Remove a card in three steps from your PayPal wallet
To remove a credit card from PayPal, log into your account, go to Wallet, find the card you want to remove, and click the delete or trash icon next to it. PayPal will ask you to confirm the removal. Once you confirm, the card is deleted from your account when ready and cannot be used for future payments.
The process takes less than a minute and works the same way whether you are using PayPal on a computer or the mobile app. You do not need to contact PayPal support unless the card will not delete or you see an error message.
Key Takeaways
- Log into PayPal, select Wallet, and click the delete icon next to the card you want to remove.
- PayPal removes the card when ready after you confirm, and it cannot be used for any future transactions.
- If a card is linked to an active subscription or recurring payment, you must update or cancel that payment before deleting the card.
- Removing a card from PayPal does not close your PayPal account or affect your account history.
- If the delete button does not appear, the card may be set as your primary payment method or tied to an active payment plan.
Steps to delete a card on a computer
Open PayPal in your web browser and sign in with your email and password. Click your name or profile icon in the top right corner, then select Account Settings or go directly to the Wallet section.
In the Wallet, you will see a list of all payment methods on file. Find the credit card you want to remove. Next to the card, you should see a trash can icon or a menu with three dots. Click that icon. PayPal will show a confirmation message asking if you are sure you want to delete the card. Click Yes, remove it or Confirm. The card is now deleted.
If you do not see a delete option, scroll down to make sure you are looking at the full card details. Some cards show limited information until you expand them.
Steps to delete a card on the PayPal mobile app
Open the PayPal app and sign in. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of the screen, then tap Wallet. You will see your list of payment methods.
Find the card you want to delete and tap it to open the card details. Look for a trash can icon, a delete button, or a menu with three dots at the top or bottom of the card details screen. Tap that icon. PayPal will ask you to confirm the removal. Tap Remove or Delete. The card is now removed from your PayPal account.
If you cannot find the delete option on the mobile app, try removing the card from the PayPal website instead. Some older versions of the app have limited editing features.
What to do if a card is linked to a subscription or recurring payment
If you are trying to delete a card but the delete button is grayed out or missing, the card may be the payment method for a subscription or recurring bill. PayPal does not let you delete a card while it is actively being used for a payment plan.
To remove the card, you must first update the subscription to use a different payment method or cancel the subscription entirely. Go to Account Settings, then Payments or Subscriptions, and find the active payment. Change the payment method to a different card or bank account, or cancel the subscription. Once you do that, you can delete the original card from your Wallet.
If you are not sure which subscription is using the card, contact the merchant or business that set up the payment. They can tell you which card is on file and help you change it.
What happens after you remove a card
Once a card is deleted, PayPal removes it from your account permanently. You cannot use that card to pay for anything through PayPal. If a merchant tries to charge that card through PayPal, the payment will fail and you will be notified.
Removing a card does not close your PayPal account, change your account balance, or erase your transaction history. Your account remains active and you can still use other payment methods on file. If you have no other payment methods saved, you can add a new card or bank account the next time you need to make a payment.
If you removed a card by mistake, you can add it back to your account at any time by going to Wallet and selecting Add a card.
Troubleshooting: why the delete button might not appear
The most common reason a delete button does not show is that the card is set as your primary or default payment method. PayPal requires you to have at least one payment method on file. If this card is your only payment method, you must add a different card or bank account before you can delete it.
Another reason is that the card is linked to an active subscription or recurring payment, as described above. A third reason is that PayPal has flagged the card for a security review. If this happens, you may see a message saying the card is under review. Wait for the review to finish before trying to delete it again.
If you still cannot delete the card after checking these things, contact PayPal support through the Help Center. Explain that you are trying to remove a card and the delete button is not appearing. PayPal can manually remove the card for you or explain why it cannot be deleted.
Removing a card does not affect your credit score
Deleting a credit card from PayPal is a change to your PayPal account only. It does not close the credit card itself, so it does not affect your credit score or credit history. The card remains open with your bank or credit card company.
If you want to close the credit card entirely, you must contact your bank or credit card issuer directly. Removing it from PayPal is just removing PayPal's access to use that card for payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a card if it is my only payment method on PayPal?
No. PayPal requires at least one payment method on file. You must add a different card or link a bank account before you can delete your only card. Once you add a second payment method, you can delete the first one.
Will removing a card cancel my subscriptions?
No, but if that card is the payment method for a subscription, the subscription will fail the next time it tries to charge. You must update the subscription to use a different card before removing the original card, or the merchant will not be able to collect payment.
Can I undo removing a card from PayPal?
Yes. You can add the card back to your PayPal account at any time by going to Wallet and clicking Add a card. You will need to enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV again.
Does removing a card from PayPal close the credit card?
No. Removing a card from PayPal only removes PayPal's access to that card. The credit card itself remains open with your bank. If you want to close the card, you must contact your bank or credit card company directly.
What if PayPal says the card cannot be deleted?
This usually means the card is linked to an active subscription, is your only payment method, or is under a security review. Check your subscriptions first and update them to use a different card. If that does not work, contact PayPal support and describe the error message you are seeing.