How to Pay for Apps on iPhone or iPad

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: June 24, 2019 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to link a credit or debit card to your Apple ID as your default payment method, and purchase a paid app on the App Store, using an iPhone or iPad. Once you add a payment method to your Apple ID, you can use it to make purchases on all your connected platforms, including iTunes, Apple Music, and other Apple products on mobile or desktop. You can add a credit/debit card or a PayPal account as a payment method.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Setting Up a Payment Method

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Find and tap the gray gear icon on your home screen or in an app folder to open the Settings menu.
Your Apple ID name and picture are located at the top of the Settings menu. Tap on it to open the Apple ID menu.

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This will open your App Store settings on a new page.
Your Apple ID email is listed at the top in blue letters. It will open a pop-up menu.
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Tap View Apple ID in the pop-up. This will open your Apple ID account settings on a new page.
- If you're prompted, enter your Apple ID password, and tap Sign in here.
This will open a list of all your saved payment methods on a new page.
This will open the new payment method form on a new page.
You can select Credit/Debit Card here to link a card, or PayPal to link your PayPal account.
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Enter your payment information. You'll need to enter your card's number, expiration date, CVV security code, and billing address here.
- If you're adding a PayPal account, tap Log In to PayPal , login to your PayPal account to link it, and enter your billing address.
This is a blue button in the upper-right corner of your screen. It will add your new payment method to your Apple ID. You can now start making purchases on the App Store.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Buying an App

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Find and tap the App Store icon on your home screen or in an app folder.
You can open any paid app from the Today page, from an app category, or from the search.
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Tap the app's price tag button. You'll see a price tag next to every paid app. Tapping on the price will prompt you to confirm your purchase in a pop-up.
- For free apps, you'll see a GET button instead of a price.
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Tap Purchase in the confirmation pop-up. This is a blue button at the bottom. It will confirm your action, and charge your default payment method for the specified price.
- The app will now download to your iPhone or iPad.