Change your card in Account Settings in under two minutes
To change the credit card on your Amazon account, go to Account & Lists in the top right, select Your Account, then choose Login & security. Scroll down to find Payment options and click Manage payment methods. From there you can delete your old card and add a new one. Amazon will ask for the card number, expiration date, CVV, and the cardholder's name and address.
The whole process takes about two minutes on desktop or mobile. Your new card becomes active when ready, though Amazon may still show your old card as an option for a few hours while the system updates. If you're changing cards because the old one is expiring or was declined, updating it now prevents interruptions to Prime membership, subscriptions, or one-click purchases.
Key Takeaways
- You reach payment settings through Account & Lists > Your Account > Login & security > Payment options > Manage payment methods.
- Amazon stores multiple cards and lets you set one as your default, so you can keep old cards on file or remove them entirely.
- Changes take effect when ready, though the system may take a few hours to stop showing the old card as an option.
- If a card is declined during checkout, you can add a new one right then without leaving the purchase screen.
Step-by-step: Adding a new card to your account
Start by signing into Amazon and clicking Account & Lists in the top navigation bar. On mobile, this appears as a menu icon. Select Your Account from the dropdown.
Once you're in Your Account, look for the Login & security section on the left side (desktop) or scroll down to find it (mobile). Click or tap Login & security. You may be asked to re-enter your password for security.
Scroll down the Login & security page until you see Payment options. Click Manage payment methods. This page shows all cards currently saved to your account. Click Add a payment method to enter your new card details.
Enter the card number, expiration date, CVV (the three-digit code on the back), cardholder name, and billing address. Make sure the address matches what your bank has on file. Click Add your card when finished. Amazon will verify the card with a small test charge (usually under $1) that appears and disappears within a few days.
Removing your old card from the account
Once your new card is added and verified, you can remove the old one. Go back to Manage payment methods and find the card you want to delete. Click the three dots or menu icon next to it and select Delete. Amazon will ask you to confirm.
You do not have to remove old cards — many people keep several on file and switch between them. If you want to keep the old card but use the new one by default, click the three dots next to your new card and select Set as default payment method. Amazon will use the default card for all future purchases unless you change it at checkout.
If you delete a card by mistake, you can add it back anytime by repeating the steps above. There is no penalty for removing and re-adding cards.
Changing your card during checkout
If a card is declined at checkout or you want to use a different card for a single purchase, you do not have to leave the checkout page. Look for Payment method and click Change or Edit. You can select a different card from your saved list or click Add a new payment method to enter a new card right there.
This is faster than going through Account Settings if you only need to change the card for one order. Once you complete the purchase, your default payment method stays the same for future orders — changing it at checkout does not change your account settings.
What happens to subscriptions and Prime membership
If your primary card is expiring or you're removing it because it was compromised, update your payment method before your next billing date. Amazon will attempt to charge your default card for Prime membership, subscriptions (like Subscribe & Save), and any pre-orders you have pending.
If the card on file is declined, Amazon will send you an email asking you to update your payment method. You have a grace period of a few days before the service is suspended, but it's safer to update the card yourself rather than wait for a decline notice. Once you add a new card, Amazon will retry the charge automatically.
Troubleshooting: Card not accepted or not appearing
If Amazon rejects your new card, the most common reasons are a mismatched billing address, an incorrect CVV, or a card that the bank has flagged as high-risk. Double-check that the address you entered matches exactly what your bank has on file — including spelling, abbreviations, and ZIP code.
If the address is correct and the card is still rejected, contact your bank. They may have declined the transaction because it came from a new merchant or a different location than usual. Once your bank approves it, try adding the card to Amazon again.
If you added the card successfully but it's not showing up in your payment options, wait a few minutes and refresh the page. Sometimes the system takes a moment to display newly added cards. If it still does not appear after 10 minutes, try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser.
Updating payment information for different Amazon services
Your Amazon account payment method covers purchases on Amazon.com, Prime Video, Kindle, and Amazon Music if you have those services. If you use Amazon Business (a separate account for work purchases), you will need to update the payment method there separately — it does not share cards with your personal account.
If you use Amazon Pay to check out on other websites, those merchants will see your default Amazon payment method. Changing your card in Account Settings automatically updates what those merchants can charge, so you do not need to update payment information on each site individually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a debit card instead of a credit card on Amazon?
Yes. Amazon accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover debit cards the same way it accepts credit cards. Enter the debit card number, expiration date, and CVV just as you would for a credit card. The billing address must match what your bank has on file.
How long does it take for a new card to work on Amazon?
Your new card is active when ready after you add it. Amazon may send a small test charge (under $1) to verify the card, which appears and disappears within a few days. You can use the card for purchases right away without waiting for that test charge to clear.
What if I have multiple cards and want to use a different one for each purchase?
Add all your cards to your account and set one as the default. At checkout, click Change next to the payment method and select whichever card you want to use for that order. Your default card stays the same for future purchases unless you change it again.
Will changing my card affect my Prime membership or subscriptions?
No. Changing your card does not interrupt Prime or any subscriptions. Amazon will charge your new default card on the next billing date. If you remove a card before adding a new one, make sure you add the new card before your next charge date to avoid a failed payment.
Can I remove all my cards from Amazon?
You must have at least one payment method on file to make purchases. You can delete all but one card, but you cannot delete your last card without adding a replacement first. If you want to stop using Amazon temporarily, you can delete all cards once you've added a new one.