How to disable Apple Pay on your iPhone

💡 Need to know

• Turning off Apple Pay doesn’t cancel your cards—it just stops tap-to-pay on your phone.
• You can remove individual cards or disable the feature entirely.
• Express Transit and Lock Screen access are separate settings.
• You can always turn Apple Pay back on later in Wallet.

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There are many reasons you might want to switch off Apple Pay®. Maybe you want to avoid accidental tap-to-pay purchases, or you’re concerned about Apple Pay safety and feel more comfortable using physical debit and credit cards.

But what exactly should you do to turn it off on your iPhone®?

Asurion Experts share practical tips that help people navigate their phones and apps smoothly. Whether you’re trying to fix Apple Pay when it’s not working or looking for ways of securing payment apps with simple settings adjustments, we guide you through the technical steps. Here’s how to disable Apple Pay on your iPhone.

Understanding what happens when Apple Pay is turned off

When you turn off Apple Pay, you’ll disable contactless payments on your iPhone, including tap-to-pay purchases.

Cards stored in your Apple Wallet® app won’t be available if you remove them during the process. However, you can still use your physical debit or credit cards for purchases after turning off Apple Pay. That’s because disabling Apple Pay only affects mobile payments, not your bank accounts or card functionality.

Apple Pay requires Face ID®, Touch ID®, or your passcode to authorize transactions. Switching it off won’t disable these security features on your iPhone.

Turning off Apple Pay in Apple Wallet settings

If you have Apple Cash®—the digital card in the Apple Wallet on your iPhone—switch it off. On your phone, go to Settings and tap Wallet & Apple Pay, then turn off Apple Cash.

If you use Express Mode, which automatically processes mobile payments on public transport without having to unlock your phone or requiring Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode, you’ll also need to turn it off.

Open your Apple Wallet app and select the payment card you use in Express Mode. Tap the more button (three dots in the top-right corner) > Card Details > Express Transit Settings. Turn the switch to disable Express Mode for that card. This prevents the card from being used automatically without authentication, while keeping it in your Apple Wallet.

Removing cards and limiting Wallet access

Here’s how to remove Apple Pay cards from your iPhone:

1. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
2. Select the card you want to remove, then tap the three dots in the top-right of the screen.
3. Tap Card Details and look for Remove Card.
4. Tap Remove.

Repeat these steps for all the other cards you want to delete.

Note: If your iPhone is missing, and you’re looking for how to disable Apple Pay on a lost phone, you can remove your cards remotely. Open a web browser on another device and sign in to the Apple Account you used on the missing phone. Next, go to Devices and select your lost iPhone. In the Wallet & Apple Pay menu, tap or click Remove Items, then confirm the removal of all cards when prompted.

Turning off Apple Pay access from the Lock screen

In addition to removing your cards from your iPhone, you can disable quick access to Apple Pay on the Lock screen by restricting Wallet access.

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Go to Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode, depending on your phone’s model) and then enter your passcode when prompted.
3. In the Allow Access When Locked section, turn off the switch for Wallet.

Once you disable Apple Wallet access, you won’t be able to use Apple Pay by double-clicking the side or Home button on the Lock screen. Instead, you’ll first need to unlock your device using your passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID.

Using parental controls to prevent mobile transactions

If you share your phone with your child and want to prevent them from making purchases in apps you downloaded for them from the App Store®, parental controls will help.

1. Open Settings and go to Screen Time.
2. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
3. Go to iTunes & App Store Purchases and tap In-app Purchases > Don’t Allow.

Knowing when to re-enable Apple Pay

When you’re ready to use Apple Pay for transit fares, tap-to-pay purchases, or online checkouts, turning it back on can save you time.

How to re-enable Apple Pay on your iPhone

1. Open the Wallet app.
2. Tap the plus icon in the top right corner.
3. Select Debit or Credit Card > Continue.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to add your card.
5. Re-enable Apple Cash and Apple Pay access from your lock screen.

Once everything is set up, you can explore tips to use Apple Pay more efficiently and securely.

Check your Apple Pay security

Before turning Apple Pay back on, review your security settings:

• Face ID or Touch ID is optional with a passcode, but using biometrics adds extra protection.
• Make sure your passcode is strong and not easy to guess.
• Never share your passcode with anyone.

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FAQ

Does turning off Apple Pay cancel my debit or credit cards?

No. Your bank cards still work normally. Disabling Apple Pay only removes the ability to use them for mobile tap-to-pay.

Can I temporarily disable Apple Pay without deleting my cards?

Yes. You can turn off Apple Cash, disable Express Transit, or remove Wallet access from the Lock screen without permanently deleting your cards.

What happens if I lose my iPhone?

You can sign in to your Apple Account from another device and remove your cards remotely under Devices > Wallet & Apple Pay > Remove Items.

Can I turn Apple Pay back on later?

Absolutely. Open the Wallet app, tap the + icon, and follow the prompts to add your cards again.