If you are trying to change your payment method for your Apple ID or App Store/iTunes purchases and running into issues, there are a few common reasons why you may be unable to make changes:
Your account is locked for security reasons
Apple may temporarily lock your account if there have been failed payment attempts or suspicious activity. This is done to protect your account and prevent fraudulent purchases. If your account is locked, you’ll need to contact Apple Support to unlock it before you can change your payment method. This usually involves verifying your identity.
Your card details are out of date or invalid
If the card you have on file has expired or has invalid card details, Apple will not be able to charge it and you’ll be unable to change your payment method. Check that the card details you are entering are valid and up to date. You may need to contact your bank or card issuer if your card has been replaced or reissued.
Your payment method is managed by Family Sharing
If you are part of a Family Sharing group, the account Organizer controls the payment method used for purchases. Family members cannot change the payment method directly. You will need to contact the Organizer to change the shared payment method.
Your subscription is still active
For some subscriptions and services like Apple Music or iCloud storage, you cannot change your payment method while the subscription is still active. You’ll need to turn off auto-renew, wait for the current subscription period to end, then change your payment method. Don’t cancel the subscription unless you want it to end.
Your country or region doesn’t support the payment method
Apple only supports certain payment methods depending on your country or region of App Store access. For example, PayPal may only be available in certain areas. If your desired payment method is unsupported for your location, you won’t be able to add or change to it.
There’s a temporary issue with Apple services
In rare cases, there may be an outage or temporary problem affecting Apple services like the App Store, iTunes, or Apple ID management that prevents payment method changes. Try again later or check Apple’s system status page.
Your Apple ID balance is preventing changes
If you have an Apple ID balance from gift cards, promo codes, or refunds, Apple may require you to use up your balance before changing payment methods. Try using your Apple ID balance to make purchases first.
How to change your iPhone payment method
If you aren’t encountering any of these issues, here are the steps to change your payment method:
For your Apple ID
- Open Settings on your iPhone
- Tap your Apple ID banner at the top of the screen
- Tap Payment & Shipping
- Tap Add Payment Method
- Choose a payment method and enter the details
For App Store/iTunes purchases
- Open App Store app
- Tap your profile icon in the top right
- Scroll down and tap Payment Method
- Tap Add Payment Method
- Enter your card or payment details
For subscriptions
- Open the App Store app
- Tap your profile icon in the top right
- Scroll down and tap Subscriptions
- Tap the subscription you want to change
- Turn off Auto-Renew
- When the subscription expires, change your payment method
- Turn Auto-Renew back on
This will change your payment method once the current subscription term ends. You can also cancel the subscription if you don’t want to renew it going forward.
Why can I only use my Apple ID balance for some purchases?
If you have an Apple ID balance, Apple will by default use your balance for purchases and subscriptions before charging your payment method on file. However, certain types of purchases may not be eligible to use your Apple ID balance:
- Purchasing Apple hardware like iPhones, iPads, Macs
- Purchasing AppleCare+ coverage plans
- Adding money to your Apple ID balance
- Ordering customized or engraved products
- Subscriptions to some third-party services
For these types of purchases, you’ll need to use a credit/debit card, PayPal, or other supported payment method charged to your account.
Can I manage my Apple ID payment methods online?
Yes, you can manage your Apple ID payment methods through the Apple ID account management website at https://appleid.apple.com. This allows you to add, remove, or change your payment methods for your Apple ID from any browser.
To change your Apple ID payment method online:
- Go to the Apple ID management site
- Click on “Payment & Shipping”
- Click “Add Payment Method”
- Enter a new credit/debit card or PayPal account
- The new payment method will be charged for Apple purchases
Why do I need to use two-factor authentication to change payment methods?
Apple requires you to have two-factor authentication enabled on your Apple ID before you can add, update, or remove payment methods from your account. This is an important security measure to prevent unauthorized access.
With two-factor authentication, you need to input your password plus a six-digit verification code generated on a trusted device or sent to a trusted phone number. This ensures that even if someone knows your Apple ID password, they cannot change your payment methods without access to your trusted device or phone number.
If you do not already have two-factor authentication set up, you will be prompted to enable it when trying to edit payment methods. It only takes a few minutes to set up if you follow the on-screen instructions.
Can I have multiple payment methods for Apple purchases?
Yes, you can have multiple valid payment methods associated with your Apple ID account and on your iPhone. This includes:
- Multiple credit/debit cards
- Multiple PayPal accounts
- Credit/debit cards and PayPal combined
- Bank accounts / debit cards for certain countries
To manage multiple methods, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Payment & Shipping. You can add new methods, remove unused ones, and select the default for purchases.
Should I use my Apple ID balance before another payment method?
In most cases, yes – you should deplete your Apple ID balance for purchases and subscriptions before Apple charges another payment method on your account. An Apple ID balance can come from:
- Adding iTunes / App Store gift cards
- Promo code credits for apps or media
- Refunds for returns and purchase reversals
The advantage of using your Apple ID balance is that you get to redeem gift cards, credits, and refunds without having to spend additional cash. Apple also gives your Apple ID balance priority by default when making purchases. Just be aware of restrictions on balance usage.
Does changing payment methods affect pending purchases?
If you have pending transactions, subscriptions, or app downloads in progress and change your payment method, it should not impact them being completed. Apple will process the pending transactions using the previous payment method on file.
However, any new purchases started after you change payment methods will bill your new default payment method. So changing methods does not retroactively affect pending items, only future purchases.
Can I have different payment methods for iTunes vs. iCloud?
Your Apple ID uses the same associated payment methods for all types of purchases – you cannot assign different payment methods for iTunes/App Store vs. iCloud storage subscriptions, for example.
The one exception is if you are part of a Family Sharing group. The Organizer can control which payment method is used for each individual member’s iCloud storage plan.
Other than that, your payment method on file will be charged for all Apple services including apps, media, iCloud, Apple One bundles, etc.
How do I know if my new payment method worked?
After changing or adding a payment method for your Apple ID, verify that the new payment method is successfully associated and working by:
- Making a small App Store purchase (like a 99c app download)
- Checking that the charge appears on the new payment card or method
- Checking your receipt to confirm the last 4 digits of the card charged
You can also view your payment methods at any time and see which one is set as the default by going to Settings > [your name] > Payment & Shipping.
Troubleshooting unable to change payment method
If you are still unable to change your payment method after reviewing the possible reasons covered in this article, here are some troubleshooting steps:
- Contact Apple Support to identify any account restrictions or blocks on payment changes
- Check service status at apple.com/support/systemstatus for any issues
- Update your software to the latest iOS/iPadOS version
- Change payment method on another device like a computer
- Remove all payment methods and re-add your desired one
In most cases, Apple Support can help identify and resolve the underlying issue preventing you from changing payment methods. Contact them for personalized troubleshooting assistance.
Conclusion
While it can be frustrating if you run into errors changing your default payment method, in most cases the issue can be identified and resolved quickly. The most common reasons relate to security locks, expired cards, system issues, account restrictions, or confusion over Family Sharing. Contact Apple Support if you cannot determine the cause. With the proper payment method added, you can conveniently make purchases across Apple services.
