How Do I Send Money on Apple Pay? A Comprehensive Guide

Sending money to friends and family has never been easier, especially for iPhone and Apple Watch users. Apple Pay offers a seamless way to transfer funds through its Apple Cash feature. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to send money on Apple Pay, ensuring you can quickly and securely manage your transactions.

Whether you’re splitting a bill, sending a gift, or paying someone back, Apple Cash provides a convenient solution right at your fingertips. Let’s explore the various methods and steps involved in sending money using Apple Pay.

Sending Money via the Messages App with Apple Cash

The Messages app on your iPhone and Apple Watch offers a straightforward way to send money using Apple Cash. Here’s how to do it:

On your iPhone:

1. Open Messages: Launch the Messages app and either start a new conversation or select an existing one with the person you want to send money to.

2. Access Apple Cash: Tap the plus (+) icon located to the left of the message input field. Then, tap on the Apple Cash icon.

3. Enter Amount: Input the amount of money you wish to send. Tap “Send” after entering the amount.

4. Add a Comment (Optional): You can add a comment to the transaction. This comment will be visible in the transaction history for both you and the recipient, helping to easily identify the purpose of the payment.

   Image of sending money in the Messages app on iPhone

   Alt text: Sending money with Apple Cash in Messages app on iPhone. User is entering an amount to send.

5. Review and Send: Tap the “Send” button to review your payment details.

6. Choose Payment Method (If Needed): By default, Apple Cash uses your Apple Cash balance. If you prefer to use a debit card directly, tap “Change Payment Method”.

   • Toggle the Apple Cash slider off to disable using your Apple Cash balance.
   • Select your preferred debit card from the available options.

7. Insufficient Apple Cash Balance: If your Apple Cash balance doesn’t cover the full amount, you can use a debit card to cover the remaining balance. The transaction will show the amounts being deducted from both your Apple Cash card and your debit card.

8. Confirm Payment: Double-click the side button on your iPhone to authorize the payment using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

If you haven’t yet added a debit card to your Wallet, you’ll need to do so before sending money directly from a debit card.

On your Apple Watch:

1. Open Messages: Open the Messages app on your Apple Watch and select an existing conversation.

2. Access Apple Cash: Tap the plus (+) icon, then tap the Apple Cash icon.

3. Adjust Amount: To modify the default amount, use the minus (-) or plus (+) buttons, or rotate the Digital Crown for finer adjustments.

   Image of sending money in the Messages app on Apple Watch

   Alt text: Sending Apple Cash via Messages app on Apple Watch. The screen shows options to adjust the amount using plus and minus icons.

4. Review and Send: Tap “Send”, then carefully review the payment details before proceeding. You have the option to cancel the payment at this stage.

5. Confirm Payment: Double-click the side button on your Apple Watch to finalize and send your payment.

Sending Money Through the Wallet App with Apple Cash

Alternatively, you can send money directly from the Wallet app on your iPhone:

1. Open Wallet: Launch the Wallet app on your iPhone.

2. Select Apple Cash Card: Tap on your Apple Cash card within the Wallet app.

3. Send or Request: Tap either “Send” or “Request”. Then, choose a contact from your list or add a new contact to send money to.

   Image of sending money in the Wallet app on iPhone

   Alt text: Sending money using the Wallet app on iPhone. The screen displays options to Send or Request money from the Apple Cash card.

4. Enter Amount: Tap “Next”, and enter the amount you intend to send.

5. Send Payment: Tap “Send”, and then tap the “Send” button to confirm.

6. Confirm with Side Button: Double-click the side button to complete the transaction using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

Utilizing Tap to Cash for In-Person Transfers

For sending money to someone nearby, Apple Pay offers the “Tap to Cash” feature, which is a contactless way to send and receive money without needing to exchange phone numbers or email addresses.

Image of two iPhones using Tap to Cash feature

Alt text: Tap to Cash feature in action on iPhones, showing the contactless money transfer process between two devices.

Learn more about using Tap to Cash to facilitate quick, in-person transactions.

Setting Up Recurring Apple Cash Payments

If you need to send money regularly, such as for allowances or rent, you can set up recurring payments within the Wallet app:

1. Open Wallet and Apple Cash: Open the Wallet app and tap on your Apple Cash card.

2. Access Recurring Payments: Tap the “More” button (represented by three dots), then select “Recurring Payments”, and finally tap “New Recurring Payment”.

