Remove a card or payment method in three steps

To remove a payment method from your Apple Store account, open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, tap your name at the top, select "Payment & Shipping," find the card you want to remove, swipe left on it, and tap the red delete button. On a Mac, go to System Settings, click your name, select "Payment & Shipping," right-click the card, and choose "Remove." On a computer browser, sign into your Apple ID account page, go to "Payment & Shipping," and click the X next to the card you want to delete.

You can remove any card except the one currently set as your primary payment method. If you want to delete your only card on file, you must add a new one first and set it as primary, then go back and remove the old one. Apple will not let you leave your account with no payment method stored.

The removal takes effect when ready. You will not be charged for any past purchases, and the card will no longer appear as an option when you buy apps, make in-app purchases, or renew subscriptions.

Key Takeaways

  • You can remove a payment method through Settings on your phone, System Settings on a Mac, or your Apple ID account page on any web browser.
  • You cannot delete your primary payment method unless you first add a new card and set it as the default.
  • Removal is when ready and does not affect past purchases or refunds.
  • If you remove a card that is linked to an active subscription, that subscription will fail to renew unless you update it to a different payment method.

Steps for iPhone and iPad

Open the Settings app and tap your name at the very top of the screen. This takes you to your Apple ID page. Then tap "Payment & Shipping" — you may need to scroll down to find it under the "Media & Purchases" section.

You will see a list of all cards and payment methods on file. Find the one you want to remove, swipe your finger from right to left across it, and a red "Delete" button will appear on the right side. Tap that button. A confirmation message will ask if you are sure — tap "Delete" again to confirm.

If the card you want to remove is marked as your primary method (it will say "Primary" underneath the card number), you must add a new card first. Tap "Add Payment Method," enter a new card's details, and then set it as primary by tapping it and selecting "Use as Primary Payment Method." Only then can you go back and delete the old card.

Steps for Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older versions). Click your name in the left sidebar, then look for "Payment & Shipping" and click it.

You will see your stored payment methods. Right-click the card you want to remove and select "Remove" from the menu that appears. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

As with iPhone and iPad, you cannot remove your primary payment method without first adding and setting a new one as primary. If you need to do this, click "Add Payment Method," enter the new card details, click it to select it, and then choose "Use as Primary Payment Method" before removing the old card.

Steps on a web browser

Go to appleid.apple.com in any web browser and sign in with your Apple ID and password. You may be asked to verify your identity with a code sent to a trusted device — follow those prompts.

Once you are signed in, click "Payment & Shipping" in the left menu. You will see all your stored payment methods. Find the card you want to remove and click the X button next to it. A confirmation box will appear — click "Remove" to finish.

If the card is your primary payment method, you will see a message saying you must set a different card as primary first. Click "Add Payment Method," enter the new card details, and then click that card and select "Use as Primary Payment Method." After that, return to the payment list and remove the old card.

What happens to subscriptions when you remove a card

If you remove a card that is actively charging for a subscription — such as Apple Music, iCloud+ storage, or a magazine subscription — that subscription will fail to renew on its next billing date. You will lose access to the service unless you update the subscription to use a different payment method before the renewal date.

To prevent this, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions, find the subscription that uses the card you are about to remove, tap it, and select "Edit." Choose a different payment method from the list, or add a new one. Then you can safely remove the old card.

If a subscription renewal fails because the card no longer exists, Apple will send you a notification. You can update the payment method at that time, but the service will be paused until you do.

Removing a card when you have only one on file

Apple requires at least one payment method on your account at all times. If you have only one card stored, you cannot delete it without adding another one first.

To replace your only card, go to Payment & Shipping and select "Add Payment Method." Enter the details of the new card and confirm. Once the new card appears in your list, set it as your primary payment method. Now you can go back to the payment list, find your old card, and remove it.

This process is the same whether you are on iPhone, Mac, or a web browser — you always need a replacement card in place before you can delete the last one.

Removing a card you no longer have access to

If you want to remove a card that has expired, been cancelled, or is no longer in your possession, you can still delete it from your account the same way. You do not need the physical card or its PIN to remove it — you only need access to your Apple ID account.

If the card is your primary payment method and you no longer have it, add a new card first and set it as primary, then remove the old one. If you have trouble accessing your Apple ID account or cannot remember your password, go to iforgot.apple.com to reset it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove a card if I have an active subscription on it?

You can remove the card, but your subscription will fail to renew. Before removing it, update your subscription to use a different payment method. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions, tap the subscription, select "Edit," and choose a new payment method.

What if I forget which card is my primary payment method?

Go to Payment & Shipping and look for the card marked "Primary" underneath the card number. That is the one you cannot delete unless you add and set a new primary card first. All other cards can be removed without restriction.

Will removing a card affect past purchases or refunds?

No. Removing a card does not change any past transactions or refunds. It only prevents that card from being used for future purchases. If you are waiting for a refund, it will still be processed to the original card even after you remove it from your account.

Can I remove a card from the App Store app itself?

No. You must remove payment methods through Settings (on iPhone or iPad), System Settings (on Mac), or your Apple ID account page on a web browser. The App Store app does not have a payment management section.

What happens if I remove a card and then try to make a purchase?

If you remove your primary payment method and do not set a new one as primary first, you will not be able to make purchases until you add a new card. If you remove a secondary card, purchases will straightforward use your primary payment method instead.