How to Send Money with Apple Cash: A Comprehensive Guide

Sending money to friends, family, or for quick transactions has become incredibly convenient in our digital age. Among the various platforms available, Apple Cash stands out as a seamless and integrated option for Apple users. Whether you’re splitting a bill, sending a gift, or paying someone back, Apple Cash offers a fast, secure, and user-friendly way to transfer funds directly from your iPhone or Apple Watch. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to send money with Apple Cash, ensuring you can utilize this powerful tool to its full potential.

Sending Money via the Messages App: Quick and Easy Transfers

The Messages app on your iPhone and Apple Watch provides one of the quickest ways to send money using Apple Cash. Integrated directly into your conversations, it allows for instant transfers without leaving your chat. Here’s how to do it on your iPhone:

1. Open Messages: Launch the Messages app on your iPhone 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 on the plus icon located to the left of the message input field. From the options that appear, tap on Apple Cash.

3. Enter the Amount: A keypad will pop up, allowing you to enter the exact amount of money you wish to send. Type in the dollar value.

4. Add a Comment (Optional): Before sending, you have the option to add a comment. This can be useful for noting what the money is for, which will appear in your and the recipient’s transaction history for easy reference.

5. Review and Send: Tap the Send button. This will present you with a payment confirmation screen. Here, you can review the amount and the recipient.

   Image of iPhone sending money in the Messages app

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.

   • Switch to Debit Card: Toggle the Apple Cash slider to the off position. Then, select your preferred debit card from the listed options.
   • Partial Payment with Debit Card: If your Apple Cash balance is insufficient, the system will automatically show the remaining amount to be charged to your linked debit card. You’ll see both your Apple Cash card and debit card displayed with the respective amounts to be deducted.

7. Confirm Payment: Double-click the side button on your iPhone to initiate the payment. Authenticate the transaction using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to securely send the money.

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

Sending money via the Messages app on your Apple Watch is equally straightforward:

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

2. Access Apple Cash: Tap the plus icon and then choose Apple Cash.

3. Adjust the Amount: Use the minus or plus signs to adjust the amount you want to send. Alternatively, you can use the Digital Crown for more precise adjustments.

   Image of Apple Watch sending money in the Messages app.

4. Review and Send: Tap Send, carefully review the payment details, and tap again to confirm. You also have the option to cancel at this stage if needed.

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

Sending Money Directly from the Wallet App: Another Convenient Method

The Wallet app offers another direct way to send money using Apple Cash. This method is particularly useful when you’re already managing your cards and transactions within the Wallet environment. Here’s how to send money through the Wallet app on your iPhone:

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

2. Initiate Send or Request: Tap either Send or Request. For sending money, tap Send. Then, select a person from your contacts or add a new contact to send money to.

   Image of iPhone sending money in the Wallet app

3. Enter Amount: Tap Next, and then enter the amount of money you wish to send.

4. Review and Send: Tap Send, then tap the Send button on the confirmation screen to proceed.

5. Confirm Payment: Double-click the side button to authorize the payment. Use Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to confirm and complete the transaction.

Tap to Cash: Instantly Send Money to Nearby Individuals

For in-person transactions, Apple Cash offers a feature called Tap to Cash. This allows you to send and receive money with someone nearby without needing to exchange phone numbers or email addresses. It’s a remarkably fast and private way to transfer funds.

Image of the top of two iPhones next to each other

To learn more about using Tap to Cash and how to initiate these instant transfers, you can refer to this guide on sending and receiving Apple Cash with someone nearby.

Setting Up Recurring Payments: Automate Regular Transfers

If you need to send money regularly, such as for allowances, rent, or subscriptions, Apple Cash allows you to set up recurring payments. You can schedule these payments to be sent weekly, biweekly, or monthly, automating your financial tasks. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Access Recurring Payments: In the Wallet app on your iPhone, tap on your Apple Cash card.

2. Navigate to Recurring Payments: Tap the More button (represented by three dots in a circle), and then tap Recurring Payments, followed by New Recurring Payment.

