How to use Apple Pay on your iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad

I love using Apple Pay to buy things, but often, when I use my iPhone at a coffee shop or in a coffee shop, I hear someone nearby: “I didn’t know you could!” When I just bought a new iPhone with my father-in-law, he was surprised to learn that I could use my iPhone to make purchases and said “You have to show me how to set it up!”

So I will do it.

Apple Pay has been around since 2015 and it lets you buy things by tapping your iPhone at a payment station. These stations are ubiquitous: Coffee shops, gas stations, retailers, and even some public transit lines. You do not need to withdraw your credit card. It’s even a great backup if you accidentally leave your wallet in the car. And all you need is an iPhone 6 or later.

There’s also a privacy benefit to using Apple Pay. Apple doesn’t track your transactions or tie them to you, and it doesn’t share your credit or debit card numbers with merchants when you make purchases. So if a retailer is hacked and a thief gets a bunch of credit card data used to make purchases there, your card number won’t be taken if you used Apple Pay.

It is supported by banks and credit cards around the world, so chances are you already own a credit card or have an account at a bank that uses it.

Additionally, you can use Apple Pay on other Apple devices like a Mac or iPad to make purchases on websites if you use Safari. Once set up on your phone, simply enter the 3-digit or 4-digit CCV number on the back of your card to use on your Apple Watch, iPad, or Mac.

By the way, don’t confuse Apple Pay with Apple Card, which is a separate type of credit card that you can sign up for and use. Apple Pay is a system that allows you to make purchases with a card you already have, while Apple Card is just a separate credit card option. The two work together, but you don’t need an Apple Card to use Apple Pay.

The iPhone is the best starting point for using Apple Pay, as it’s the device you’ll use to tap and pay at retailers around the world. To begin:

• Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
• Tap the “+” button at the top right to add a tag.
• Click “Continue”.
• Grab the credit or debit card you want to link to Apple Pay.
• Position your iPhone’s camera to focus on the card number (it’s on the front or back).
• Your iPhone will take the card number listed on your card.
• Confirm the details are correct and click “Next”.
• Enter the 3-digit or 4-digit CVV number on your card (usually found on the back).
• Click “Next”.
• Agree to your bank or credit card’s terms of service.
• Repeat these steps to add additional tags.

You should now see the card in the Wallet app on your iPhone.

Now that you’ve set up Apple Pay on your iPhone, it’s time to use it. If you walk into a store that accepts mobile payments, you’ll see logos that indicate whether Apple Pay is accepted. (Pro tip: some stores display cards they accept, even Apple Pay, with stickers on their front doors.)

You are looking for the following icons:

Here’s what to do when you’re ready to buy something:

• If you have a newer iPhone with Face ID (like iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, or iPhone 11 Pro Max), just double-tap the power button on the side of the phone and Your card will appear.
• If you have a phone with a home button, open the Wallet app and show the card, then hold your finger on Touch ID (on the home button) to verify yourself.
• Bring your iPhone close to the contactless terminal.

I’ve noticed most retailers are happy to help if you get stuck. Even if you don’t see a sign, you can always ask if they accept Apple Pay. You might be surprised how many retailers (especially in the US) accept it.

After you set up Apple Pay on your iPhone, you can also add a card to your Apple Watch to use it to make purchases. Here’s what to do:

• Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
• Select “Wallet & Apple Pay”.
• Select “Add Card”
• Click “Continue”.
• Choose one of the cards you want to use on your Apple Watch (and the one you set up on your iPhone.)
• Verify the 3-digit or 4-digit CCV code.
• Agree to the terms.

Now you can use your Apple Watch or your iPhone to buy things for which Apple Pay is accepted. Just do this:

• Double-tap the power button (not the digital knob) on the side of your Apple Watch.
• Your card will appear. Swipe to select the one you want.
• Hold your Apple Watch near a reader in a store to buy something.

Apple Pay not only works in the real world, but it also works with the Safari web browser and Mac apps, so you can use it to make online purchases. All you need is a Mac with a Touch ID fingerprint reader or model introduced after 2012 and an iPhone or Apple Watch set up with Apple Pay. You can add tags on your Mac by doing the following:

• Open System Preferences from the top left menu.
• Select “Wallet & Apple Pay”.
• Select “Add Card”.
• Select one of the cards you’ve set up on your iPhone and confirm the CCV (or enter a new one.)
• Agree to the terms.

When you pay on a site that accepts Apple Pay, just select that option and choose the card you want to use. You’ll verify yourself using the fingerprint reader on your Mac or using your Apple Watch or iPhone. Simply double-tap the side button on iPhone X and later with Face ID, tap the Touch ID home button on iPhone 8 and below, or double-tap the Apple Watch side button to confirm.

You can also use Apple Pay in Safari and in apps on iPad, just like you can on a Mac. To add tags on iPad, do the following:

• Open settings.
• Tap “Wallet and Apple Pay”.
• Tap “Add Card”.
• Position your iPhone’s camera to focus on the card number (it’s on the front or back.)
• Your iPhone will take the card number listed on your card.
• Confirm the details are correct and click “Next”.
• Enter the 3-digit or 4-digit CVV number on your card (usually found on the back.)
• Click “Next”.
• Agree to your bank or credit card’s terms of service.
• Repeat these steps to add additional tags.

That’s it! You’ve now learned how to use Apple Pay on your iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, and iPad.