Apple Pay™
Frequently Asked Questions
- Apple Pay is a way to make contactless payments using your eligible Apple Device.
- You can now use an eligible American Express® Card with Apple Pay to pay for goods and services at merchants that accept American Express contactless payments1.
- See How to Add Your Card.
- An eligible Card is an active American Express Consumer, Small Business or Corporate Credit or Charge Card issued by Amex Bank of Canada.
- Your current Card does not need to be contactless in order to use Apple Pay.
- Prepaid Cards and products (such as the American Express Gift Card) are not eligible.
- See How to Add Your Card.
- In order to use Apple Pay for contactless payments, you will need a compatible device running on an eligible iOS version. See the list of Devices Compatible with Apple Pay.
- You will also be able to use Eligible iPads and Macs for in-app and on the web payments – find out more about in-app payments.
- At this time, Amercian Express Cards in Canada cannot be added to Apple Pay on the Apple Vision Pro device.
- When adding and using your Card in Apple Pay, we collect from Apple and share with Apple certain information (such as your name and Card information) to verify your identity, to enable you to use your Card in Apple Pay, to manage fraud and security risk, and to facilitate your participation in Apple Pay (for example, to display information about your transactions). We collect, use and share your information for these purposes and in accordance with our Privacy Code and Online Privacy Statement, which may be updated from time to time. For more information on Apple’s use of your personal information, please visit Apple’s privacy policy.
- We will display some Card account information on your device for each American Express Card you have selected to use, such as your recent transactions.
- You can turn off the display of transaction information at any time manually within Apple Pay. Click How to Turn Off Notifications to learn more.
- For more information on Apple’s use of your personal information, please visit Apple’s Privacy Policy.
- Any person with your device ‘Passcode’ or biometric authentication such as fingerprint or facial recognition registered to your device will be able to access your Card in Apple Pay and you may wish to review who has access to your device.
- Refer to the security settings on your device for further information.
- Do not let anyone else have their biometric authentication such as fingerprint or facial recognition registered with it or give them your passcode as this will allow them to authorize transactions on your Card with Apple Pay.
- The American Express Fraud Protection Guarantee applies regardless of how you choose to pay.
- Use your American Express Card online or off, and you won't be held responsible for any fraudulent charges, as long as you've taken reasonable care to protect your account details, PIN and any device on which you have added your account information. For example, do not give anyone else your passcode or let them add their fingerprint or facial recognition to your device while your Card is registered with it, as this will allow them to authorize transactions on your Card with Apple Pay.
- For more information about the security of using your American Express Card, please visit our Fraud Protection page on our website for our Fraud Protection Guarantee.
Wallet is an Apple app that acts as a single repository for all of your loyalty and payment cards on your eligible Apple device(s). It stores certain details from your American Express account for use with Apple Pay. To learn more, please visit Wallet.
- The use of your American Express Card in Apple Pay is governed by the American Express Terms of Use and the applicable Cardmember Agreement for your Card.
- To use Apple Pay, you must agree to Apple’s terms of use and privacy policy. American Express has no control over Apple Pay or any Apple service, product, software or hardware.
- To add your American Express Card to an Eligible iOS Device, open the Wallet app and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Please note, the Wallet app is not available for iPad; the iPad can only be used to make in-app purchases with online merchants who accept Apple Pay as a checkout option.
- On both the iPhone and iPad, you can also add your American Express Card by going to: Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > Add Credit or Debit Card.
Apple Watch
- To add an American Express Card on an Apple Watch, you must first pair your Watch with a compatible iPhone device running on an eligible iOS version. See the list of Devices Compatible with Apple Pay.
- Once paired, open the Apple Watch app on your compatible iPhone and select: Wallet & Apple Pay > Add Credit or Debit Card, and follow the on-screen instructions.
All Devices
- With all Eligible iOS Devices, you can choose to add your eligible American Express Card in Apple Wallet.
- You may be asked to enter your Card expriy date and Card Security Code when you add a Card to Apple Pay. You will need to accept the American Express Terms of Use for Apple Pay each time you add a Card to Apple Pay.
- See How to Make a Payment with Apple.
- The first Card you enter into Wallet is automatically set as your default Card for all Apple Pay transactions, however you have the option to select your default Card at any time within your device.
- If you choose to make American Express your default Card, you can do so in two ways:
- By visiting: Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > Transaction Defaults - Default Card, or
- Enter the Wallet app, press and hold your American Express Card and drag it downward to the front of your Wallet to make it your default Card within Apple Pay.
