pay
- Common problems and how to fix them
- Is Apple Pay safe?
- How you pay with us
What Apple Pay is and how it works
Apple Pay is Apple's payment service that turns your iPhone into a contactless card. Card data isn't stored on a server or in the card image on the phone — instead of the real number, a so-called Device Account Number is created, a unique number stored in a secure chip (Secure Element). A one-time cryptogram is also generated for each payment. So the merchant never sees your card number, and a data leak from their system can't put your card at risk.
The payment happens over the NFC antenna, which every iPhone from the iPhone 6 onwards has. The money comes from the same card and the same account as when paying with plastic — Apple Pay isn't a new card or a new account, just a different way to use your card.
How to set up Apple Pay step by step
The whole setup takes around two minutes, and all you need is a card and a phone with a SIM or eSIM to receive the verification SMS.
1. Open the Wallet app
It's pre-installed, with an icon showing a fan of cards. If you can't find it, download it for free from the App Store or search by swiping down on the home screen.
2. Tap the + button in the top right
Choose Debit or Credit Card.
3. Scan your card with the camera
Place the card on a light background and point the phone at it. The number fills in automatically. If scanning doesn't work, tap Enter Card Details Manually.
4. Fill in the expiry date and CVC code
The CVC is the three digits on the back of the card. For some banks this step is skipped because the card is loaded directly from the banking app.
5. Confirm the verification code from your bank
The bank sends an SMS or a push notification to its app. Enter the code and the card activates.
6. Choose your default card
Settings → Wallet & Apple Pay → Default Card. This card is offered first every time you bring up Apple Pay.
How to pay with Apple Pay at a terminal
1. Quickly double-click the side button
On models with a Home button, double-click the Home button instead. It works even on a locked phone — you don't need to unlock the screen first.
2. Verify with Face ID or Touch ID
On Face ID models, just look at the display. For Touch ID, place your finger on the Home button. If verification fails, the phone offers to enter your passcode.
3. Hold the top of the phone near the terminal
The NFC antenna is near the top edge. Hold the phone a few centimetres from the reader until Done appears and it vibrates.
4. Check the confirmation
A checkmark and the amount appear on the display. You'll find the history in Wallet by tapping the card.
Where Apple Pay works
- Physical shops: Anywhere the terminal accepts contactless payments — essentially every shop, restaurant and petrol station. The terminal doesn't need to show the Apple Pay logo.
- Apps on your iPhone: You'll find a Pay with Apple Pay button in transport, food delivery and shopping apps. No need to type in your address or card number.
- Websites in Safari: On e-shops that support Apple Pay, a black Apple Pay button appears. The payment is confirmed with Face ID and the delivery address is pre-filled from Wallet.
- Public transport and tickets: On transport with contactless validators, you tap your phone the same way as a card. For fast processing, set the card as your Express Transit card.
- ATMs: ATMs with a contactless reader allow withdrawals by tapping your phone and entering your card's PIN on the ATM's keypad.
Which iPhones support Apple Pay
Apple Pay works on every iPhone with NFC and biometric verification. The only difference is how the payment is confirmed.
| iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation), iPhone 8 and older | Confirmed by fingerprint via Touch ID, double-click of the Home button. |
|---|---|
| iPhone X through iPhone 17 Pro Max | Confirmed by face via Face ID, double-click of the side button. |
| Pre-owned iPhones | Apple Pay works exactly the same as on a new unit. The only requirement is that the previous owner is signed out and you have your own Apple ID — something we always make sure of before handover. |
Common problems and how to fix them
- The terminal doesn't read the phone: Hold the top edge of the phone closer to the reader and wait a moment. A thick metal case or magnetic mount can dampen the NFC signal.
- The card can't be added: Check that your bank supports Apple Pay and that the card isn't blocked. It helps to add the card directly from your banking app, which usually has an Add to Apple Wallet button.
- Apple Pay doesn't come up after double-clicking: Turn on Settings → Wallet & Apple Pay → Double-Click Side Button. Also check that you have Face ID or Touch ID and a passcode set up on the phone.
- The payment is declined: This is most often due to insufficient funds, the card's daily limit, or contactless payment restrictions in the banking app. You can change the limit and permissions directly in the banking app.
- Lost phone: Via iCloud.com in Lost Mode, Apple Pay is disconnected immediately, even if the phone is offline. So you don't need to block the card.
Is Apple Pay safe?
Apple Pay is safer than paying with a plastic card. The card number isn't stored on the phone, isn't passed to the merchant, and every transaction must be confirmed with your face, fingerprint or passcode. Whoever takes your phone can't pay with it — without biometrics or a passcode, the payment won't go through.
On top of that, Apple doesn't store what you bought where — the transaction history in Wallet is just a local overview on your phone.
How you pay with us
In our online shop for pre-owned iPhones, you pay by bank transfer, cash at selected stores for in-person collection, or in instalments via Home Credit directly at checkout. That doesn't limit Apple Pay on your phone in any way — once you turn on your new iPhone, you can add a card to Wallet in under two minutes and pay with it everywhere else as usual.