Apple Pay is a super convenient way to shop online, in-app and in person. But what about when Apple Pay is not working? If you’ve had issues where an Apple Pay payment has not completed it can be frustrating when you’re used to everything running smoothly.
Stuck wondering: why is my Apple Pay not working? You’re in the right place. We’ll cover some common issues which cause the Apple Pay payment not completed error, and how you may troubleshoot and fix them. To help you make the most of Apple Pay we’ll also introduce Wise — the easy way to send international Apple Pay payments to friends, family and businesses.
Why is my Apple Pay not working?
In general, Apple Pay is safe and convenient — and a great way to send money to friends and family, or request payments when you split a bill or share a cab ride. In fact, in some cases, you can even use Apple Pay at an ATM.
Because Apple Pay is so easy — and we are seldom far from our smartphones these days — you may find you’re pretty reliant on it, which makes it a massive headache when it doesn't work as expected.
If you’re getting an Apple Pay payment not completed error there may be a number of reasons. It’s not common, and the vast majority of Apple Pay payments work just fine. But some users have reported this happening when shopping in apps, or even downloading free apps, as well as when making Apple Pay payments in person.
If Apple Pay isn’t working it may be a general service issue, but more likely it’s related to your particular device and Apple Pay set up. In this case, it may be about how your phone is configured, or the payment method you’re trying to use on Apple Pay.
We’ll walk through some trouble shooting steps next — and don’t forget, if you’re still stuck after looking at these options, Apple Pay Support is there to help. Give them a call and see what their advice is in your specific situation.
Troubleshooting on iPhone
If you’re getting an Apple Pay error message you might have already taken some of these troubleshooting steps to try to resolve it. Check through the list to see if there are any other self-help options — we’ve then included the Apple Pay Support details, in case none of the troubleshooting works.
1. Restart your phone
It’s an oldie, but a goodie. Turn off the phone and turn it on again. See if you still get that annoying red exclamation point when you try to make your purchase. If you do, check out the rest of the troubleshooting tips for more ideas.
2. Check you have the latest version of iOS
Another easy fix — log into your phone and go to Settings, then General and Software Update. Here you'll see a summary of any outstanding updates or upgrades available to you. It’s worth taking a moment to update your device, just in case that’s a barrier to your Apple Pay service working properly.
3. Make sure there’s no known general Apple service outage
Any broad social media outage hits the headlines pretty fast, but if you’re unsure about whether there's a more general issue with Apple services, you can check out the Apple Support system status page¹, which goes through one by one all of the Apple services and their live status.
4. Check your Apple Pay payment method — remove and add if necessary
Once you’ve ruled out the easy fixes above, it’s time to check if the payment method associated with your Apple Pay might be a problem. One common issue is that the billing information held by Apple Pay doesn’t match that held by your bank.
To check your card information, go to Settings and tap your name, then Payment & Shipping. Tap the payment method you’re trying to use to check and update your information if needed².
From within settings you can also remove your payment method and add it again, in case this is the clause of the payment not completed error. Tap Edit, then look for and select the Delete button. Check you have the right card, and hit Remove. You can then add it again, by selecting Add payment method.
5. See if your Face ID or Touch ID is the issue
There’s probably not one single reason that people get Apple Pay errors, which is why it’s worth checking out several different troubleshooting options to try to narrow down the issue.
One possible problem is if your Face ID or Touch ID isn’t working properly. You can check this by switching these services off, and trying to make the Apple Pay payment again.
Head to Apple’s Settings app, and then look for Touch ID & Passcode, or Face ID and Passcode. Here you’ll have the option to switch off these services.
Turn your phone off and on again, and see if you can now make the purchase smoothly. If you can, you probably need to reset your Touch or Face ID.
6. Check connections and VPNs
One final check before heading to Apple Support. Turn off any VPN you may be using, and double check your connection if you’re using wifi. If both of these options fail it’s time to call Apple Support.
7. Contact Apple Support
Apple Support is your go to option once you’ve tried all the troubleshooting you can do yourself. If you have Apple Care you can call support easily on³:
Apple Support — 1-800-APL CARE
Alternatively, the most convenient way to get the help you need may be to check out the Apple Support site⁴, which has a tool to identify the easiest way to get help. Just enter the issue to be guided to the best options for support by phone, chat, email or other channels depending on what suits you.
Send money abroad using Apple Pay with Wise
Shop internationally and send money overseas with Apple Pay, with a free online and in-app Wise Account .
Wise offers convenient, low cost international transfers to 160+ countries, with the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees.
You can set up your account in minutes, to hold and exchange 40+ currencies, get paid like a local from 8+ currencies, and order a linked international card for a one time fee.
Once you have your Wise card, you can add it to Apple Pay to spend internationally with low fees and one of the fairest exchange rates out there.
Or, if you need to send a payment to someone overseas, arrange your transfer for a low fee with Wise, and then select Apple Pay as your preferred payment option, to get the convenience of Apple Pay and the fast, low fee international payment services offered by Wise. Easy.
Get started with Wise 🚀
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If you’re getting a payment not completed Apple Pay error you’ll be able to take some simple troubleshooting steps yourself — which will often resolve the issue.
However if you’re still stuck after exhausting our list of self-help options, the next place to turn is Apple Support.
With help offered by phone, chat, email and more, you’ll be able to have someone talk you through your options and restore Apple Pay to its normal high levels of service.
Sources:
- Apple Support - System status
- Apple Support - Add, edit and remove payment methods
- Apple Support
- Apple Support - Get help
Sources checked on 11.17.2022
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information. This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
