Apple Pay is a method of payment that is a very convenient and secure way of payment in the current times. You can pay your bills, including food, clothes, and other purchases, with a single tap of your iPhone or Apple Watch, and you do not even have to fish out your wallet. However, what about the event when the functionality of Apple Pay fails suddenly? You are at the checkout, tap ready and nothing occurs. Frustrating, right?
It has also happened to me that my Apple Pay is not functioning. You are not alone, though. This problem is encountered by many users occasionally and in most cases, it is easily fixable. In this guide, we are going to take you through the reasons why Apple Pay is not functioning, the frequent failures and step-by-step measures to ensure that it is functioning once more.
Learning How Apple Pay Works.
Prior to troubleshooting, it is useful to know the actual functioning of Apple Pay.
Apple Pay employs Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in carrying out contactless payments. You can use NFC to transfer money or make a payment when you bring your iPhone or Apple Watch to a payment terminal and the NFC chip will speak with the payment terminal, and then your payment will be processed safely.
No transmission of your card information takes place. Rather, Apple Pay uses a special encrypted token (a Device Account Number) on every transaction, which leaves your card information confidential and secure.
Due to the fact that this system is based on several elements, which are software, NFC hardware, your bank, and the payment terminal of the merchant, any issue in one of the elements of this chain can cause Apple Pay to crash in the short term.
These are the typical causes of failure of Apple Pay.
When your Apple Pay is not working, it normally turns out to be one of the following:
NFC Reader Problems
In other cases, it is not necessarily your gadget. The terminal of payment at the store may not be functioning as expected or it may not accept Apple Pay. When other payments without contact also fail, then that is an indication that the reader is the criminal.
Software Glitches
Apple Pay can malfunction due to old versions of iOS or interim software bugs. It can be simply fixed by a simple restart.
Card Verification Issues
Apple Pay will not take payment when your bank card has not been properly checked or it has expired recently.
Weak Internet Connection (to make Online Payments)
You do not need the internet to make in-store payments over NFC, however, you need it to make online or in-app purchases. The poor Wi-Fi or mobile data may lead to the failure of your payment.
Wallet App Errors
There are times when Apple Pay crashes or freezes simply because there is a glitch with the Wallet app itself. This is normally addressed by removing and re-adding your card.
Security Restrictions
When you just changed the password in the Apple ID, are out of the iCloud, or tried to reset Face ID or Touch ID, the Apple Pay will not allow paying until a reauthentication.
Hardware Problems
In case the NFC chip of your iPhone is broken, Apple Pay will not be compatible in shops. It may occur following a spillage or computer failure.
Fix Apple Pay Not Working (Step-by-Step Solutions).
We will discuss the best resolutions to restart Apple Pay:
Appearances: Does the Store Accept Apple Pay?
You can ensure that your phone is compatible with Apple Pay by the store itself before troubleshooting it. Find the symbol of contactless payment on the terminal or Apple Pay. Ask the cashier in case you are not sure.
Reboot Your iPhones or Apple Watches.
Temporary bugs that prevent the functioning of Apple Pay can be resolved by a mere restart.
On iPhone:
- Â Hold the side button and the volume button then use the touch to turn off. Wait a few seconds and switch it on again.
- On Apple Watch: Hold the side button and then drag the power slider.
- Restart and again make a payment.
Update Your Device Software
- Software: The operation of Apple Pay may be disrupted by outdated software.
- Open the menu General, and Software Update.
- Tap Download and Install in case it is updated.
- Once you are up to date, rest your device and retest Apple Pay.
Check Your Card Setup
It is possible that your card expired or was taken off. To verify:
- Open the Wallet app.
- Choose the card that you are attempting to use.
- Search for such warnings as Card Not Available or Needs Verification.
In case of necessity, reverify / delete and re-add the card:
- Tap the card, select Removal Card and then tap the + icon to add the card again.
Face ID or Touch ID Should Be Enabled.
Apple Pay is based on the concept of biometric authentication. Payments are not possible provided you have either disabled Face ID or Touch ID.
- Tap on Settings Face ID and Passcode (or Touch ID and Passcode).
- Make sure that Wallet and Apple Pay are on.
Check Apple Pay Settings
Not always, settings can be changed by chance.
- Open the Settings, Wallet and Apple Pay.
- Make sure that Double-Click Side Button has been switched on (to open quickly).
