Removing a card from Apple Pay takes 30 seconds
To delete a credit card from Apple Pay, open the Wallet app on your iPhone or iPad, tap the card you want to remove, tap the three dots (or information icon) in the top right corner, scroll down, and select "Remove This Card." On an Apple Watch, open the Wallet app, swipe left on the card, tap the trash icon, and confirm. On a Mac, open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions), go to Wallet & Apple Pay, select the card, and click "Remove."
The process is the same whether you're removing a debit card, credit card, or prepaid card. Apple Pay does not notify your bank or card issuer when you delete a card from the app — it only removes the card from your device. Your actual account with the bank remains open and active.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a card from Apple Pay removes it only from your device and does not close your account with the bank.
- On iPhone or iPad, tap the card in Wallet, select the menu icon, scroll down, and choose "Remove This Card."
- On Apple Watch, swipe left on the card, tap the trash icon, and confirm the removal.
- If you want to stop using the card entirely, you must contact your bank separately to close the account.
Removing a card on iPhone and iPad
Open the Wallet app and find the card you want to delete. Tap it once to bring it to the front. In the top right corner, you will see three dots (on newer iPhones) or an information icon (on older models). Tap that icon.
Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. You will see a red "Remove This Card" button. Tap it and confirm when prompted. The card is now removed from Apple Pay on that device.
If you have multiple Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account, removing a card from one device may remove it from others automatically, depending on your settings. To prevent this, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and turn off Wallet syncing before you delete the card.
Removing a card on Apple Watch
Open the Wallet app on your Apple Watch. Find the card you want to delete and swipe left across it. A trash icon will appear on the right side of the screen. Tap the trash icon.
The watch will ask you to confirm. Tap "Remove" to finish. The card is now deleted from your watch but remains in Apple Pay on your iPhone unless you remove it there as well.
Removing a card on Mac
On a Mac running macOS Ventura or later, open System Settings and click "Wallet & Apple Pay" in the sidebar. On older versions, open System Preferences and select Wallet & Apple Pay.
Find the card you want to remove in the list. Click it once to select it, then click the minus sign (−) button below the list, or right-click the card and select "Remove." Confirm when prompted.
What happens after you delete a card
Deleting a card from Apple Pay does not affect your bank account or credit card account. The card itself remains active with your bank. You can still use the physical card to make purchases, and your bank will continue to send you statements and charge you any fees or interest.
If you want to close the account entirely, you must contact your bank or card issuer directly. Removing it from Apple Pay is only a step toward that goal, not the final step.
If you deleted a card by mistake, you can add it back to Apple Pay at any time. Open Wallet, tap the plus icon, and follow the prompts to re-add the card using the same card number.
Removing a card that is set as your default payment method
If the card you want to delete is currently set as your default payment method in Apple Pay, you must first change the default to a different card. Open Wallet, tap the three dots on the card that is currently default, and select "Make This My Default Card" for a different card.
Once you have set a new default, you can then delete the old card using the steps above. Apple Pay will not let you delete a card while it is still set as the default.
Removing a card from a specific device when you own multiple devices
If you own an iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch all signed into the same iCloud account, deleting a card from one device may automatically delete it from the others. This happens because Apple syncs Wallet data across devices by default.
If you want to keep a card on some devices but remove it from others, turn off iCloud Wallet syncing before you delete the card. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, scroll down to Wallet, and toggle it off. After you delete the card, you can turn syncing back on. The card will remain on any device where you did not delete it manually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a card from Apple Pay close my bank account?
No. Removing a card from Apple Pay only removes it from your device. Your bank account and card account remain open and active. To close the account, you must contact your bank directly.
Can I delete a card from Apple Pay without deleting it from my other devices?
Yes, but only if you turn off iCloud Wallet syncing first. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, toggle off Wallet, delete the card, then turn syncing back on. The card will stay on devices where you did not delete it.
What if I accidentally deleted a card I still need?
You can add it back to Apple Pay anytime. Open Wallet, tap the plus icon, and enter the card number again. Apple Pay will recognize it as the same card and restore your previous settings.
Do I need to notify my bank when I remove a card from Apple Pay?
No. Your bank does not know or care whether you use Apple Pay. Removing the card from the app has no effect on your account. If you want to close the account, you must call your bank.
Can I remove a card from Apple Pay on my iPhone but keep it on my Apple Watch?
Only if you disable iCloud Wallet syncing before you delete it. With syncing on, deleting from one device deletes from all devices signed into the same iCloud account.