- See How to Make a Payment with Apple Pay.
- The Security Code for your American Express Card is the four digit, non-embossed number printed on the front of your physical card.
- For security reasons, you may be required to enter your Security Code when adding your Card to Apple Pay.
- For security purposes, when adding your Card to Apple Pay we may ask you to enter a one-time verification code to confirm your identity.
- This code is a unique series of numbers and/or letters that you can choose to receive by email or text message during the set-up process.
- Please note that you will need a working internet and/or data connection to receive a one-time verification code and data usage or test messaging charges may be imposed on you by your wireless carrier.
- Your one-time verification code may expire if you aren’t able to enter it within approximately ten minutes. You can request another code by selecting your preferred verification option again.
- If you opted to receive your one-time verification code by email but cannot find it in your inbox, please check your ‘Junk’ folder before requesting a new one
- If you are unable to get a one-time verification code, please contact American Express Customer Care by calling the number on the back of your Card.
- Apple Pay allows a maximum of eight Cards on one device.
- We may permit you to add the same Card to multiple Eligible iOS Devices, but this can be limited if that Card is associated with multiple Apple IDs. You will need to set up your Card using the Wallet app for each device.
In-store (using eligible iPhone)
- To make a payment using Apple Pay, tap the top of your iPhone on the reader at a participating contactless merchant where American Express Cards are accepted. You will be prompted to use Biometric Authentication to authorize the transaction. If Biometric Authentication doesn’t work (or you do not have it enabled), you will need to enter your device ‘Passcode’ instead.
- When the transaction is successful, you will see the word ‘Done’ and a tick mark on your screen. You will feel a brief vibration from the device before your purchase is completed.
- In busy situations, you can also prepare your iPhone to make a payment before you have reached the contactless reader. To do this, open Wallet, select the Card you wish to use and use Biometric Authentication to ready the iPhone. Apple Pay will remain active for 60 seconds to allow you to tap your iPhone onto the contactless reader to complete the transaction.
In-store (using Apple Watch)
- To make a payment with the Apple Watch, double-click the side button to bring up the default Card of your choice.
- Hold the face of your Apple Watch to the reader at a participating contactless merchant where American Express Cards are accepted until you feel a gentle pulse and hear a tone. The purchase is then complete.
- For your security, all transactions made through Apple Pay require authorization from American Express, similar to a Chip & PIN transaction.
- This may take a few seconds longer than you may have experienced with a contactless Card transaction, which typically does not send through an authorization.
In-app and on the web (using eligible iPhone, iPad or Mac)
- When shopping on your device, look for the ‘Apple Pay’ icon at the online checkout where American Express Cards are accepted to determine whether it is a participating merchant.
- Simply tap the icon and review your payment information and contact details to complete your purchase.
- You will see ‘Done’ and a tick mark on the screen when your payment is complete.
- To pay on Mac in Safari, choose Apple Pay then complete the purchase with your iPhone or Apple Watch.
- Please be aware that in-store purchases cannot be made with an iPad.
- You can use Apple Pay on your Eligible iOS Device or Apple Watch to make payments in-store at participating contactless merchants where American Express® Cards are accepted.
In-app and on the web
- You will be able to use Apple Pay in participating merchant apps with your eligible device
- Look out for the ‘Buy with Apple Pay’ or ‘Apple Pay’ icon at the checkout within the apps
- You can use your Card in Apple Pay for transactions up to the limit determined by the participating merchants.
- Yes, you receive all of the same rewards, security and benefits of your American Express Card when you use it with Apple Pay.
- Please visit your – American Express online account to see your individual Card benefits. You can also call the number on the back of your Card.
- When you add your American Express Card to Apple Pay a Device Account Number – separate to your Card number and unique to your device – is created.
- Your Device Account Number is used to make purchases with your Card using Apple Pay.
- You will have a different Device Account Number for every Card you have added to Apple Pay.
- The last four digits of your Device Account Number can be found in the settings menu in the Wallet app under "Card Details".
- In order to return a purchase made with Apple Pay, you will need to use the Card that has the same Device Account Number used to make the original purchase.
- To find the last four digits of your Device Account Number, select: Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and choose the relevant Card. Alternatively, find it in the settings menu in Apple Pay under "Card Details". Please note that, depending on the participating merchant, you may not be permitted to use your physical Card to return purchases made with Apple Pay. You also may not be permitted to use Apple Pay to return purchases made with your physical Card.