- Make sure that you have selected a default card.
Try a Different Terminal
In case the reader of the cashier fails, request him to see whether he can use another payment terminal. There could be more than one NFC reader in a particular store and one of them could not be functional.
Reset Network Settings
Online Apple Pay is vulnerable to network-related bugs. These settings could be reset:
- Open and touch Settings/General/Transfer or Reset iPhone /Reset/ Reset Network Settings.
- Press your code, and continue booting your phone.
This will not destroy your data, however saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords will be deleted.
Sign out and Sign in to your apple ID.
In case you have a problem with syncing your Apple account, sign out of it and it will refresh.
- Click on the settings menu then Sign out [Your Name].
- Wait one, and then sign in again.
- Check and reopen Wallet and check whether Apple Pay works.
Contact Your Bank
In case you think that everything is okay on your device, your card issuer may be blocking transactions. Dial the back of your card number, and inquire whether they accept Apple Pay or not or are restricted.
Check for Hardware Issues
When Apple Pay is on the internet but not in brick-and-mortar businesses, then your NFC chip is the issue. It can be tested by simply trying another NFC feature such as scanning tags or other payment apps. And then, even after that has failed, call Apple Support and have them check the hardware.
Troubleshooting Apple Pay on Apple Watch
In case of failure in using Apple Pay on your Apple Watch:
- Ensure that the watch is unlocked and placed on your wrist.
- Ensure that you have added the card directly to your Watch app (cards do not automatically sync with iphone).
- Re-boot your iPhone and watch.
In case it still cannot, delete and re-insert the card in the Watch app.
How to fix Apple Pay when it stops working in applications or the Internet.
In case Apple Pay is not working when you are making a purchase in Safari or within an app, the first thing to check is:
- Compatible Browser: Apple Pay can only be used in Safari, not Firefox and Chrome.
- Internet Connection: It is necessary to be connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.
- California: Apple Pay should be available in your country and region.
- Website Compatibility: Not every online store takes Apple Pay; the Apple Pay logo should be there at checkout.
Avoid Apple Pay Issues in Future.
The best practices to prevent future Apple Pay problems include:
- Upgrade your device on a regular basis.
- Ensure that your Wallet app is well organised – delete out of date cards.
- Make your iClouds and Apple IDs the same.
- It is advisable not to use VPNs or proxies to make internet payments.
You should shift your iPhone off every now and then in order to clear up background processes.
What to do when needing Apple help.
When all these efforts are in vain, the last resort is to contact Apple Support. You may go to an Apple Store, use the Apple Support application or communicate with them over the internet. Fix the problem step by step – either Apple Pay is not working at all or only with specific merchants – and they would be able to perform diagnostics on your device.
FAQs
Why is my Apple Pay declining?
 The transaction may have been blocked by your bank or your card may be expired or unverified. Try removing and re-adding it.
Is Apple Pay internet based?
 Not to pay in-store using NFC, but online and in-app purchases, yes.
Why is Apple Pay not working? iOS update?
 Software updates have a tendency of resetting settings. Turn on the Apple Pay and Face I.D. in your device settings.
Will Apple Pay stop functioning once my card has expired?
 Yes. You will have to replace your wallet information.
Is Apple Pay safe to use?
 Absolutely. All Apple Pay transactions are encrypted and merchants will not see your real card number.
Why does my Apple Watch not accept Apple Pay yet it is configured?
 Cards added to the Watch are not transferred automatically to your iPhone, you have to add them in the Watch app.
Is broken NFC hardware a barrier to Apple Pay?
 Yes. In-store payments are not possible in case your NFC chip is broken. You’ll require Apple repair services.
In situations where Apple Pay fails, the process can seem like a big inconvenience particularly when you have gotten accustomed to the speed and ease of the payment system. The problem is small and can be solved with ease in most cases. Be it a software malfunction, a card malfunction, or a malfunction of the payment terminal, a few simple troubleshooting steps normally get the situation back on track.
The most simple things are first: restart your device, update it, and check your card information. Make sure that does not work, and then consider more profound solutions such as reconfiguring network settings or re-adding your cards. And in the last resort, Apple Help or your bank will come to the rescue.
Apple Pay is by far one of the safest and legit payment systems in the universe – and it does go hiccuping every now and then, which is nonetheless assured, best close the deal with a few taps.