Why Can’t I Add My Card to Apple Pay? 9 Ways to Fix

Linking a debit or credit card to Apple Wallet is straightforward. However, some people encounter one issue or another during the process. If you can’t add a card to Apple Wallet, we’ll explain why that happens and how to fix the issue.

Why Can’t I Add My Card to Apple Pay? 9 Ways to Fix

1. Troubleshoot Your Internet Connection

Is your Wallet app displaying a “Could Not Connect to Apple Pay. Make sure you are connected to the Internet.” error? There are several ways to troubleshoot your Apple device to ensure you have an active internet connection.

First, confirm that your device is connected to the internet. Visit any website in your browser or open your social media apps—Instagram, Facebook, etc. If these apps work without any issue, your device has an internet connection. Otherwise, follow the troubleshooting recommendations below to restore your internet connection.

If you’re using cellular/mobile data, turn it off and back on. Do the same if you’re using a wireless connection; turn Wi-Fi on and back off. Doing so refreshes your device’s network connection and could fix issues preventing Wallet from connecting to Apple Pay. We also recommend rebooting your Wi-Fi router, turning off your VPN, restarting your device, or resetting its network settings.

After reconnecting your device to the internet, try adding the credit or debit card again. Contact your cellular carrier or internet service provider if Wallet still displays internet-related error messages. You should also check the tutorials below for more troubleshooting fixes for internet issues on Apple devices:

• 15 Fixes When iOS is Connected to Wi-Fi but No Internet
• Mac Connected to Wi-Fi but No Internet Access? Try These 12 Fixes
• iPhone Cellular Data Not Working? 11 Ways to Fix

2. Delete Some Cards

The Wallet app can hold up to 12 payment cards on iPhone 8 or newer models and eight cards on iPhone 7 or earlier models. This limit applies to payment cards—i.e., credit or debit cards—and doesn’t include transit passes, identity cards, or loyalty cards. 

You can’t add a new card to Apple Pay if your device has reached its maximum card limit. To make space for another, you’ll need to delete one card. Follow the steps below to delete a card from the Wallet app.

How to Remove Payment Cards from Wallet (iPhone)

1. Open the Wallet app and select the payment card you want to delete.
2. Tap the More icon in the top corner and select Card Details.
3. Scroll down the card details page, tap Remove Card, and select Remove on the confirmation screen.

How to Remove Payment Cards from Wallet (Mac)

1. Open System Settings, select Wallet & Apple Pay in the sidebar and choose the card you want to remove.

2. Select Remove Card in the bottom corner to delete the card from Wallet.

You should now be able to add a new card to your device’s Wallet app again. If you still can’t add the card to Apple Pay, proceed to the next troubleshooting fix.

Related: Did you know you can share or transfer tickets in Apple Wallet with someone else?

3. Verify Your Card Issuer’s Country/Region

Apple Pay doesn’t work in all countries, so you can only add cards from banks or card issuers from supported countries and regions. Apple has a comprehensive list of all regions and countries that support Apple Pay. This Apple Support document also lists all Apple Pay participating banks worldwide.

Apple notes that cards from some participating banks may not work in Apple Pay. Go through the lists above and check if your card is from a participating bank or issuer in a supported country. Contact your bank if they’re an Apple Pay partner, but you can’t add their card to Apple Wallet.

4. Double-check the Card Details

Incorrect card details can trigger errors like “Card Not Added” or “Could Not Add Card” when adding a card to Apple Wallet. When adding your card, ensure you enter the correct details—i.e., card number, CVV, and expiry date.

Contact your bank or Apple Support if the “Could Not Add Card” or “Invalid Card” errors persist despite entering the correct card details.

5. Check Apple Pay Status

If you still can’t add a card to Apple Pay, there could be an issue with the payment service. Go to the Apple System Status page and check the color next to Apple Pay. A green color indicator means Apple Pay is working.

If the color indicator is yellow, you may get an “Apple Pay is temporarily unavailable” error when you try to add a card. That means there’s a problem with Apple Pay servers. You’ll need to wait until Apple fixes the server downtime (perhaps for a few hours) or contact Apple Support to report the issue.

6. Update Your Device

According to Apple, updating your device might resolve issues preventing you from adding a card to Wallet. Apple Pay works best with the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, or visionOS. If you have trouble using Apple Pay or the Wallet app, updating your device might resolve the issue. Software updates also add new features and fix glitches with Wallet and Apple Pay.

Open your device’s Settings app and head to General > Software Update to install the latest software update.

7. Reset Your Device Password

Some iPhone and iPad users successfully fixed the Apple Pay “Could Not Add Card” error by re-enabling their iPhone’s passcode. Follow the steps below to reset your passcode and re-add the card afterward.

1. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode). Enter your current passcode to continue.

2. On the Face ID & Passcode menu, tap Turn Passcode Off.

Note: Disabling the passcode will remove all payment cards from Apple Pay. You have to manually re-add the cards after turning off your device passcode.

3. Click Turn Off on the confirmation pop-up to proceed.

4. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off in the top-right corner.

5. Finally, re-enter your current password.

6. Go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and select Add Card.

7. You’ll get a prompt to set up Face ID and Passcode. Tap Set Up Face ID & Passcode to continue.

8. Scroll through the page and select Turn Passcode On.

9. Enter your preferred passcode and type it again for verification purposes.

10. Type your Apple ID password and click Sign In.

You should now be able to add your card to Apple Pay without issues. Otherwise, try the next troubleshooting suggestion below.

8. Restart Your Device

Still can’t add a card to Apple Pay? Power-cycling your device could help set things straight. Be it your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac, shut it down and power it back on. Try adding the card again to your device and see if you strike gold this time.

9. Use a Supported Card

“Your Issuer Does Not Yet Offer Support for This Card” is another common Apple Pay error. If you’re getting this error, it’s likely because your bank or card issuer doesn’t support Apple Pay.  In this case, doing as the error message instructs—contact the card issuer or bank—is the best course of action. Confirm that the card you’re trying to add supports Apple Pay. If it doesn’t, get a different card that works with Apple Wallet.

Pro Tip: Tap Learn More on the error message for a list of banks whose cards support Apple Pay in your country.

FAQs

How Can I Verify a Card in Apple Wallet?

Your bank or card issuer handles card verification in Apple Wallet. After you provide accurate card details, your bank or card issuer should automatically verify your credit or debit card. However, some banks might request additional information to verify your identity before adding your card to Apple Wallet. You might also get an option to contact your card issuer to manually verify your card for use with Apple Pay.

Typically, these institutions send a verification code to the email address or phone number linked to your bank account. Providing the correct code verifies your card and adds it to Wallet.

How Long Should It Take to Verify a Card on Apple Wallet?

After providing your card details in the Wallet app, your bank or card issuer verifies the card information before approving it for use with Apple Pay. The verification process happens almost instantly in a few seconds—sometimes minutes. Wallet app will display a notification when your card is ready for use with Apple Pay. Contact your card issuer if you get error messages like “Verification Not Available” or “Too Many Codes Requested.”

Pay With Apple: Final Note

It’s also worth mentioning that you can’t add an expired or blocked card to Apple Pay. Contact your bank to confirm that your card is not restricted or limited. You could also try indirectly adding the card from your bank app if it supports the feature. Reset your device’s settings as a last resort if the same issue or error persists.