Have you ever been in a situation where you need to make a purchase but you’ve forgotten your credit or debit card at home and don’t have any cash on you? Fortunately, if you have Apple Pay, you can easily make the purchase with just your iPhone.
Using Apple Pay on an iPhone begins with adding a card in the Wallet app. From there, you’ll set a passcode or enable Face or Touch ID for authentication. All iPhones with Face or Touch ID can use Apple Pay, except the iPhone 5S. You can set it up on your Apple Watch under “Wallet & Apple Pay.”
So, is Apple Pay worth using? Let’s take a closer look at how to set it up and what you can do with it, so that you can decide for yourself.
What Is Apple Pay?
Apple Pay is a service that allows users to make payments with their mobile devices. These payments can be made both online and in person, and they’ve improved the process of non-contact payment methods in recent years.
Apple Pay is basically a digital version of a credit or debit card, and it’s stored in the wallet app. This app allows the user to see all the incoming and outgoing transactions and is very easy to use once set up correctly.
Apple Pay can even be used to send money to other users through a feature called Apple Pay Cash. The funds are sent to the user’s Apple Cash card and are immediately available for use. You can also use Apple Pay to transfer money to any bank account via ACH Transfer. However, the Apple Pay Cash feature is only available in the United States.
Apple Pay is expanding rapidly as more and more international and local businesses accept it as a payment method. Cities like Hong Kong, New York, London, and Stockholm already allow people to pay for public transportation using Apple Pay. Apple Pay is available on the iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, and iPad.
How to Use Apple Pay on Your iPhone
Before using the Apple Pay feature, there are a few things that should be set up correctly. Firstly, the user should set up their default card on the Apple Wallet app — that card will be used for most transactions.
The user will also need to set up a passcode or enable the Face or Touch ID feature that’s available on almost all iPhones because of the Two Factor Authentication system used by Apple.
To customize your Apple Pay settings, go to the settings app on your iPhone or Apple Watch and select Wallet & Apple Pay. From there, you’ll be able to set up everything, from your default card to your preferred authentication method to whether or not you want to be able to send money via messages.
There are different ways to use the Apple Pay feature in person, depending on the authentication method chosen. The most frequently used authentication method is Face ID, as it is quick, simple, and safe.
To use this method when paying with Apple Pay, simply double tap the side button on your iPhone, and it will proceed to show you your default card, and the phone will authenticate itself using your Face ID.
When using the fingerprint touch system to authenticate your payments, simply place your fingerprint on the Touch ID button. If these systems fail to authenticate properly for any given reason, you will be required to enter your passcode.
Online payments are just as simple, as all you need to do is click on the Apple Pay option at the checkout, authenticate using Face ID or Touch ID, and you’re done!
How to Set Up Apple Pay
All iPhones that have Face ID or Touch ID are compatible with Apple Pay, except for the iPhone 5S, and all Apple Watches (on Amazon) are compatible as well. iPads and Mac models with Touch ID will be compatible as well.
Once you’ve made sure your device is compatible, here’s how to set up Apple Pay on your device:
On Your iPhone:
- Open the Wallet app.
- Click on the ‘+‘ button.
- Find the option of ‘Available Cards.’
- Select either ‘Debit‘ or ‘Credit‘ card and continue
- Enter your card details, either manually or by taking a picture of your card.
- Verify your card details and agree to the Terms and Conditions.
- Select the card you would prefer as your default card.
Once this is done, you will be asked if you want to make that card the default card of your Apple Watch as well.
On Your Apple Watch:
If you don’t have an iPhone and want to set up Apple Pay on your Apple Watch, then it’s really simple too. All you need to do is to go to the My Watch tab and click on ‘Wallet & Apple Pay.’
After that, all you need to do is to follow the steps mentioned above, as the process is exactly the same as with an iPhone.
Is Apple Pay Worth It?
If you have an iPhone or Apple Watch, then using Apple Pay is definitely something to try out. It’s a really simple and hassle-free payment method, as you won’t have to carry credit cards around with you all the time.
However, it might not be worth buying an iPhone (on Amazon) or Apple Watch if you don’t already have one, just to have Apple Pay. Apple Pay was designed to benefit Apple users, and it’s one of the factors to keep in mind if you are considering buying an iPhone or Apple watch.