How to Use Apple Pay or Google Pay

Pay in stores and online using your phone instead of your physical card — Apple Pay and Google Pay are more secure than swiping a card.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Set up Apple Pay on iPhone
2.Set up Google Pay on Android
3.Pay in a store with Apple Pay
4.Pay in a store with Google Pay
5.Pay online with Apple Pay or Google Pay

Set up Apple Pay on iPhone

~19s

Open the Wallet app (it looks like a folded wallet with a colored card). Tap the "+" button in the upper right corner. Follow the prompts to add a credit or debit card — you can take a photo of the card or type the numbers manually. Your bank may send a verification code to confirm.

Set up Google Pay on Android

~15s

Open the Google Pay app (or search for "Google Wallet" on Google Play). Tap "Add card" and follow the steps to enter your credit or debit card information. Your bank will verify the card by sending a code to your phone or email.

Pay in a store with Apple Pay

~18s

Look for the contactless symbol at the payment terminal — it looks like a sideways Wi-Fi symbol. Double-click the side button on your iPhone (or press the home button on older models) to bring up Apple Pay. Hold the top of your phone near the terminal until you see a checkmark.

Pay in a store with Google Pay

~15s

Unlock your Android phone and hold the back of the phone near the contactless payment terminal. Google Pay will activate automatically when the phone detects the terminal. Wait for the checkmark or confirmation sound.

Pay online with Apple Pay or Google Pay

~16s

When shopping on websites or apps, look for the "Apple Pay" or "Google Pay" button at checkout. Tapping it will bring up a confirmation screen — verify with your face, fingerprint, or passcode to complete the purchase without typing your card number.

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Apple Pay and Google Pay are digital wallet apps that let you pay for things by holding your phone near a payment terminal at the checkout counter, instead of handing over your physical credit or debit card. They work at millions of stores in the US, including grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and restaurants. You can also use them to pay on websites and apps.

These digital wallets are actually more secure than swiping a physical card. When you pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay, the store never receives your real card number — instead, a temporary digital code is sent that can only be used once. This means that even if a store has a data breach, your actual card information is not at risk.

Setting up takes about five minutes. Apple Pay is built into iPhones (iPhone 6 and newer) and can be set up in the Wallet app. Google Pay works on Android phones.

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