Apple Pay is one of the most popular digital payment services in the world, allowing users to buy things in iOS apps, the web, and in real life. You can use it to pay with your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac, and it's accepted by thousands and thousands of retailers. The cool thing about Apple Pay is that it actually digitizes debit/credit card chips, giving people the option to make contactless payments. All you have to do is bring your phone or watch closer to the terminal.
However, you can't do any of that until you set up Apple Pay on your device. Here's how to do just that.
How to set up Apple Pay on an iPhone
Apple Pay was originally conceived as a mobile-only platform, so setting it up on your iPhone will help you with all the other devices you have. To set up Apple Pay on your phone, add a debit or credit card to the Wallet app.
1. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone. Look for a colorful wallet icon or search through your phone's contents to find it.
2. Tap the Add Card button. You may be asked to sign in with your Apple ID, so do so.
3. Select the card. The app will ask you what type of card you are entering, so click Debit or Credit.
4. Enter the card information. You can do this manually or by positioning the card so that it appears in the camera frame. This allows the phone to take a photo of the card.
5. You can also click Previous Cards. By clicking Previous Cards, you'll be able to choose any cards you've used in the past to add to Apple Pay. You'll get a list of potential cards through purchases made with your Apple ID and Safari AutoFill. Once you tap a card, authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID.
6. Consider other options. Apple Pay also lets you enter driver's licenses, state IDs, and transit cards.
7. Ends. Once finished, head to Settings to make final adjustments. Tap your preferred option for how you want your card to appear. You can make cards appear on the screen when you double-click the side button or the home button.
8. That's all. Now you can buy things by opening a digital replica of your card.
How to set up Apple Pay on an Apple Watch
Apple Watch integrates with Apple Pay to offer an incredibly convenient payment option since you don't even need your phone nearby. Below we explain how to configure your smart watch.
1. Take your phone. This process is faster if you already have a card entered into your iPhone, but we'll walk you through both procedures.
2. Head to the Watch app. If you already have a card stored, open the Watch app. Tap My Watch, then Wallet & Apple Pay.
3. You should see a list of available cards. Tap Add next to the card you want and then enter the CVV, which is the number on the back. That's all. You should be able to use your watch to make payments.
4. Open the Wallet app on your watch. If you manually enter a card on the real watch, start by opening the Wallet app. Tap the More options button and then Add card.
5. Enter the card details. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter your various card details.
6. Ends. Once you're done, return to the Wallet app. Tap More options, followed by Default card. Find the card you just entered and tap it to set it as default. You're good to go.
How to set up Apple Pay on an iPad
The iPad is basically a large iPhone, so the setup process is similar. You can't use Apple's tablet at a physical payment terminal, but it's a great option for online shopping.
1. Open Settings. Head to Settings and tap Wallet & Apple Pay.
2. Tap Add card. You may be asked to sign in with your Apple ID. Please have your login credentials handy.
3. Tap Debit or credit card and then Continue. As with the iPhone, you can enter the card details manually or let the tablet's camera take a photo of the card.
4. Consider the cards used above. You can also click on Previous Cards and select cards you have used in the past. This will display a list of possible cards. Tap a card and authenticate with Touch ID.
How to set up Apple Pay on a Mac
Mac laptops and desktops are also banned from physical sales terminals, for obvious reasons. However, it's still useful to have Apple Pay as an option when purchasing things online. Here's how to set it up.
1. Go to System Settings. On your Mac, go to System Settings. Next, click Wallet and Apple Pay.
2. Click Add Card. You will be asked to sign in with your Apple ID. Enter your credentials and then return to Wallet and Apple Pay.
3. Enter the card details. Click Enter card details manually and enter your payment information in the appropriate fields, or hold the card in front of your computer's camera so that it appears framed. The computer will take a photograph and record all relevant data. Double check to make sure everything looks good.
4. You can also use a card that is already registered with Apple. You should see a list of the cards you previously entered to use in the iTunes Store or App Store. Click on the desired card and enter the security code when prompted.
5. That's all about it. Keep an eye on your Apple ID account. If you sign out of your account to let someone else use your computer, you may need to set up Apple Pay again.
That's all. Apple Pay is set up and ready to go. We also put together a guide on how to use the service once set up.