   Image of setting up Recurring Payments in Wallet app on iPhone

   Alt text: Setting up a new Recurring Payment in the Apple Wallet app on iPhone. The ‘Recurring Payments’ option is highlighted in the ‘More’ menu.

3. Configure Payment Schedule: Add the recipient, then follow the on-screen prompts to specify the payment amount, start date, and frequency (weekly, biweekly, or monthly). You can also include a memo for identification.

4. Review and Confirm: Tap “Send”, then “Send Button” to review the recurring payment setup.

5. Authorize Payment: Double-click the side button and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to finalize the recurring payment schedule.

You can easily edit, cancel, or pause these recurring payments at any time through the “Recurring Payments” section in your Apple Cash card settings.

Accepting Apple Cash Payments

When someone sends you money via Apple Cash, it is securely deposited into your Apple Cash balance. You can then use these funds to make purchases with Apple Pay, send money to others, or transfer it to your bank account or an eligible debit card.

Upon receiving a payment, you may be required to verify your identity to ensure the security and functionality of your Apple Cash account.

You can choose to accept payments automatically or manually:

1. Go to Card Details: In the Wallet app, tap your Apple Cash card, then tap the “More” button, and select “Card Details”.
2. Payment Acceptance Options: Choose between “Manually Accept Payments” or “Automatically Accept Payments”.

With manual acceptance enabled, you’ll need to open the relevant Messages conversation and tap “Accept” to receive the money. You have 7 days to accept a payment sent to you.

Requesting Money with Apple Cash

Need to request payment from someone? Apple Cash makes it easy:

On your iPhone:

1. Open Messages: Open the Messages app and select or start a conversation.

2. Access Apple Cash: Tap the plus (+) icon, then tap “Apple Cash”.

3. Enter Amount and Request: Enter the amount you are requesting, then tap “Request”.

   Image of requesting money in the Messages app on iPhone

   Alt text: Requesting money using Apple Cash in the Messages app on iPhone. User is entering an amount to request from a contact.

4. Send Request: Tap the “Send” button to send your payment request.

On your Apple Watch:

1. Open Messages: Open Messages and choose a conversation.
2. Access Apple Cash: Tap the plus (+) icon, then “Apple Cash”.
3. Enter Amount and Request: Enter the amount, then swipe left on the “Send” button to reveal and tap the “Request” button.

Responding to Payment Requests

When you receive a payment request:

On your iPhone:

1. Open Request: Open the payment request in the Messages app and tap “Pay” on the message.
2. Review and Send: Review the amount, tap “Send” to proceed, or change the amount if needed before tapping “Send”.
3. Confirm Payment: Double-click the side button and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode.

You can decline a request simply by ignoring the message.

On your Apple Watch:

1. Open Request: Open the request in Messages, tap “Pay”.
2. Review and Send: Review the amount, tap “Send”, adjusting the amount with the Digital Crown if necessary, then tap “Send” again.
3. Confirm Payment: Double-click the side button to confirm and send the payment.

Canceling a Sent Payment

If you need to cancel a payment you’ve sent, you can do so if the transaction status is still “pending” in your Apple Cash transaction history. Pending status means the recipient hasn’t yet accepted the payment. Learn how to cancel a pending Apple Cash payment for detailed steps.

Remember, Apple Cash person-to-person payments are intended for transactions between people you know and trust, similar to any private transaction.

Key Takeaways about Sending Money on Apple Pay

Sending money via Apple Pay’s Apple Cash is a convenient and secure way to transfer funds directly from your Apple devices. Whether through the Messages app, Wallet app, or using Tap to Cash, Apple Pay provides multiple options to suit your needs. From one-time payments to recurring transfers and easy payment requests, managing your finances with Apple Cash is streamlined and user-friendly.

*Apple Cash services are facilitated by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC. Apple Payments Services LLC, an Apple subsidiary, provides services for Apple Cash accounts and is not a bank. Apple Pay is a service of Apple Payments Services LLC. Available only in the U.S. on eligible devices for users 18 and older. Terms and conditions apply.