The quickest way to stop accepting payments
To turn off payment acceptance on Apple Pay, open the Wallet app on your iPhone or iPad, tap the three dots or settings icon next to the card you use to receive money, and select the option to turn off or disable that card for payments. The exact wording depends on your iOS version — it may say "Turn Off" or "Disable for Payments" — but the result is the same: that card will no longer accept incoming payments from other people.
If you want to stop accepting payments entirely rather than just for one card, you can remove the card from Wallet altogether. This is the most complete way to opt out, since a card that is not in Wallet cannot receive payments under any circumstances.
The process takes about 30 seconds and does not affect your ability to send money or make purchases with that card elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- Open Wallet, find the card you use to receive payments, tap the menu icon, and select the option to turn off or disable that card for incoming payments.
- Turning off payment acceptance on a card does not delete the card from Wallet or affect your ability to use it to send money or pay for things.
- Removing a card from Wallet entirely is the most complete way to stop accepting payments, since cards not in Wallet cannot receive money at all.
- You can turn payment acceptance back on at any time by returning to the same menu and selecting the enable or turn on option.
Where to find the payment settings in Wallet
Start by opening the Wallet app — the icon looks like a leather wallet and is usually on your home screen. If you cannot find it, swipe down from the top of your screen and search for "Wallet" in the search box.
Once Wallet is open, look for the card you use to receive payments. If you have multiple cards, you may need to scroll to find it. Tap and hold on the card, or look for a three-dot menu icon (⋯) or gear icon in the corner of the card. Tap that icon to open the card's settings.
From the menu that appears, look for an option that says "Turn Off," "Disable," "Disable for Payments," or "Payment Settings." The exact wording varies by iOS version, but the function is always the same — it controls whether that card can receive money from other people.
What happens when you turn off payment acceptance
When you disable a card for payments, that card stays in your Wallet. You can still use it to send money to other people, and you can still use it to pay for purchases in stores or online. The only thing that changes is that other people can no longer send you money using that card.
If someone tries to send you money after you have turned off payment acceptance, the payment will fail or they will see an error message telling them that card cannot receive payments. They will not be able to complete the transaction.
You can turn payment acceptance back on at any time by going back to the same menu and selecting the option to enable or turn on the card for payments. There is no waiting period or re-verification required.
Removing a card from Wallet entirely
If you want to stop accepting payments completely and do not want to use that card in Wallet for any purpose, you can delete the card from Wallet altogether. To do this, open Wallet, tap and hold the card you want to remove, and look for a "Remove" or "Delete" option. Confirm the removal when prompted.
Once a card is removed from Wallet, it cannot receive payments, and it will not appear in your Wallet app. You can still use that card to pay for things in the physical world — the card itself is not deleted, only removed from the app.
If you change your mind later, you can add the card back to Wallet by opening the app, tapping the plus icon, and following the steps to add a new card. You will need to enter the card details again, but the process is straightforward.
Why you might want to turn off payment acceptance
Some people turn off payment acceptance because they do not want to receive money from others, or because they use Apple Pay primarily to send money and make purchases rather than to receive it. Others disable it temporarily while they troubleshoot a problem or while they are not actively using that payment method.
Turning off payment acceptance is also useful if you share your device with family members and want to prevent accidental payments or unwanted transactions on a particular card. It gives you more control over which cards can be used for which purposes.
There is no penalty for turning payment acceptance off, and you can change your mind at any time without contacting Apple or your bank.
If you cannot find the payment settings
If you open Wallet and do not see a menu icon or settings option on your card, your iOS version may be older or the card may not support payment acceptance. Check that you are running the latest version of iOS by going to Settings, then General, then Software Update.
If you have updated iOS and still cannot find the settings, the card itself may not be set up to receive payments. Some cards — particularly debit cards from certain banks or prepaid cards — do not support incoming payments through Apple Pay. In that case, you would not be able to turn off payment acceptance because it was never turned on.
If you are unsure whether your card supports payments, contact your bank directly. They can tell you whether the card is set up for Apple Pay payments and help you troubleshoot if something is not working as expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off payment acceptance delete my card from Wallet?
No. Turning off payment acceptance keeps the card in Wallet but prevents it from receiving money. The card remains available for sending payments and making purchases. To remove the card entirely, you would need to delete it separately.
Can I turn payment acceptance back on after turning it off?
Yes. Open Wallet, tap the menu icon on the card, and select the option to turn on or enable payments. There is no waiting period or re-verification required, and you can do this as many times as you want.
What if I turn off payment acceptance but someone sends me money anyway?
The payment will fail, and the sender will see an error message. The money will not be transferred to your account. They may be able to try again with a different card or payment method.
Does turning off payment acceptance affect my credit or bank account?
No. Disabling payment acceptance is a setting in the Wallet app only. It does not change anything about your bank account, credit score, or relationship with your bank. Your card continues to work normally for all other purposes.
Can I turn off payment acceptance on just one card if I have multiple cards in Wallet?
Yes. Each card in Wallet has its own settings. You can turn off payment acceptance on one card while leaving it on for another card, or turn it off for all cards. The settings are independent for each card.