Sending money to friends and family has never been easier, especially for those within the Apple ecosystem. Apple Pay, coupled with Apple Cash, offers a seamless and secure way to transfer funds directly from your iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad. This guide will walk you through the various methods to send money through Apple Pay, ensuring you can quickly and efficiently manage your peer-to-peer transactions.
What You Need to Send Money with Apple Pay
Before you start sending money, ensure you have the following:
- Eligible Device: You’ll need an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch that supports Apple Pay and is running the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS.
- Apple Cash Account: This is your digital wallet within the Wallet app where money is received and from where it is sent. For full functionality and FDIC insurance eligibility, you might need to verify your identity. Verification ensures your account is secure and compliant.
- Debit Card (Optional): While Apple Cash balance is used by default, you can also send money directly from a linked debit card. Adding a debit card provides flexibility in your payment methods.
Sending Money via Messages App Using Apple Cash
The Messages app offers a convenient way to send money directly within your conversations. Here’s how to do it on your iPhone and Apple Watch:
On Your iPhone
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Open Messages: Launch the Messages app and either start a new conversation or select an existing one with the recipient.
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Access Apple Cash: Tap the plus (+) icon located to the left of the message input field, then choose the Apple Cash icon.
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Enter Amount: Input the amount of money you wish to send and tap “Send”.
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Add a Comment (Optional): You can add a comment to the transaction, which will be visible in the transaction history for both you and the recipient, helping to keep track of payments.
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Review Payment: Tap the “Send” button (arrow up icon) to review your payment details.
Image of iPhone sending money in the Messages app -
Change Payment Method (If Desired): If you prefer to use a debit card instead of your Apple Cash balance, tap “Change Payment Method”.
- Toggle the Apple Cash slider off.
- Select your preferred debit card from the list.
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Confirm and Send: If your Apple Cash balance is insufficient, the remaining amount will be automatically drawn from your linked debit card. Review the amounts from each source.
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Authenticate 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 be prompted to add one when attempting to send money this way.
On Your Apple Watch
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Open Messages: Open the Messages app on your Apple Watch and select a conversation.
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Access Apple Cash: Tap the plus (+) icon, then tap the Apple Cash icon.
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Adjust Amount: Use the minus (-) or plus (+) signs, or the Digital Crown, to set the amount you want to send.
Image of Apple Watch sending money in the Messages app. -
Review and Send: Tap “Send”, review the payment details, and tap “Send” again to confirm.
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Authenticate Payment: Double-click the side button on your Apple Watch to send the payment.
Sending Money via Wallet App Using Apple Cash
Alternatively, you can send money directly from the Wallet app:
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Open Wallet App: On your iPhone, open the Wallet app and tap on your Apple Cash card.
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Initiate Send or Request: Tap either “Send” or “Request,” then select a recipient from your contacts or add a new contact.
Image of iPhone sending money in the Wallet app -
Enter Amount: Tap “Next,” then enter the amount you wish to send.
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Confirm and Send: Tap “Send,” then tap the “Send” button.
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Authenticate Payment: Double-click the side button and confirm the payment with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.
Utilizing Tap to Cash for In-Person Transfers
For those moments when you’re physically with the person you need to pay, Tap to Cash offers an even quicker method:
Image of the top of two iPhones next to each other
Learn how to use Tap to Cash to seamlessly send and receive money without needing to exchange contact details. Simply hold your iPhone near the recipient’s iPhone to initiate the transfer.
Setting Up Recurring Apple Cash Payments
For regular payments like allowances or rent, you can set up recurring payments:
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Open Wallet App & Apple Cash: Open the Wallet app, tap your Apple Cash card.
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Access Recurring Payments: Tap the “More” button (three dots), then select “Recurring Payments,” and “New Recurring Payment”.
Image of iPhone showing the More menu with Recurring Payments selected -
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 add a memo for identification.
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Review and Confirm: Tap “Send”, then tap the “Send” button to review the details.
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Authenticate Setup: Double-click the side button and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode.
You can easily edit, cancel, or pause these recurring payments in the same “Recurring Payments” section of your Apple Cash card in the Wallet app.
Accepting Apple Cash Payments
When someone sends you money via Apple Cash, it’s securely deposited into your Apple Cash account. You can use this balance to make purchases with Apple Pay, send money to others, or transfer it to your bank account.
Upon receiving your first payment, you might be required to verify your identity to ensure account security.
You can choose to automatically or manually accept payments:
- Open Wallet & Card Details: Open the Wallet app, tap your Apple Cash card, then tap the “More” button and “Card Details.”
- Choose Acceptance Mode: Select either “Manually Accept Payments” or “Automatically Accept Payments.”
With manual acceptance, you’ll need to open the relevant Messages conversation and tap “Accept” within 7 days of receiving the payment. Automatic acceptance will directly deposit funds into your Apple Cash balance.
If you haven’t set up Apple Cash and someone sends you money, tapping “Accept” in the Messages app will guide you through the setup process.
Rejecting an Apple Cash Payment
If you need to reject a payment:
- Open Wallet and Transactions: Open the Wallet app, tap your Apple Cash card, and find the payment in “Latest Transactions.”
- Reject Payment: Tap on the payment, tap it again to view details, then tap “Reject Payment.”
If you don’t see the option to reject, it might be because you’ve already accepted the payment.
Requesting Money via Messages
Need to request money from someone? Here’s how:
On Your iPhone
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Open Messages: Open a conversation or start a new one in the Messages app.
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Access Apple Cash Request: Tap the plus (+) icon, choose Apple Cash, enter the amount, and tap “Request.”
Image of iPhone requesting money in the Messages app -
Send Request: Tap the “Send” button to send your payment request.
On Your Apple Watch
- Open Messages: Open Messages app and select a conversation.
- Access Apple Cash Request: Tap the plus (+) icon, then Apple Cash.
- Enter Amount and Request: Enter the amount, then swipe left on the “Send” button to reveal the “Request” button, and tap “Request.”
Responding to Payment Requests
When you receive a payment request:
On Your iPhone
- Open Request: Open the payment request in Messages and tap “Pay” on the message.
- Review and Send: Review the amount, tap “Send” to continue, or adjust the amount and then tap “Send.”
- Authenticate Payment: Double-click the side button to pay using Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode.
To decline a request, simply ignore the message.
On Your Apple Watch
- Open Request: Open the request in Messages and tap “Pay.”
- Review and Send: Review the amount, tap “Send” to continue, adjusting the amount with the Digital Crown if necessary, then tap “Send.”
- Authenticate Payment: Double-click the side button to confirm and send.
Canceling a Sent Payment
If you sent money to the wrong person or need to cancel a payment, you can do so if the transaction is still pending. Check your Apple Cash transaction history. If the status is “pending,” the recipient hasn’t accepted it yet, and you can cancel the payment.
Remember, Apple Cash transactions are private, so always ensure you are sending money to people you know and trust.
Conclusion
Sending money through Apple Pay with Apple Cash is a straightforward, secure, and versatile process. Whether you’re splitting a bill, sending a gift, or managing regular payments, Apple Pay offers multiple convenient methods to handle your transactions directly from your Apple devices. By following this guide, you can efficiently utilize Apple Pay to send and receive money, making your financial interactions smoother and more integrated into your daily life.
* 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. Terms and Conditions apply. Available only in the U.S. on eligible devices for users 18 and older who are U.S. residents.
