The most common reason for this issue is that your personal or card information doesn’t match, such as an incorrect zip code, apartment number, or card expiration date. Other possible reasons include using an outdated version of iOS, having region or account settings that aren’t correct, or experiencing temporary Apple Pay service outages. In this article, we will discuss different ways to solve this error.
1. Change the Region of Your Phone to Your Actual Location
If your regional settings do not reflect your actual location, Apple Pay might fail to process your payments. Refreshing your region settings, even if it appears correct, is recommended.
2. Enable the ‘Allow Access When Locked’ Option
Some iPhone features are available even when the phone is locked. The Allow Access When Locked setting is essential for Apple Pay to work. If this setting is off (sometimes it gets disabled after an iOS update), Apple Pay will not work. Turning this setting on may fix the problem.
3. Restart Your Device, Sign Out of iCloud, and Sign Back In
This Apple Pay error can sometimes be caused by a software glitch or a problem connecting with Apple’s servers. To rule this out, try signing out of your Apple ID, restarting your iPhone (this clears temporary issues), and then signing back in.
4. Update the OS on Your Device
Apple regularly updates iOS to support new features and fix bugs. If your device has pending updates, this could cause Apple Pay not to work. Updating your device may resolve the issue.
5. Perform a Full Restore of Your Device
If none of the above steps work, a corrupted operating system could be the cause. Restoring your device to factory settings may fix the problem. If you’re still experiencing issues with Apple Pay, unlock your phone and hold your finger on the home button. Next, lock the screen again, and quickly double tap the home button to bring up the Apple Pay menu and check if it is operational. If none of these steps work, there is a good chance that the NFC chip in your phone is damaged. You can confirm this by visiting an Apple Store or an authorized service provider. If your phone is still under warranty, the repair or replacement should be free of charge. Also, make sure the NFC chip is properly installed; sometimes, issues happen if the unit was not properly screwed in during other repairs (like after a battery replacement).