- If you are having difficulty with your software or hardware, please visit Apple’s support pages for advice.
- American Express has no control over Apple Pay or any Apple service, product, software or hardware.
iPhone and iPad
- For Eligible iOS Devices, you can view and manage your Cards in Apple Pay.
- To do so, select Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > tap on an individual Card to manage the settings associated with that Card in Apple Pay.
- For Eligible iOS Devices, you can also view and manage your Cards in the Wallet app by selecting an individual Card and tapping the ellipses "..." in the top-right corner to get to the settings menu.
- Here you can view the ‘Transaction Display’ and manage the settings associated with that Card in Apple Pay.
Apple Watch
- You can view and manage your Cards on the Apple Watch within the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
- Simply tap on an individual Card to manage the settings associated with that Card in Apple Pay.
- The Apple Watch app will not display transaction detail or transaction history.
- No, your Device Account Number is connected to your new Card number automatically.
- You can use your Card with Apple Pay to make transactions before receiving your new physical Card.
- You can remove your Card from Apple Pay by selecting: Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > Select Card > Remove Card.
- If you believe your device or Apple Pay Card information has been lost, stolen or compromised in any way, call us immediately at the number on the back of your Card.
- For iPhone and iPad, you can use the ‘Find My iPhone’ app to temporarily suspend or permanently remove the ability to make payments from your device, even if your device is offline
- If you suspend your Card(s) using ‘Find My iPhone’, you can reactivate them simply by unlocking your device and entering your Apple ID when prompted.
- Using iCloud: For any eligible Apple Pay device, you can always go to icloud.com/settings, choose the applicable device and delete your Card(s).
- You will only see your last ten authorizations in the ‘Transaction Display’ of your Card in Apple Pay for iPhone or iPad.
- The last ten authorizations you see will be from all forms of payment linked to your account (both made using your physical Card and Apple Pay).
- You can turn ‘Transaction Display’ off when you turn off your ‘Card Notifications’ in the ‘Wallet & Apple Pay’ section of your device Settings (Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > tap the Card you want to turn notifications off for > tap the button beside ‘Card Notifications’ to turn off the switch).
- For all official statement information, please refer to your American Express online account or the American Express App.
- Apple Pay transactions will appear on online and paper statements as normal transactions.
- On the American Express App, you will be able to expand the selected transaction and see that it was made via Apple Pay.
- Some of the listed transactions on your device may be pending charges, which are temporary and are subject to change.
- An example of this is if a hotel pre-authorizes your Account for $100. The hotel may then only charge your Card $50 for the services you used during your stay, which will reflect in your online Account transactions as $50, however, Apple Pay will always show the $100 amount.
- If you see a transaction in Apple Pay that is higher than you expected, like in the example above, please check your online account, statement or the American Express app for the correct amount.
- Occasionally, something might appear on your statement that you disagree with or want to query. Just contact us and we’ll get on the case to help resolve the charge in question
- For more information about the security of using your American Express Card, please visit our Fraud Protection page on our website for our Fraud Protection Guarantee.
- You will receive ‘Card Notifications’ from your American Express Card in Apple Pay to let you know about purchases made with both your physical Card and in Apple Pay.
- You will also receive other messages from American Express within Apple Pay about your account.
- You can turn these on or off by going to: Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > Select your Card > turn the toggle off on "Allow Notification". You can also click the ellipses "..." at the top-right corner of the Card image in the Wallet app to get to the settings menu.
- Please keep in mind that by turning off your ‘Card Notifications,’ you will no longer receive transaction notifications or other messages from American Express, nor transaction history in Wallet.
Apple Watch
- You will not receive specific ‘Card Notifications’ for Cards added to Apple Pay for your Apple Watch.
- You may receive notifications on your Apple Watch if you have a Card added to Apple Pay on your paired iPhone and have push notifications enabled.
- You may also receive notifications on your Apple Watch if you have an active American Express Card within Wallet.
- If you do not want to receive these notifications on your Apple Watch, select: Apple Watch app on your eligible device > General Settings > Notifications > Unselect Wallet & Apple Pay.
Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. Apple Pay, Apple Watch and Touch ID, and Face ID are trademarks of Apple Inc.
1Contactless Tap and Apple Pay in app purchases may not be available on all transactions or with all merchants.
® : Used by Amex Bank of Canada under license from American Express.