Update your card directly in the Wallet app on your iPhone
When your credit card expires, Apple Wallet will flag it as expired and stop letting you use it for payments. You do not need to delete the card and add it again. Instead, open the Wallet app on your iPhone, tap the expired card, and look for an Edit or Update Payment Information button — the exact wording depends on your card issuer and iOS version.
Tap that button and you will see fields for the new expiration date and CVV (the three-digit security code on the back of your card). Enter both, then tap Done or Save. Your card issuer may ask you to verify the update through a text message, email, or a prompt in your bank's app. Complete that step and your card will be active in Wallet again within minutes.
If you do not see an Edit button, your card issuer may not support in-wallet updates yet. In that case, you will need to remove the expired card and add the new one manually — see the section below on that process.
Key Takeaways
- Open Wallet, tap your expired card, and look for an Edit or Update Payment Information button to enter your new expiration date and CVV.
- Your card issuer may send a verification code by text or email; complete that step to finish the update.
- If your issuer does not support in-wallet updates, you will need to delete the card and add it again as a new card.
- After updating, wait a few minutes before using the card for contactless or online payments to may support the change has synced.
- Updating in Wallet does not change your card number or account — it only refreshes the expiration date in the app.
What happens if your card issuer does not support in-wallet updates
Some smaller banks and credit unions have not yet built the infrastructure to let you update card details inside Apple Wallet. If you tap your expired card and see no Edit option, your issuer is one of them.
In that case, remove the card from Wallet by tapping it, scrolling down, and selecting Remove Card. Then add it again: open Wallet, tap the plus sign in the top right, choose Credit or Debit Card, and either scan the new card with your camera or enter the details by hand. You will go through the same verification process as before — your issuer will send a code to confirm.
This is a minor inconvenience, but it does not affect your actual account. Your bank still has your card on file, and removing it from Wallet does not close the account or change anything about how the card works outside the app.
How to check if your update worked
After you update your card in Wallet, the app should show the new expiration date on the card image. Open Wallet and look at the front of the card — if it now shows the correct month and year, the update went through.
The safest way to confirm is to make a small purchase with the card using Apple Pay within the next day or two. If the payment goes through without errors, your update is complete. If you see a decline or an error message, go back into Wallet, tap the card again, and check that you entered the expiration date and CVV correctly.
Why Apple Wallet flags expired cards and when it stops working
Apple Wallet disables expired cards automatically on the expiration date shown on your physical card. You cannot use an expired card for contactless payments (tapping your phone at a store), online purchases through Apple Pay, or in-app payments. The app will show a red banner or warning label on the card image.
This is a security feature. Once a card expires, the card network (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover) stops accepting transactions on that card number, even if you still have the physical card. Wallet enforces the same rule to prevent you from accidentally trying to pay with a card that will be declined.
Updating your card on other Apple devices
If you use Apple Pay on an iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac, those devices pull card information from your iPhone through iCloud. When you update your card in Wallet on your iPhone, the change syncs automatically to your other devices within a few minutes — you do not need to update each device separately.
To confirm the update reached your other devices, open Wallet on an iPad or go to System Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay on a Mac. Your card should show the new expiration date. If it does not appear after 10 minutes, sign out of iCloud on that device and sign back in to force a sync.
What to do if you receive a replacement card before your current one expires
Banks sometimes send replacement cards early — for example, if your card was compromised or if the bank is reissuing all cards on your account. If your new card arrives before your current one expires, you can add the new card to Wallet right away without removing the old one.
Open Wallet, tap the plus sign, and add the new card using the same process as adding any card. Once the new card is active in Wallet, you can delete the old one by tapping it, scrolling down, and selecting Remove Card. This way you avoid a gap where you have no card in Wallet at all.
Troubleshooting: card update fails or will not save
If you try to update your card and see an error message, or if the update appears to save but then reverts to the old expiration date, the problem is usually one of three things: your card issuer's system did not receive the verification code, your iOS version is outdated, or your card issuer's servers are temporarily down.
First, make sure you are running the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available update. Then try updating the card again. If you still see an error, wait an hour and try once more — your issuer's payment system may be undergoing maintenance.
If the problem persists, contact your card issuer directly. Tell them you are trying to update your card in Apple Wallet and ask whether they support in-wallet updates. If they do, they can check their end to see whether the verification code was sent and resend it if needed. If they do not support it, you will need to remove and re-add the card instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my card rewards or payment history if I update my card in Wallet?
No. Updating your card in Wallet only changes the expiration date and CVV in the app. Your actual bank account, card number, rewards balance, and transaction history all stay exactly the same. Wallet is just a way to store and use your card — it does not manage your account.
Can I update my card in Wallet if I am using an older iPhone?
It depends on your iPhone model and iOS version. Apple Wallet requires iOS 12.1 or later, and in-wallet card updates require iOS 13 or later on most cards. If your phone is older, update to the latest available iOS version first. If your phone cannot run a recent iOS version, you will need to remove and re-add the card instead of updating it.
What if my card issuer sends me a new card number, not just a new expiration date?
If your bank issued you a completely new card number (for example, because of fraud or a compromised account), you cannot update the old card in Wallet — you must remove it and add the new card as a separate entry. The new card will have a different card number, expiration date, and CVV, so Wallet treats it as a different card entirely.
Will updating my card in Wallet affect my recurring subscriptions or auto-pay bills?
No. Subscriptions and auto-pay bills are tied to your bank account or card number, not to Apple Wallet. Updating your card in Wallet does not change your card number or account details, so your subscriptions and recurring payments will continue without interruption. Your bank handles those separately from Wallet.
How long does it take for an updated card to work after I save the changes?
Usually a few minutes. After you enter your new expiration date, CVV, and verification code, Wallet should show the updated card when ready. However, it can take up to 15 minutes for the change to sync across Apple's servers and reach payment networks. If you want to be safe, wait 10 minutes before trying to use the card for a purchase.