Finished setting up Apple Pay by connecting it with your card? As soon as the bank or issuer verifies it, you can start paying with Apple Pay. However, having a card in the Wallet and knowing you can use it wherever you see these symbols can bring anxiety. Don’t fret, that’s common – most people are afraid of using it for the first time. They often think they’ll embarrass themselves or that paying with a device won’t work right off the bat. If they delay in utilizing it, that is, at the end of the day, wasted time and effort. We’re here to prevent that. Let’s get into how to use Apple Pay. It’s easy, really.
Tip: Did you enable Automatic Selection when you set the service up? If you didn’t, make sure to first select the Apple store or reward card manually instead of your credit or Apple Cash card. You can either choose a default card or select a new one afterward.
1. Use Apple Pay on iPhone and iPad in stores
Here are two ways to use Apple Pay with iPhone and iPad:
1. Face ID
Do this to complete Apple Pay transactions using Face ID on iPhone:
- Double-click the button on the right-hand side of the iPhone.
- The default card will be shown at the top of the screen. Tap on it to change it if you have more than one.
- Bring the phone up so that the front camera can scan your face. If you aren’t in a position to do that, enter your iPhone passcode.
- When the Hold Near Reader confirmation appears, bring the top of your phone close to the screen of the reader.
2. Touch ID
Here’s how using Apple Pay works with iPhone’s Touch ID:
- Hold your finger on the Touch ID.
- Without releasing the hold, bring the top of the iPhone close to the screen of the card reader.
- As soon as the Pay with Touch ID window appears, use another finger to tap and change your default card.
- If you keep holding, your default card will be used. Also, Pay with Touch ID will turn into Done.
- Release your finger.
2. Use Apple Pay with Apple Watch in stores
Paying via Apple Pay using an Apple Watch works like this:
- Double-press the bottom button on the right-hand side of your Apple Watch.
- Your default card will appear on-screen. Swipe right or left to change it.
- Bring the screen of the Apple Watch close to the screen of a contactless reader.
- You’ll feel a gentle vibration when the transaction goes through.
- Tip. Unlike iPhone, depending on the amount and the store it’s used in, you might have to enter your card PIN on the contactless reader.
3. Make Apple Pay transactions on Mac
Keep in mind that Apple Cash isn’t available in macOS. Also, Apple Cash cards will only work in the United States. With that said, here are two methods to send or receive money with Apple Pay on Mac:
Mac models with Touch ID
Do this to utilize Apple Pay on a Mac with Touch ID:
- Click on the Apple Pay button or select it as a payment method.
- Double-check the payment information. To change the default card, tap/click on the Expand menu icon next to the card’s name.
- Make your purchase. Touch ID bar will change, and notify you where and for how long to place your finger.
- If your Touch ID is disabled or no fingerprints exist, do this:
- Click on the Apple menu in the top left corner.
- Select System Preferences then Touch ID.
- Click on Add Fingerprint, enter your admin password, and follow on-screen instructions.
- After you’re done, make sure to put a checkmark in front of Apple Pay under How do you want to use Touch ID.
- When the transaction goes through, you’ll see a Done message, followed by a checkmark.
Other Mac models
With other Mac models, you can use Apple Cash cards instead of your credit card, since the transaction doesn’t go through macOS. The process is identical as described below and above, depending on where you’re paying. However, you must do these things too for Apple Pay on a Mac without Touch ID to work:
- Use another device, Apple Watch or iPhone.
- Enable and turn on Bluetooth on your Mac. Keep the preferred device nearby.
- Devices must be signed into the same iCloud account.
4. Use Apple Pay in apps or Safari
By this, we mean apps or browser windows running on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. The store or the app must support the service, of course. Here’s how making payments within apps with Apple Pay works:
- On the product screen or the cart, tap on the Buy with Apple Pay button. If it’s absent, select it under payment methods.
- Double-check your information. You can tap on the “>” symbol to switch between verified cards.
- Confirm the payment. You’ll see a Done message, followed by a checkmark.
- Use the steps described for the device you’re paying with.