To stop websites from checking whether you have Apple Pay on your iPhone, open Settings, tap Apps, tap Safari, tap Advanced, and turn off Check for Apple Pay. The change takes effect as soon as you flip the switch, and you can turn it back on from the same screen whenever you like.
These steps follow Apple’s current documentation for iOS 27, and the same path applies on iOS 26 and iOS 18. Older versions of iOS do not have an Apps menu in Settings, so the route is slightly different there. Both are covered below, along with the matching setting on an iPad and a Mac.
What You Need Before You Start
- An iPhone you can unlock. The switch is in the Settings app, so you do not need to open Safari or visit any website.
- Safari as your browser. Check for Apple Pay is a Safari setting. It does not control other browsers that you have installed.
- No Apple Pay setup required. You can turn the switch off whether or not you have added a card to the Wallet app. It is also separate from Apple Cash, so it does not disable the option to send money through Messages.
How to Turn Off Check for Apple Pay on iPhone (iOS 18 and Later)
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll to the bottom of the main Settings screen and tap Apps. This opens an alphabetical list of the apps on your iPhone.
- Tap Safari. You can scroll to the S section or type Safari in the search field at the top of the list.
- Scroll to the bottom of the Safari settings and tap Advanced.
- Find Check for Apple Pay and tap the switch to turn it off. The switch is off when it is gray instead of green.
There is no confirmation message and nothing to save. Close Settings and the new setting is already in place. Apple describes this route on its Safari & Privacy page, which says you can stop websites you visit from checking if Apple Pay is enabled by going to Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced.
How to Stop Apple Pay Checks on Older iOS Versions
On iOS 17 and earlier, Settings does not have an Apps menu, so Safari appears in the main Settings list. In those older versions, the switch sat in the Privacy & Security section of the Safari menu.
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Safari.
- Scroll to the Privacy & Security section and turn off Check for Apple Pay.
Apple has moved this switch between iOS versions, and its current documentation only describes the newest layout. If you do not see the switch in the Privacy & Security section on your older iPhone, scroll to the bottom of the Safari menu, tap Advanced, and look there.
What Check for Apple Pay Does
Apple Pay is Apple’s payment service. It lets you pay with a card stored in the Wallet app instead of typing the card number. Online stores that accept it usually want to show an Apple Pay button only to shoppers who can use it, so Safari lets them ask a simple question first.
Apple puts it this way: when you are on a website that uses Apple Pay, the site can check whether you have Apple Pay enabled on that device. Apple’s Apple Pay & Privacy page adds that a website in Safari can also check whether Apple Pay is set up on an iPhone or Apple Watch that uses the same Apple Account. Turning off Check for Apple Pay stops the websites you visit from making that check.
The check is about whether Apple Pay is available. According to Apple, your actual card number is not shared with a merchant when you pay with Apple Pay, and the information needed to process a payment is shared only when you make one.
Keep the limits of the switch in mind before you rely on it:
- It does not turn off Apple Pay. Your cards stay in Wallet. To remove a card, follow the steps for deleting a card from Apple Pay on an iPhone.
- It covers websites, not apps. Apps that use Apple Pay can also check whether it is enabled, and the Safari setting is documented only as a control for the websites you visit.
- It applies to one device. Each iPhone, iPad, and Mac has its own switch.
- It may change what checkout pages show. A site that cannot confirm Apple Pay may leave the Apple Pay button off the page, so you would pay another way. Apple does not spell out how each site responds, so expect this to vary.
How to Confirm the Change or Turn It Back On
To confirm the setting, go back to Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced and look at the Check for Apple Pay switch. Gray means websites cannot check. Green means they can.
To undo the change, tap the switch again so it turns green. If a store’s Apple Pay button did not appear while the setting was off, reload the page in Safari after turning it back on.
The Same Setting on iPad, Apple Vision Pro, and Mac
Because the switch is per device, repeat the change anywhere else you browse with Safari.
| Device | Where to go | What to change |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone (iOS 18 and later) | Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced | Turn off Check for Apple Pay |
| iPad and Apple Vision Pro | Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced | Turn off Check for Apple Pay |
| Mac | Safari > Settings > Advanced | Deselect Allow websites to check for Apple Pay and Apple Card |
On a Mac, open Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, choose Settings, click Advanced, and deselect Allow websites to check for Apple Pay and Apple Card. Apple’s Safari User Guide for Mac notes that this option appears only on certain setups, such as a Mac with Touch ID, so you may not see it on every Mac.
Other Privacy Switches on the Same Screen
While you are in Safari’s Advanced settings, two neighboring options are worth a look.
- Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement. When this is on, Safari sends websites attribution reports about ad views and clicks. The reports contain limited data, no personal data, and are delayed randomly between 24 and 48 hours. Turn the switch off if you do not want Safari to send them.
- Block All Cookies. This one has bigger side effects, because many sites need cookies to keep you signed in. Read how to block or allow cookies on iPhone before you change it.
The main Safari settings screen has more privacy controls, including Prevent Cross-Site Tracking, Hide IP Address, and Fraudulent Website Warning. The iPhone User Guide lists them. If your concern is card details rather than Apple Pay, you can also turn off credit card AutoFill in Safari.
Apple’s guide is free to read in any browser. To pick your iOS version, read about how to get the iPhone User Guide.
The same screen also has a Location setting, where you can stop Safari websites from using your location.
Troubleshooting
- You cannot find Check for Apple Pay. On iOS 18 and later it is not on the main Safari settings screen. Scroll to the very bottom and tap Advanced. On older iOS, look in the Privacy & Security section of the Safari menu.
- You cannot find Safari in Settings. On iOS 18 and later, tap Apps at the bottom of the main Settings screen first. Safari is no longer in the main list.
- A site still shows Apple Pay after you turn the switch off. Reload the page or open the site in a new tab. Also check that you are in Safari, because the switch does not control other browsers. A payment started in a third-party browser can use a code that you scan with an Apple Pay device, which is a separate process.
- An app still offers Apple Pay. That is expected. The switch is a Safari setting for websites.
- The setting is on again on another device. The switch does not carry over. Change it on each iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off Check for Apple Pay stop me from using Apple Pay?
It does not turn off Apple Pay or remove your cards. The setting only stops websites in Safari from checking whether Apple Pay is enabled. Because some sites decide whether to show an Apple Pay button based on that check, you may not see the button on those sites until you turn the switch back on.
Can a website see my card number through this check?
The check lets a site learn whether Apple Pay is enabled on your device. Apple also says the card number from your credit, debit, or prepaid card is not provided to the merchant when you use Apple Pay.
Why is Check for Apple Pay missing from my Safari settings?
On iOS 18 and later, it moved to Settings > Apps > Safari > Advanced. If you are looking at the main Safari settings screen, scroll to the bottom and tap Advanced.
Is there a similar setting on a Mac?
Yes. In Safari on a Mac, choose Safari > Settings > Advanced and deselect Allow websites to check for Apple Pay and Apple Card. The option appears only on certain Mac and iPhone setups.
Does this setting reduce ad tracking?
No. It only affects the Apple Pay check. For ads, use Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement on the same screen. For app tracking settings, read about how to limit ad tracking on iPhone.
Can I remove tickets and passes from Apple Wallet too?
Yes. Passes are separate from payment cards. For an example, follow the steps for deleting a Fandango ticket from Apple Wallet.
Next Step
After you turn off the switch on your iPhone, make the same change on any iPad or Mac where you shop in Safari. For more about the payment service itself, visit Apple Pay Support.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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