Send Money Easily with Apple Cash: A Comprehensive Guide

Apple Cash offers a seamless and secure way to send and receive money with people you trust, right from your Apple devices. Whether you’re splitting a bill, sending a gift, or paying someone back, Apple Cash simplifies the process. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about sending money with Apple Cash, ensuring you can confidently use this convenient feature.

Sending Money via the Messages App

One of the quickest ways to send money with Apple Cash is directly through the Messages app. This method is perfect for casual transactions and conversations. You can send money using either your iPhone or Apple Watch.

Sending Money on Your iPhone via Messages

Open Messages: Launch the Messages app on your iPhone and either start a new conversation or select an existing one.
Access Apple Cash: Tap the plus (+) icon located to the left of the message input field, then choose the Apple Cash icon.
Enter Amount: Input the amount of money you wish to send. Tap “Send” after entering the amount.
Add a Comment (Optional): For your records and the recipient’s, you can add a comment describing the payment. This comment will be visible in the “Latest Transactions” for both parties.

Image of iPhone sending money in the Messages app

Alt text: Sending money with Apple Cash in Messages app on iPhone, showing amount entry and send button.
Review Payment: Tap the “Send” button to review your payment details.
Change Payment Method (Optional): By default, Apple Cash uses your Apple Cash balance. If you prefer to send money directly from a debit card:
- Tap “Change Payment Method”.
- Toggle off the “Apple Cash” slider.
- Select your preferred debit card.
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 breakdown of payment sources will be displayed.
Confirm Payment: Double-click the side button on your iPhone and authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to finalize sending the money.

If you haven’t added a debit card to your Wallet, you’ll need to add one to send money using a debit card directly.

Sending Money on Your Apple Watch via Messages

Open Messages: Open the Messages app on your Apple Watch and select an existing conversation.
Access Apple Cash: Tap the plus (+) icon, then tap the Apple Cash icon.
Adjust Amount: Use the plus (+) and minus (-) signs or the Digital Crown to set the amount you want to send.

Image of Apple Watch sending money in the Messages app.

Alt text: Sending money via Apple Cash on Apple Watch using the Messages app, showing amount adjustment with Digital Crown.
Review and Send: Tap “Send”, review the payment details, and tap “Send” again to confirm. To cancel, tap “Cancel”.
Confirm Payment: Double-click the side button on your Apple Watch to send the payment.

Sending Money via the Wallet App

You can also send money through the Wallet app directly, offering another convenient method for managing your Apple Cash transactions.

Open Wallet: On your iPhone, open the Wallet app.
Select Apple Cash Card: Tap on your Apple Cash card.
Choose Send or Request: Tap “Send” or “Request”, then select a contact or add a new one to send money to.

Image of iPhone sending money in the Wallet app

Alt text: Sending money option in Apple Wallet app on iPhone, highlighting the “Send or Request” buttons.
Enter Amount: Tap “Next”, then enter the amount you intend to send.
Send Payment: Tap “Send”, then tap the “Send” button to proceed.
Confirm Payment: Double-click the side button and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to send the money.

Tap to Cash: A Quick Way to Send Money Nearby

For in-person transactions, Tap to Cash provides an even faster way to send money to someone nearby without needing to exchange phone numbers or email addresses.

Image of the top of two iPhones next to each other

Alt text: Two iPhones using Tap to Cash feature to send money, demonstrating proximity and contactless transaction.

Learn how to send and receive Apple Cash with someone nearby for detailed instructions on using Tap to Cash.

Setting Up Recurring Apple Cash Payments

For regular payments, such as allowances or rent, you can set up recurring Apple Cash payments directly in the Wallet app.

Open Wallet and Apple Cash: Open the Wallet app on your iPhone and tap your Apple Cash card.
Access Recurring Payments: Tap the “More” button (three dots), then select “Recurring Payments”, and finally, tap “New Recurring Payment”.

