Apple Pay Not Working? Troubleshooting Guide

If your Apple Pay test failed or you're having trouble getting Apple Pay to work, this guide will help you diagnose and fix the most common issues.

Quick Checklist

Before diving into specific problems, verify these basic requirements:

• You're using Safari browser (not Chrome, Firefox, or other browsers)
• You have an Apple device (iPhone, iPad, or Mac with Touch ID)
• Apple Pay is set up on your device
• At least one card is added to Apple Wallet
• Your device software is up to date

Common Problems and Solutions

1. "Browser not supported" or Apple Pay button doesn't appear

Problem: You see a message that your browser isn't supported, or the Apple Pay button never shows up.

Solution:

• Switch to Safari browser - Apple Pay only works in Safari on Apple devices
• If you're on Safari and still see this, update to the latest version of Safari
• Check that you're not in Private Browsing mode (Apple Pay may not work in private mode)
• Clear your browser cache and cookies, then refresh the page

2. "Apple Pay not set up" or "Device not supported"

Problem: You're on Safari but Apple Pay still won't activate.

Solution:

1. Open the Wallet app on your device
2. Tap the "+" button to add a card
3. Follow the prompts to add a credit or debit card
4. Verify your card with your bank if required
5. Return to the test page and try again

3. Payment declined by your bank

Problem: You get through the authentication but the payment is declined.

Solution:

• Contact your card issuer - they may have flagged the transaction as suspicious
• Check that your card is activated and not expired
• Verify you have sufficient funds
• Some cards don't support Apple Pay - contact your bank to confirm
• Try removing and re-adding the card to Apple Wallet

4. Card expired or invalid

Problem: You see an error about an expired or invalid card.

Solution:

• Check the expiration date on your physical card
• If expired, add your new card to Apple Wallet
• Remove the old card from Wallet: open Wallet app, tap the card, scroll down and tap "Remove Card"

5. Face ID / Touch ID not working

Problem: Authentication fails when you try to authorize the payment.

Solution:

• Make sure Face ID or Touch ID is set up in Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode)
• Clean your camera (for Face ID) or Touch ID sensor
• Try using your device passcode instead by selecting that option
• Restart your device and try again

6. Connection or network errors

Problem: Payment fails with a network or connection error.

Solution:

• Check your internet connection (try loading other websites)
• Switch between WiFi and cellular data
• Disable VPN if you're using one
• Check Apple's system status page to see if Apple Pay services are down

Advanced Troubleshooting

Reset Apple Pay

If nothing else works, try completely resetting Apple Pay:

1. Open Settings on your device
2. Go to Wallet & Apple Pay
3. Remove all cards by tapping each one and selecting "Remove Card"
4. Restart your device
5. Add your cards back to Wallet
6. Try the test again

Check device compatibility

Apple Pay requires:

• iPhone: iPhone 6 or later with iOS 12.5 or later
• iPad: iPad Air 2 or later, iPad mini 3 or later with iPadOS 12.5 or later
• Mac: Mac with Touch ID running macOS Sierra or later

Regional restrictions

Make sure Apple Pay is available in your country and that your card issuer supports it. Not all banks and card types work with Apple Pay in all regions.

Still having issues?

If you've tried everything on this page and Apple Pay still isn't working:

• Contact Apple Support for device-specific issues
• Contact your bank or card issuer for payment problems
• Visit an Apple Store for in-person diagnostics

Remember, the most common issue is simply using the wrong browser. Apple Pay only works in Safari on Apple devices!