Where to find and change your payment method

Open PayPal on a web browser or the mobile app and go to your account settings. On the website, click the gear icon in the top right corner and select Wallet from the menu. On the app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, then tap Wallet. This is where PayPal stores all the payment methods linked to your account — debit cards, credit cards, and bank accounts.

The Wallet page shows every payment method you have added. Next to each one, you will see options to edit, remove, or set it as your primary method. Your primary method is what PayPal uses by default when you send money or make a purchase, unless you choose a different one at checkout.

Key Takeaways

  • Your payment methods live in the Wallet section of your account settings, accessible from the gear icon on the website or the menu in the app.
  • You can add a new payment method without removing the old one, and switch between them at checkout or set a new primary method.
  • Debit and credit cards usually confirm when ready, but bank accounts require PayPal to deposit two small amounts to your account, which takes three to five business days.
  • If you remove a payment method, any subscriptions or recurring payments tied to it will fail unless you update them separately.

Adding a new payment method

Click the Link a card or bank account button in your Wallet. PayPal will ask whether you want to add a debit card, credit card, or bank account. Enter the full card number and expiration date for a card, or your routing number and account number for a bank account. PayPal will also ask for the billing address associated with that card or account.

For a debit or credit card, PayPal usually confirms it within seconds. For a bank account, PayPal deposits two small amounts (usually under one dollar each) into that account. You then log into your bank and tell PayPal what those amounts were. This process takes three to five business days. Until you confirm those amounts, you cannot use that bank account to send money, though you can still receive payments into it.

Changing which method PayPal uses by default

In your Wallet, find the payment method you want to use most often. Click or tap the three dots next to it and select Set as primary. From that point forward, when you send money or make a purchase, PayPal will offer this method first at checkout. You can still choose a different method at the moment of payment if you want to.

If you do not set a primary method, PayPal will use whichever payment method you used most recently. Changing your primary method does not affect any existing subscriptions or automatic payments — those continue to draw from whatever method you assigned to them when you set them up.

Removing a payment method you no longer use

In your Wallet, find the method you want to remove. Click or tap the three dots next to it and select Remove. PayPal will ask you to confirm. Once removed, you cannot use that method to send money or make purchases, and PayPal will not store your card or account information anymore.

Before you remove a payment method, check whether any subscriptions or recurring payments are tied to it. If they are, those payments will fail on their next due date. To prevent that, update the subscription or recurring payment to use a different method first. You can find these in your account settings under Subscriptions and payments or Automatic payments, depending on what you set up.

Updating payment methods for subscriptions and recurring charges

If you pay for a subscription or send regular money to the same person, that payment is tied to a specific payment method. Changing your primary method does not change where that money comes from. To update it, go to Subscriptions and payments in your account settings (on the website) or find the subscription in your app menu, then select the subscription or payment and choose Update payment method.

PayPal will show you which method is currently being used and let you pick a different one from your Wallet. Make this change before the next payment is due. If a payment fails because the linked method no longer exists or is expired, PayPal will try again a few days later, but if it fails twice, the subscription or payment will stop.

What happens if your card expires or your bank account closes

If a card in your Wallet expires, PayPal will mark it as expired but will not remove it automatically. You can still see it in your Wallet, but you cannot use it to send money or make purchases. If you want to use an updated card from the same bank, add it as a new payment method rather than trying to edit the expired one.

If a bank account closes, PayPal does not know when ready. The next time a payment tries to draw from that account, it will fail. If this happens to a subscription or recurring payment, update it to a different method as soon as you can. For one-time payments, you will straightforward see an error at checkout and can choose a different method right then.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same card or bank account on multiple PayPal accounts?

Yes. A single card or bank account can be linked to more than one PayPal account. Each account stores it separately in its own Wallet. If you remove it from one account, it remains linked to the others.

Why does PayPal ask for a billing address when I add a card?

PayPal uses the billing address to verify that you are the cardholder. It also helps prevent fraud. The address must match what your card issuer has on file, though it does not have to be your current home address.

What if I want to pay with a different method each time instead of setting a primary one?

You can. At checkout, PayPal shows all your linked payment methods. Click or tap the one you want to use for that specific transaction. It will not become your primary method — PayPal will still use your primary method next time unless you choose differently again.

How long does it take to remove a payment method?

Removal is when ready. Once you confirm the deletion, the method disappears from your Wallet when ready and cannot be used for new payments. However, if a recurring payment or subscription is still tied to it, that will not update automatically.