Image of iPhone showing the More menu with Recurring Payments selected

Alt text: Accessing Recurring Payments option in Apple Wallet’s More menu on iPhone to set up scheduled transfers.
Configure Payment Details: Add the recipient, choose the payment amount, set the start date, and select the frequency (weekly, biweekly, or monthly). You can also add a memo for identification.
Review and Send: Tap “Send”, then tap the “Send” button to review the recurring payment setup.
Confirm Setup: Double-click the side button and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to finalize the recurring payment setup.

Managing Recurring Payments

You can easily edit, cancel, or pause your scheduled recurring payments:

Access Recurring Payments: Open the Wallet app, tap your Apple Cash card, and tap the “More” button.
Select Payment to Manage: Tap “Recurring Payments”, then choose the specific recurring payment you want to manage.
Edit, Cancel, or Pause: You can then choose to “Cancel”, “Pause”, or “Edit” the payment details as needed.

Accepting Sent Money

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

Verifying Your Identity

For full functionality and FDIC insurance eligibility, you may be required to verify your identity when accepting payments.

Choosing How to Accept Payments: Automatically or Manually

You can choose whether to accept payments automatically or manually:

Open Card Details: In the Wallet app, tap your Apple Cash card, then tap the “More” button, and select “Card Details”.
Select Acceptance Mode: Tap “Manually Accept Payments” or “Automatically Accept Payments” to set your preference.

With “Manually Accept Payments” enabled, you’ll need to open the Messages conversation and tap “Accept” within 7 days to receive the money. If you haven’t set up Apple Cash when someone sends you money, you’ll see “Accept” in the message and will be guided to set up Apple Cash.

Rejecting a Payment

If you need to reject a payment sent to you:

Find Payment in Transactions: Open the Wallet app, tap your Apple Cash card, and find the payment in “Latest Transactions”.
Reject Payment: Tap the payment, tap it again, and then tap “Reject Payment”. If you don’t see this option, you may have already accepted the payment.

Requesting Money

Need to request money from someone? You can easily send a payment request using Apple Cash through the Messages app.

Requesting Money via Messages on iPhone

Open Messages: Open a conversation or start a new one in the Messages app.
Access Apple Cash Request: Tap the plus (+) icon, tap Apple Cash, enter the amount you’re requesting, and tap “Request”.

Image of iPhone requesting money in the Messages app

Alt text: Requesting money with Apple Cash in Messages app on iPhone, showing amount entry and request button.
Send Request: Tap the “Send” button to send your payment request.

Requesting Money via Messages on Apple Watch

Open Messages: Open the Messages app on your Apple Watch and select a conversation.
Access Apple Cash Request: Tap the plus (+) icon, then tap Apple Cash.
Enter Amount and Request: Enter the amount, then swipe left on the “Send” button to reveal the “Request” button and tap it.

Responding to Payment Requests

When you receive a payment request, responding is straightforward:

Responding to Requests on iPhone

Open Request: Open the payment request in the Messages app and tap “Pay” on the message.
Review and Send: Review the amount, tap “Send” to continue, or change the amount if needed, then tap “Send”.
Confirm Payment: Double-click the side button and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to send the payment. To decline, simply ignore the message.

Responding to Requests on 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”.
Confirm Payment: Double-click the side button to confirm and send your payment.

Canceling a Sent Payment

If you’ve Sent Money and need to cancel it, you can do so if the transaction is still pending (the recipient hasn’t accepted it yet). Check your Apple Cash transaction history and if the status is “pending,” you can cancel it.

Remember, Apple Cash person-to-person payments are designed for transactions between people you know and trust.

Learn More

* Apple Cash services are provided by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC. Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc., is a service provider 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. Users must be 18 and U.S. residents to send and receive money with an Apple Cash account. Additional terms and limitations apply, including limits on transaction amounts and eligibility requirements. See full Terms and Conditions for complete details.