SellUsediPhoneFast · Safe · Simple
Remove Apple Pay cards before selling an iPhone in the Wallet app, by tapping each card and choosing Remove Card, or remotely at account.apple.com when the phone is no longer in hand. Signing out of the Apple Account and erasing the iPhone also removes every card from the device. Apple Pay does not store the actual card number on the iPhone; it stores a device-specific number that the card issuer can suspend. These steps are part of preparing the phone for Sell iPhone for Cash.
- On the iPhone: Wallet > tap a card > More (three dots) > Card Details > Remove Card.
- Remotely: account.apple.com > Devices > select the iPhone > remove Apple Pay items.
- By erasing: sign out of the Apple Account, then Erase All Content and Settings.
- Security: each card on Apple Pay uses a Device Account Number, not the real card number.
Does erasing an iPhone remove Apple Pay cards?
Erasing an iPhone removes Apple Pay cards from the device, because Erase All Content and Settings deletes the Wallet data and the secure keys that authorize payments. Signing out of the Apple Account before the erase also removes the cards. The table shows the effect of each action.
| Action | Removes cards from the iPhone | Removes the device from the Apple Account |
|---|---|---|
| Remove Card in Wallet | Yes, one card at a time | No |
| Sign out of the Apple Account | Yes | Yes |
| Erase All Content and Settings | Yes | Yes, when the Apple Account password is entered during the erase |
| Restore with a computer in recovery mode | Yes | No; Activation Lock may remain |
Removing cards manually first is optional, but it confirms removal for each card. How to Factory Reset an iPhone Before Selling It covers the erase.
How do I remove cards on the iPhone?
Remove cards on the iPhone in 5 steps:
- Open the Wallet app.
- Tap the card to remove.
- Tap the More button, shown as three dots, and then Card Details.
- Scroll down and tap Remove Card.
- Repeat for every credit, debit, transit and store card.
Cards can also be removed in Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay. Passes, such as boarding passes and tickets, are removed by swiping or tapping Remove Pass. Remove Apple Cash and the Apple Card from the phone as well; both remain on the Apple Account and appear again on the next device.
How do I remove cards remotely?
Remove cards remotely when the iPhone is already shipped, lost or erased, in 5 steps:
- Sign in at account.apple.com with the Apple Account.
- Open the Devices section.
- Select the iPhone that was sold.
- Remove the listed Apple Pay cards, then remove the device from the account.
- Confirm the removal.
The Find Devices page at icloud.com also offers Remove This Device, which removes the iPhone from the account and turns off Activation Lock. How to Remove an iPhone From Your Apple Account Before You Sell covers that step.
Is Apple Pay safe on a sold iPhone?
Apple Pay is safe on a sold iPhone for 4 reasons:
- No real card number on the device: Apple Pay stores a Device Account Number, which differs from the card number.
- Authentication required: each payment needs Face ID, Touch ID or the passcode of the person who added the card.
- Erasure removes the keys: erasing deletes the secure keys stored in the Secure Element.
- Issuers can suspend the token: the bank can cancel the Device Account Number without replacing the physical card.
A buyer who sets up an erased iPhone sees an empty Wallet and must add their own cards.
What is a Device Account Number?
A Device Account Number is a unique number that the card network assigns to a card when it is added to Apple Pay on a specific device. It is stored in the iPhone's Secure Element, a dedicated chip. Merchants receive the Device Account Number and a one-time security code, not the card number. Each device has a different Device Account Number for the same card, so removing one device does not affect the card on other devices or in a wallet.
Should I call my bank before selling?
Calling the bank before selling is not required when the cards are removed and the iPhone is erased. A call or app check is useful in 2 cases: when the phone was shipped before the cards were removed, or when the seller wants confirmation that the device token is cancelled. Most bank apps list the devices where a card is active and let the account holder remove a device.
What about Apple Cash and Apple Card?
Apple Cash and Apple Card stay on the Apple Account after the iPhone is erased, and they appear on the next iPhone after sign-in. Removing them from the old phone's Wallet removes only that device's access. An Apple Cash balance stays in the account. Apple Card statements and payments continue through the Wallet app on the new iPhone.
What about transit cards and Express Mode?
Transit cards with Express Mode work without Face ID or a passcode, so remove them before shipping. Some transit cards move to the new iPhone when removed from the old one, and the balance stays with the card. Remove them in Wallet, then add them on the new phone. A transit card left on an erased phone is deleted with the erase.
What about car keys, home keys and IDs in Wallet?
Car keys, home keys, hotel keys and digital IDs in Wallet are removed by erasing the iPhone, and each can be removed individually first in Wallet. Digital car keys may require removal from the vehicle's settings or the manufacturer's app as well. A state digital ID in Wallet is removed with the erase and can be added again on the new iPhone in participating states.
What if I already shipped the iPhone with cards on it?
An iPhone already shipped with cards on it remains protected, because each payment requires the original owner's Face ID, Touch ID or passcode. Remove the cards remotely at account.apple.com, and remove the device from the Apple Account at icloud.com. A buyback erases and tests the phone on arrival, but the seller's own removal is the reliable step. Status updates appear on the tracking page.
What is the full checklist before selling?
