Fix: Apple Pay not Working
When Apple Pay doesn’t work, you might notice that the Wallet app opens as expected, but the payment fails instantly at the terminal—even though you can see your cards listed in Wallet. This problem usually means Apple Pay can’t finish connecting with the payment terminal or your bank. You might see messages like “Could not connect to Apple Pay” or “Payment failed.”

The most common reason for this issue is that your personal or card information doesn’t match, such as an incorrect zip code, apartment number, or card expiration date. Other possible reasons include using an outdated version of iOS, having region or account settings that aren’t correct, or experiencing temporary Apple Pay service outages.
In this article, we will discuss different ways to solve this error.
1. Change the Region of Your Phone to Your Actual Location
If your regional settings do not reflect your actual location, Apple Pay might fail to process your payments. Refreshing your region settings, even if it appears correct, is recommended.
- Open the Settings app on your phone.
- Tap on General, then tap Language & Region.
Open Language and Region Setting of iPhone
- Select the region that matches your current location.
Change Your Region in iPhone
- Now open Apple Pay and check if it is working properly.
2. Enable the ‘Allow Access When Locked’ Option
Some iPhone features are available even when the phone is locked. The Allow Access When Locked setting is essential for Apple Pay to work. If this setting is off (sometimes it gets disabled after an iOS update), Apple Pay will not work. Turning this setting on may fix the problem.
- Open the Settings app and tap on Touch ID & Passcode.
Open Touch ID & Passcode
- Enable the option for “Allow Access When Locked” for Apple Pay or Wallet.
Enable Allow Access When Closed for Wallet
- Now open Apple Pay and check if it works.
3. Restart Your Device, Sign Out of iCloud, and Sign Back In
This Apple Pay error can sometimes be caused by a software glitch or a problem connecting with Apple’s servers. To rule this out, try signing out of your Apple ID, restarting your iPhone (this clears temporary issues), and then signing back in.
- Restart your phone and see if the issue is resolved.
Power off iPhone
- If not, open Settings and tap on your name at the top.
- Scroll down to the bottom and tap Sign Out.
Sign Out of Apple ID
- Enter your password if prompted, then tap Turn Off.
- If you wish to keep a copy of your data on your device, enable the option.
- Tap Sign Out and confirm when asked.
Confirm to Sign Out of Apple ID
- Power off your phone.
- Wait for 30 seconds, then power it back on.
- Open Settings and tap Sign in to your device.
Sign in to Your iPhone
- Enter your Apple ID credentials to complete the sign-in process and check if Apple Pay now works.
4. Update the OS on Your Device
Apple regularly updates iOS to support new features and fix bugs. If your device has pending updates, this could cause Apple Pay not to work. Updating your device may resolve the issue.
- Back up your phone’s data.
- Plug in your device to a power source and connect to a Wi-Fi network for a faster and more stable download (mobile data is also possible but watch for download size).
- Open Settings and tap General.
Open General Settings of iPhone
- Tap on Software Update. If an update is available, download and install it.
Tap on Software Update
- After updating iOS, open Apple Pay to check if the error is resolved.
5. Perform a Full Restore of Your Device
If none of the above steps work, a corrupted operating system could be the cause. Restoring your device to factory settings may fix the problem.
- Back up your device first to prevent data loss.
- Then perform a full restore of your device as guided.
If you’re still experiencing issues with Apple Pay, unlock your phone and hold your finger on the home button. Next, lock the screen again, and quickly double tap the home button to bring up the Apple Pay menu and check if it is operational.
If none of these steps work, there is a good chance that the NFC chip in your phone is damaged. You can confirm this by visiting an Apple Store or an authorized service provider. If your phone is still under warranty, the repair or replacement should be free of charge. Also, make sure the NFC chip is properly installed; sometimes, issues happen if the unit was not properly screwed in during other repairs (like after a battery replacement).