Cannot add payment method.

At what stage is it failing? What message do you see, or describe at what point you can't do something.

See this article for information about updating payment methods on various platforms (iPhone, Mac, etc.): If you need to change or update your Apple Account payment method - Apple Support

Here is how you update your payment method on an iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap your name.

3. Tap Payment & Shipping (formerly Media & Purchases). You might be asked to sign in with your Apple ID.

4. Tap Add Payment Method, enter the new payment method, then tap Done.

5. Tap Edit.

6. Tap the red delete button next to the old payment method, then tap Delete.

Also note:

1) ”If you change your address, the credit or debit card information that you use with your Apple Account might be automatically updated by your financial institution, and you don't need to take action.” (More about that here Protecting against fraudulent Apple.com c… - Apple Community )

2) “If there's an issue [such as you having a subscription or being a Family Sharing Organizer], add a new card first, then remove the old card."

If an app or feature on your device is not working, not appearing, or is restricted (grayed out), it may have been disabled using Screen Time, or by an IT administrator if you are using a device owned by an employer or educational institution.

- Read this support article If your Apple Acount/ID or other options are greyed out in Settings —> If you can't sign out due to restrictions, or your Apple Account is grayed out in Settings - Apple Support

First, disable any VPN connections and restart your iPhone or tell Siri: "Restart".

You might want to start by checking your region: ▷ Open Settings ➢ General ➢ Language & Region ➢ Region.

Now, here’s the fully detailed procedure to adding a card: ↓

Try the following:

• Be sure to activate your card before attempting to add it to Apple Wallet.
• Be sure card has not expired.
• Be sure to verify all information on the card matches exactly.

—Apple Pay Support— * Set up Apple Pay. * Pay Participating Banks.

If none of those work, then try linking the payment method:

Open Settings ➢ your name at the top of the list ➢ Payment & Shipping ➢ Add Payment Method.

Once the payment method has been added, you should have the option to link it to Apple Pay.

Need more help?

• United States: 1-800-APLCARE.
• Contact Support.
• Can’t add a card to Apple Wallet.
• Payment Method Declined.



Good luck! 👋🏼😉

Smiliñ 😎 Brian

Can you give us any more details about the error message given?

Did you follow the steps mentioned in this article to add a payment method?

Add a payment method to your Apple Account - Apple Support

If available for your region, you could use Apple Gift Cards to put money in your Apple Account balance, which will then be used by Apple as your primary payment method.

What you can buy with your Apple Account balance - Apple Support

Redeem your Apple Gift Card, App Store Card, or App Store & iTunes Gift Card - Apple Support

To find out which payment methods are supported in your region, select your country on this Apple Support page:

Payment methods that you can use with your Apple Account - Apple Support

Ingo2711 wrote:

If available for your region, you could use Apple Gift Cards to put money in your Apple Account balance, which will then be used by Apple as your primary payment method.

What you can buy with your Apple Account balance - Apple Support

Redeem your Apple Gift Card, App Store Card, or App Store & iTunes Gift Card - Apple Support

Typically a primary payment method is a credit or debit card of some sort. Even if you add balance using a gift card, Apple may require the presence of a credit or debit card.

How apps, content, and subscriptions from Apple are billed - Apple Support

Some purchases aren’t charged to your Apple Account balance

● You can't use your Apple Account balance to send gifts or gift cards.

● For some recurring charges, like AppleCare+, you can't start your subscription with Apple Account balance. But as long as you keep another valid payment method on file and your Apple Account balance would cover an entire charge, your recurring charge will pull from your Apple Account balance (see the article for more information).

● Some subscriptions might not be charged to your Apple Account balance.

● If you use Family Sharing, your family members can't spend your Apple Account balance. Funds that you add to your Apple Account balance are available only to you.

I did set up new Apple devices for family members, which are not part of my family group, and redeemed an Apple Gift card for them, to use as their payment method, no other banking or credit card set up as a second payment method.

Ingo2711 wrote:

I did set up new Apple devices for family members, which are not part of my family group, and redeemed an Apple Gift card for them, to use as their payment method, no other banking or credit card set up as a second payment method.

Interesting. I have long observed that I have never ever had a payment type on my account. From years of posting here in the face of people saying you must have a payment type, I kind of thought I was alone in the world. :-)

You probably can set your payment info to "non" when setting up a new Apple Account, but I have been always afraid that these family members suddenly feel the need to download a paid app and couldn't without the Apple Account balance topped up.🙂