The full checklist before selling has 8 steps, and Apple Pay removal is one of them:
| Order | Step |
|---|---|
| 1 | Back up the iPhone |
| 2 | Transfer data to the new phone |
| 3 | Unpair the Apple Watch |
| 4 | Remove Apple Pay cards and passes |
| 5 | Turn off iMessage and FaceTime |
| 6 | Sign out of the Apple Account, which turns off Find My |
| 7 | Erase all content and settings |
| 8 | Ship with the free prepaid tracked label |
How to Prepare Your iPhone to Sell: 9-Step Checklist covers each step.
Does Apple Pay removal affect my Apple Watch?
Removing Apple Pay cards from the iPhone does not remove them from a paired Apple Watch, because the watch has its own Device Account Numbers. Unpairing the watch from the iPhone erases the watch and removes its cards. When the watch stays in use with a new iPhone, add the cards again in the Watch app on the new phone. Unpair Your Apple Watch Before Selling Your iPhone covers the steps.
How do I remove Apple Pay from a broken iPhone?
Remove Apple Pay from a broken iPhone remotely at account.apple.com or icloud.com, because the Wallet app cannot be used on a phone with a dead screen or no power. Choosing Erase iPhone in Find Devices erases the phone when it next connects to the internet. A broken iPhone can still be sold. Where to Sell a Broken iPhone for Cash explains the options.
Does Lost Mode suspend Apple Pay?
Lost Mode suspends Apple Pay on the iPhone, including Apple Pay cards and Express Mode transit cards, until the owner signs in again. Lost Mode is for a missing phone, not a sold one, because a phone in Lost Mode cannot be sold or activated by a new owner. For a sale, remove the cards and the device from the account instead.
Can a buyer add their own cards after I sell?
A buyer can add their own cards after the iPhone is erased and set up with their own Apple Account, because the Wallet is empty and the Secure Element no longer holds the seller's keys. Activation Lock must be off for setup to complete, which happens when the seller signs out before erasing.
How long does remote removal take?
Remote removal at account.apple.com takes effect in Apple's systems right away, and the card issuer usually confirms the token cancellation within minutes to a few hours. When the iPhone is offline, the device's local Wallet data is deleted the next time the phone connects, or when it is erased. A buyback erases every phone during inspection, so the data is removed either way.
Which Wallet items should I check before selling?
Check 7 types of Wallet items before selling:
| Item | Removed by erase | Extra step |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | Yes | None |
| Apple Cash | Yes, from the device | Balance stays on the account |
| Apple Card | Yes, from the device | Account stays active |
| Transit cards | Yes | Move the balance to the new phone first |
| Car keys | Yes | Remove the key in the vehicle app |
| Home and hotel keys | Yes | None |
| Boarding passes and tickets | Yes | Add active passes to the new phone |
Do store loyalty cards in Wallet matter?
Store loyalty cards and rewards passes in Wallet carry no payment ability on their own, and erasing removes them. Add them again on the new phone through each store's app. Loyalty points stay with the store account, not the phone.
What should I record before removing cards?
Record 2 items before removing cards: the list of cards and passes in Wallet, and any active transit balance. The list makes it easy to add each card to the new iPhone, and the balance confirms the transfer.
Does a buyback check for Apple Pay on arrival?
A buyback checks that the iPhone is signed out and Activation Lock is off when it arrives, then erases the phone during testing. Any Wallet data left on the device is deleted with that erase. The seller's own removal before shipping remains the first safeguard.
Frequently asked questions about removing Apple Pay before selling
Does a factory reset remove Apple Pay from an iPhone?
A factory reset with Erase All Content and Settings removes Apple Pay cards from the iPhone, because it deletes Wallet data and the payment keys stored in the Secure Element. Signing out of the Apple Account before the reset also removes the cards and the device from the account, which turns off Activation Lock.
How do I remove Apple Pay from an iPhone I no longer have?
Sign in at account.apple.com, open Devices, select the iPhone and remove the Apple Pay cards listed for it. Then remove the device from the account. The Find Devices page at icloud.com can also erase the phone and remove it from the account once the phone connects to the internet. A free quote with these details shows the exact offer, which stays valid for 14 days.
Can someone use my Apple Pay on a sold iPhone?
Someone cannot use the seller's Apple Pay on a sold iPhone, because each payment requires the original owner's Face ID, Touch ID or passcode, and the phone stores a Device Account Number instead of the real card number. Erasing the phone deletes the payment keys. Banks can also cancel the device token on request.
Do I need to remove each card separately?
Removing each card separately is optional, because signing out of the Apple Account and erasing the iPhone removes all cards at once. Removing cards one by one in Wallet confirms each removal. Express Mode transit cards and car keys are worth removing first, because they can work without Face ID or a passcode.
Does removing Apple Pay from my iPhone remove it from my Apple Watch?
Removing Apple Pay from the iPhone does not remove it from a paired Apple Watch, because the watch has its own Device Account Numbers. Unpairing the watch erases it and removes its cards. Add the cards again in the Watch app on the new iPhone when the watch stays in use.
Sources and references
- Apple Support: remove a card from Apple Wallet, and Apple Pay security and privacy overview.
- Apple Platform Security Guide: Apple Pay and the Secure Element.
- Apple Support: what to do before you sell, give away or trade in your iPhone.