   Image of iPhone showing the More menu with Recurring Payments selected

3. Configure Payment Details: Follow the on-screen prompts to configure your recurring payment:

   • Recipient: Add the contact you want to send money to regularly.
   • Amount: Choose the dollar amount for each payment.
   • Start Date: Select the date you want the payments to begin.
   • Frequency: Choose how often you want the payments to be sent (weekly, biweekly, or monthly).
   • Memo (Optional): Add a memo to identify the purpose of these recurring payments.

4. Review and Confirm: Tap Send, then tap the Send button to review all the payment details.

5. Finalize Setup: Double-click the side button and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to set up the recurring payment schedule.

You can easily edit, cancel, or pause a recurring payment at any time through the Recurring Payments section in your Apple Cash card settings in the Wallet app.

Accepting and Managing Payments: Receiving Money with Apple Cash

When someone sends you money via Apple Cash, it’s received securely and stored in your Apple Cash balance. You can then use this money to make purchases with Apple Pay, send it to someone else, or transfer it to your bank account or debit card.

Accepting Payments: Automatic or Manual

You have control over how you accept payments – either automatically or manually.

1. Access Card Details: Open the Wallet app, tap on your Apple Cash card, then tap the More button, and select Card Details.
2. Choose Acceptance Mode: Tap either Manually Accept Payments or Automatically Accept Payments to set your preference.

• Manually Accept Payments: When enabled, you need to manually accept each payment. To do this, open the Messages conversation where you received the payment and tap Accept. You have 7 days to accept a payment manually.
• Automatically Accept Payments: With this setting, payments are automatically added to your Apple Cash balance as soon as they are sent.

If you haven’t set up Apple Cash when someone sends you money, you’ll see an Accept option in the message. Tapping this will guide you through the Apple Cash setup process.

Rejecting Payments

If you need to reject a payment for any reason, you can do so easily:

1. Locate Payment in Transactions: Open the Wallet app, tap your Apple Cash card, and find the payment in your Latest Transactions.
2. Reject Payment: Tap on the payment, then tap the payment again to view details, and finally tap Reject Payment.

If you don’t see the option to reject, it might be because you have already accepted the payment.

Requesting Payments: Easily Ask for Money

Apple Cash also allows you to request money from others. This is useful for reminders about shared expenses or IOUs.

Requesting Payment via Messages App

1. Start or Open Conversation: Open the Messages app and start a new conversation or choose an existing one.

2. Access Apple Cash Request: Tap the plus icon, then tap Apple Cash.

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

   Image of iPhone requesting money in the Messages app

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

The process is similar on Apple Watch:

1. Open Messages and Apple Cash: Open Messages, choose a conversation, tap the plus icon, and select Apple Cash.
2. Enter Amount and Swipe to Request: Enter the amount, then swipe left on the Send button to reveal the Request button.
3. Send Request: Tap Request to send your payment request.

Responding to Payment Requests

When you receive a payment request, responding is simple:

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

To decline a request, simply ignore the message.

Cancelling a Sent Payment: When Possible

If you’ve sent a payment in error and need to cancel it, you might be able to if the transaction status is still pending.

1. Check Transaction History: In your Apple Cash transaction history, find the payment in question. Pending payments will be marked as such.
2. Cancel Payment (If Pending): If the status is pending, you can cancel the payment.

Remember, Apple Cash person-to-person payments are direct transactions, so it’s important to only send and receive money with people you know and trust.

Conclusion: Apple Cash – A Versatile Tool for Sending Money

Apple Cash provides a multitude of ways to send and manage money, all within the Apple ecosystem. From quick transfers in Messages to scheduled recurring payments and Tap to Cash for in-person exchanges, it offers flexibility and convenience for various financial interactions. By understanding and utilizing these features, you can streamline your money sending processes and take full advantage of the digital financial tools available on your Apple devices.

* Apple Cash services are provided by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC. Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc., is a service provider of Green Dot Bank for Apple Cash accounts. Neither Apple Inc. nor Apple Payments Services LLC is a bank. For more details, refer to the Terms and Conditions. Available only in the U.S. on eligible devices. To use Apple Cash, you must be 18 and a U.S. resident. Certain features and limits apply, see Terms and Conditions for complete details. Apple Pay is also a service of Apple Payments Services LLC.