How to Send Money Through Apple Pay

If you have an Apple device like an iPad or iPhone, Apple pay is an easy way to access your money using your device. The app provides different services to make it easy to use your money. If you want to learn more about how to send money through Apple Pay, you can read more below.

What is Apple Pay?

Apple Pay is a payment service provided by Apple through applications on various Apple devices. Similar to Venmo, the apps let you link your credit or debit card so you can send money. You can also use Apple Pay to pay for things in stores and online.

How to Send Money Through Apple Pay

Sending money through Apple Pay requires you to have the app installed first. Once you do, it’s just a few steps to link a source of money and send a payment. Each of these steps is explained in detail below. 

Note that Apple Pay is only compatible with Apple devices such as Mac, iPhone, or Apple Watch.

Install Apple Wallet

Here are three easy steps to explain how to install Apple Wallet on an iPhone.

1. Open the App Store
2. Search ‘Apple Wallet’
3. Install Apple Wallet.

Add a Payment Method

To send money through Apple Pay, you need a linked payment method. Then, when you make a payment or send money, the money is automatically taken from the card you linked. 

Follow the instructions below to link a payment method on the iPhone version of Apple Wallet.

1. Open the Apple Wallet app 
2. Tap the Add button 
3. Select Debit or Credit Card, depending on what kind of card you have
4. Tap Continue
5. Follow the instructions on-screen for adding a new card 
6. If you are asked to, select your bank or card issuer from the given list or use the search bar to find it
7. Verify your information with your bank or card issuer. 

Please note that not all cards are compatible with Apple Pay. Check support.apple.com to see if your bank or card-issuer is supported by Apple Pay. If your card is not supported you will not be able to use it as a payment method.

You can have more than one card linked to your Apple Wallet. When you make a payment or send money you can choose the card you want to use as the source of funds.

Send a Payment

Once you have a linked card, you can send a payment. You can pay using Apple Pay at any merchant that displays the Apple Pay logo. The shop or seller will have a contactless point-of-sale device that is compatible.

The instructions below will guide you on how to send money through Apple Pay using an iPhone:

1. Open the Apple Wallet app
2. To use your default payment card:
   • If your iPhone has Face ID, double-click the side button. Authenticate with Face ID
   • If your iPhone has Touch ID, rest your finger on the Touch ID sensor, or
   •  Enter your passcode.
3. To use a different card, tap your default card to see your other cards. Tap a new card and authenticate.
4. Hold the top of your iPhone near the contactless reader until you see “Done” and a checkmark on the display.

How to Send Someone Money With Apple Pay

The way to send money to someone’s Apple Wallet is different than how to send money through Apple Pay to pay at a restaurant or shop, for example. 

To send money to someone, you use the Apple Cash function of Apple Wallet. Apple Cash is a peer-to-peer payment service for sending money to other Apple Wallet users.

Set Up Apple Cash

The service for sending cash between Apple Wallet users works differently than paying a merchant with a point-of-sale device. You must use Apple Wallet to add money to your Apple Cash balance, then you can use your Apple Cash balance to send to other people.

 Follow the instructions below to set up Apple Cash in your Apple Wallet app on your iPhone:

1. Open the Apple Wallet app
2. Tap the image of an Apple Cash card, then tap the More button (…)
3. Tap Add Money 
4. Choose an amount of money to add to your Apple Cash balance. The minimum amount is $10
5. Tap Add, then choose which linked card you want to take the money from
6.  Confirm that the billing address shown is correct
7. Confirm the authorization of the transaction using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

Send a Payment

Apple Cash is integrated with the Apple Messages app. Sending money using Apple Cash is similar to sending an instant message using the Messages app. 

Follow the instructions below to send money to someone through Messages:

1. Open the Messages app 
2. Start a new conversation with your contact or choose an existing conversation
3. Tap the Apple Pay button. If you don’t see the Apple Pay button, tap the stylized A next to the message bar first
4. Enter the amount of money you want to send to this contact
5. Tap Pay
6. Tap the send button. You can now review or cancel the payment
7. Authorize and confirm your payment with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

Please note that the person you send money to must have an Apple device with Apple Wallet installed. They do not need to have a linked payment method just to receive the funds, however.

If you make a mistake you can cancel the transaction for as long as the person you sent it to has not accepted it. If they have already accepted it, you can ask them to refund the money.

How to Withdraw Money from Apple Pay

Sometimes you may need to move money from your Apple Cash balance to your bank account. You must have a compatible linked payment method to withdraw money from Apple Pay

There are two options for withdrawing money from Apple Pay. You can do an instant transfer to a linked debit card, or transfer in 1-3 business days to your bank account.

Here are the guidelines for transferring money from your Apple Cash balance to a debit card:

1. Open the Apple Wallet app
2. Tap the image of an Apple Cash card, then tap the More button (…)
3. Tap Transfer to Bank
4. Enter an amount of money to transfer then tap Next
5. Choose the Instant Transfer option
6. If you don’t have a linked debit card that is compatible you will need to add one first
7. Tap the button labeled > to choose the card you want to transfer funds to 
8. Confirm the billing information for your chosen debit card.

After you confirm the transaction, your funds should be available on your debit card within 30 minutes.

Here are the guidelines to transfer money from your Apple Cash balance to your bank account:

1. Open the Apple Wallet app
2. Tap the image of an Apple Cash card, then tap the More button (…)
3. Tap Transfer to Bank
4. Enter an amount of money to transfer then tap Next
5. Choose the 1-3 Business Days option. If you don’t have a bank account linked to your Apple Wallet app, follow the on-screen instructions to add one
6. Confirm the transaction with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. 

After you confirm the transaction, it will take up to 3 business days for the funds to be available in your bank account.

Read More

• How to Transfer Apple Cash to Bank
• How to Add a Credit card to Apple Pay
• How to Cancel Apple TV
• How to Cancel Subscriptions on iPhone
• How to Cancel Apple Music

Final Thoughts

Apple Wallet is a smartphone application developed by Apple, Inc. It allows you to link payment methods to send money through the app and make online and in-store purchases – much like PayPal. You can also receive money and withdraw it into your bank account or debit card. To choose how to send money through Apple Pay, you must have the Apple Wallet app installed, and have a linked payment method.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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