If you’re unable to remove a card from Apple Pay, there could be a few reasons for this. One possible reason is that you have active subscriptions or services linked to that card. Apple requires you to keep at least one payment method on file if you have any active subscriptions or services, as they need a way to charge you for those ongoing services.
To check if you have any active subscriptions, you can go to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, tap on your Apple ID at the top of the screen, and then select “Subscriptions.” Here, you’ll see a list of all your active subscriptions. If you find any, you’ll need to cancel them before you can remove the card.
Another reason you may not be able to remove a card is if you have purchase sharing enabled. Purchase sharing allows multiple family members to share purchases made on the App Store, iTunes Store, and Apple Books. If you have purchase sharing enabled and you’re the organizer of the family sharing group, you’ll need to keep a payment method on file for any family member who has made purchases or has an unpaid balance.
To check if you have purchase sharing enabled, go to the Settings app, tap on your Apple ID, select “Family Sharing,” and then choose “Purchase Sharing.” If purchase sharing is enabled, you’ll see a list of family members and their payment methods. If any family member has made purchases or has an unpaid balance, you won’t be able to remove the card associated with their account.
Lastly, if you have any unpaid balances on your Apple ID, you won’t be able to remove the payment method until the balance is paid. This could be due to outstanding app or media purchases, subscriptions, or unpaid iCloud storage fees. You can check if you have any outstanding balances by going to the Settings app, tapping on your Apple ID, selecting “Media & Purchases,” and then choosing “Payment & Shipping.” Here, you’ll see any unpaid balances listed.
You may not be able to remove a card from Apple Pay if you have active subscriptions, use purchase sharing, or have an unpaid balance. Apple requires you to keep at least one payment method on file to ensure they can charge you for any ongoing services or purchases. To remove the card, you’ll need to cancel any active subscriptions, disable purchase sharing, or pay off any outstanding balances.