Why Can’t I Add My Card to Apple Pay and How to Fix It

There are several reasons why you can’t add your card to Apply Pay, including the card not being supported by the app and minor software issues. You can fix some of these issues by restarting your phone and checking that the card is supported with Apple Pay. 

This post will examine why you can’t add your card to Apple Pay. I’ll provide several reasons why this might happen and also walk you through the necessary steps to fix each issue. 

Let’s dive in. 

Key Takeaways

• There are several reasons why you can’t add a card to Apple pay, which means there are also a few different fixes. 
• You can’t add a card to Apple Pay if the card isn’t supported, so if your bank doesn’t allow the use of the app, you can’t use it. 
• You may need to restart your iPhone or update iOS to get things to work properly if your card is supported. 

Why You Can’t Add Card to Apple Pay and How to Fix It

There are several different reasons why you might not be able to add a card to Apple Pay. I’ll break down each of those in this section and also provide you with some fixes that you can use to get your card added to use the app. 

Reason #1 – Card Not Supported

The most common reason for not being able to add a card to Apple Pay is because that card is not supported by the app. While Apple Pay supports many different types of cards, it doesn’t support all of them. 

A card not being supported simply means it’s not approved for use with Apple Pay. This decision is made by the bank or card issuer and will typically apply to mobile payment apps other than Apple Pay. 

How to Fix It: 

You should always check with your bank to see if your card is supported by Apple Pay. If it isn’t, you won’t be able to add that card to app and will need to use another card. You should check this before you attempt to add the card, if possible. 

If you want to use Apple Pay and have a card that isn’t supported, you’ll need to get another card through a different bank or credit card company. But remember to check that the card is supported before signing up for it. 

Reason #2 – Bug or Glitch with your iPhone or Apple Pay App

Another common reason for not being able to add a card to Apple Pay is that a minor glitch or bug is occurring with either your iPhone or the Apple Pay or Wallet app. This isn’t a big deal and happens often. 

How to Fix It:

A simple restart of your iPhone will oftentimes fix random bugs and glitches. Turn your phone off and back on again, then attempt to add your card to Apple Pay again. If this doesn’t work, then you know it’s a larger problem. 

Reason #3 – The System is Down

This doesn’t happen very often, but the entire Apple Pay system can go down. If this happens, you won’t be able to add a card or use any other of the app’s features. 

How to Fix It:

There isn’t anything you can do to fix a system outage, and you’ll just need to wait until things get resolved. You can check the System Status here to rule out this problem before attempting other troubleshooting. 

Reason #3 – iOS Update Required

If you are using an outdated version of iOS and trying to get Apple Pay set up, you might run into issues such as not being able to add a card. You should update your software to help fix this problem and other associated issues. 

Even if you are unaware of a software update, checking is always a good idea. That way, you can make the most of your iPhone and its features. This problem can be frustrating, but the fix is very easy. 

How to Fix It: 

The fix to this problem is to update iOS on your iPhone. You can do this through the Settings app on your phone. Remember that your phone might take a while to download and install the update, so be prepared for a little downtime. 

You can also set up your iPhone to automatically download and install updates when available. This is a good measure to have in place if you want to forget about dealing with this issue. The updates typically happen overnight when the phone is not in use. 

Reason #4 – You are in an Unsupported Region 

Apple Pay works in many countries worldwide, but not all of them. If you are somewhere remote or anywhere that doesn’t support Apple Pay, you won’t be able to add a card or use any of the features there. 

How to Fix It:

The only way to fix this problem is to go to a location that does support Apple Pay. If you live in a country that doesn’t support it, you won’t be able to use the app until you visit a different location where it is supported. 

You can check out all of the countries that support Apple Pay here.

Reason #5 – Your Device Isn’t Compatible with Apple Pay

Apple Pay will work on many iOS and macOS devices, but not all. If you have a really old iPhone or iPad, you might be unable to use Apple Pay on it. This can be annoying but it also has an easy fix. 

How to Fix It: 

If you really want to use Apple Pay, it’s time to consider upgrading to a device that supports it. You can find a list of all the currently supported devices with Apple Pay here. Your cell provider might have a deal to help ease the cost of purchasing a new device. 

Reason #6 – Issues with your Card

If you see messages when you try to add your card to Apple Pay similar to “Could Not Add Card” or “Invalid Card,” there is likely an issue with the payment you are trying to add. You might have restrictions or other issues preventing the card from adding. 

How to Fix It:

You’ll most likely need to contact your bank or card issuer if you see these messages. They should be able to help you figure out what the problem is quickly and direct you toward a resolution. 

This might be as simple as updating your payment information or taking care of any payments that you may have missed. But there could be other restrictions or blocks on your card you’ll need to address before adding it to Apple Pay.  

Can’t Add Card to Apple Watch? 

If you are having issues trying to add a card to Apple Pay on your Apple Watch, it’s likely for any of the same reasons you can’t add a card to other devices. Run through all of the causes and fixes in the sections above to resolve the problem. 

Remember to start with the easy fixes first before attempting anything more drastic. Sometimes you just need to restart or update your Apple Watch to get everything working correctly again. 

Final Thoughts

There are several reasons why you might not be able to add a card to Apple Pay. Luckily, many of these have a quick fix you can take care of by following my advice. 

If you are dealing with an issue such as a card not being supported or a system outage, there’s not much you can do to fix it. You’ll either need to wait for the service to be restored or use a different card for Apple Pay.

Have you ever been unable to add a card to Apple Pay? How did you fix the issue? Let me know in the comments below.