Delete a card from Amazon in three steps
To remove a credit card from your Amazon account, sign in to Your Account, go to the Payments section, find the card you want to remove, and select Delete. Amazon will ask you to confirm. The card is then removed from your account and cannot be used for future purchases. If that card is set as your default payment method, Amazon will prompt you to choose a different one before the deletion goes through.
You can delete any card stored on your account except the one currently being used for an active order. If you're trying to remove a card tied to an unpaid balance or an ongoing subscription, you'll need to update the payment method for that charge first.
Key Takeaways
- Sign in to Amazon, go to Account > Login & Security > Payments, and select the card you want to delete.
- Amazon will not let you delete a card if it's your only payment method or if an active order is using it.
- If the card is set as your default, you must choose a replacement before Amazon will complete the deletion.
- Deleted cards are removed when ready and cannot be recovered through your Amazon account.
Step-by-step: finding and deleting your card
Open Amazon.com and sign in with your email and password. In the top right corner, hover over "Account & Lists" and click "Your Account" from the dropdown menu. This takes you to your account dashboard.
On the left side of the dashboard, look for "Login & Security" and click it. Scroll down until you see "Payments" and click that section. You'll see a list of all payment methods stored on your account — credit cards, debit cards, and any other saved methods.
Find the card you want to remove. Next to it, you'll see three dots (⋯) or a "Manage" button. Click that button. A menu will appear with options including "Edit" and "Delete." Click "Delete."
Amazon will show a confirmation message asking if you're sure you want to remove this card. Click "Delete" again to confirm. The card is now removed from your account.
What happens if the card is your default payment method
If the card you're trying to delete is marked as your default (the one Amazon uses automatically for new purchases), you cannot complete the deletion until you choose a different card as your default first.
When you click Delete on your default card, Amazon will show a message saying something like "This is your default payment method. Please select a different payment method before deleting this one." You'll see a list of your other saved cards. Click the radio button next to the card you want to use as your new default, then click "Confirm." After that, you can go back and delete the original card.
Removing a card tied to an active order or subscription
Amazon will not let you delete a card if it's currently being used to pay for an order that hasn't shipped yet or if it's linked to an active subscription (like Prime, Subscribe & Save, or a Kindle Unlimited membership).
If you see an error message when you try to delete, check whether that card is attached to any active orders or recurring charges. You can see this in the Payments section — Amazon usually notes if a card is "in use." To remove the card, you'll need to either wait for the order to arrive and be fully processed, or change the payment method for your subscription to a different card first.
To change the payment method for a subscription, go to "Your Account" > "Memberships & Subscriptions" or "Manage Your Content and Devices" (depending on the subscription type), find the subscription, and select "Update Payment Method." Choose a different card, confirm the change, and then you can delete the old card.
Deleting a card with an unpaid balance
If you have an unpaid balance on your Amazon account and that balance is tied to the card you want to delete, Amazon will not allow the deletion. You must pay the balance first using any payment method, then delete the card.
To check for unpaid balances, go to "Your Account" > "Login & Security" > "Payments" and look for any notices about outstanding charges. If you see one, click on it to pay when ready. Once the balance is cleared, the card can be deleted.
What to do if you can't delete a card
If you've tried to delete a card and received an error message, the most common reasons are: the card is your default payment method, it's attached to an active order, it's linked to a subscription, or there's an unpaid balance. Work through each of these possibilities before contacting Amazon.
If none of these explore and you still cannot delete the card, contact Amazon Customer Service. Go to "Your Account" > "Contact Us," select "Account & Login Issues," and describe the problem. Amazon's support team can investigate why the deletion is blocked and help you remove the card if there's a technical issue on their end.
After you delete: what changes and what doesn't
Once a card is deleted from your Amazon account, it is removed permanently. You cannot recover it through your account settings. If you want to use that card again in the future, you'll need to add it back manually by going to Payments and selecting "Add a Payment Method."
Deleting a card from Amazon does not affect the card itself, your bank account, or your credit. It only removes the stored information from your Amazon account. Your bank will continue to process any charges that were already authorized before you deleted the card. Past purchases made with that card will still appear in your order history, but the card details are no longer saved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete a card if I have a pending refund on it?
Yes, you can delete the card even if a refund is pending. The refund will still go through to your bank account using the card's information, which your bank has on file. However, if the refund fails because the card no longer exists at the bank level, contact Amazon support to request the refund be sent to a different payment method.
Will deleting a card from Amazon affect my credit score?
No. Deleting a card from your Amazon account has no effect on your credit score or credit history. It only removes the stored payment information from Amazon's servers. Your credit report is managed by your bank and credit bureaus, not by Amazon.
What if I accidentally deleted the wrong card?
Amazon does not recover deleted cards. You'll need to add the card back manually. Go to "Your Account" > "Login & Security" > "Payments" > "Add a Payment Method," enter the card details again, and save it. If you're unsure whether you deleted the right card, check your order history or contact your bank to confirm which cards are active.
Can I delete a card while I'm in the middle of checkout?
No. You cannot access your payment settings while you're on the checkout page. You must complete or cancel your purchase first, then go to your account settings to delete a card. If you want to remove a card before finishing a purchase, close the checkout page, delete the card, and then start a new purchase using a different payment method.
Do I need to delete a card if I'm closing my Amazon account?
No. If you close your Amazon account, all stored payment information, including cards, is automatically removed from Amazon's system. You do not need to delete cards individually. However, if you're only removing a card and keeping your account open, you must delete it manually through the Payments section.