How to use the Apple Cash card to shop online

Main points

• Apple Cash offers a convenient virtual card number option for online purchases.
• This feature, available with iOS 17.4, allows Apple Cash to be used on websites that don’t support Apple Pay.
• The virtual card number and expiration date remain the same, and the security code changes each time for added security.

Apple Cash, Apple’s peer-to-peer payment system, may not have the brand recognition of Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle, but its deep integration with iOS and iPadOS makes it a super-easy way to send money to friends and family. Apple first added Apple Cash in 2017 and has slowly expanded its capabilities as Apple Pay has improved, even allowing cash back payments via Apple Card in the form of Apple Cash right away.

Now you can use Apple Cash wherever a website or online vendor supports Apple Pay, as the service adds the ability to generate virtual card numbers, expiration dates and security codes for use anywhere credit or debit cards are accepted.

The problem with using the Apple Pay ecosystem is that, unlike the company’s credit cards, Apple Cash can only be used when you make purchases from stores that support Apple Pay. It’s great when most bricks-and-mortar stores accept tap and pay, but online it’s a different story entirely. But with the release of iOS 17.4, that all changed.

Now you can use Apple Cash wherever a website or online vendor supports Apple Pay, as the service adds the ability to generate virtual card numbers, expiration dates and security codes for use anywhere credit or debit cards are accepted. Here’s how to set it up on your iPhone or iPad.

How to set up your virtual card number

Once set up, you can use it to buy stuff online

Get a dedicated virtual card number for your Apple Cash account in just a few taps. You need to do the following:

1. Open Wallet application.
2. Choose your Apple Cash Card.
3. Click three dots more button (You might even see a prompt to set up a virtual card number).
4. choose Set virtual card number,then click continue.
5. Verify your identity using Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.
6. tap complete Your virtual card number is then ready for use.

The process is similar on iPad, but done through the Settings app instead of the Wallet app.

1. Open Settings application on your iPad.
2. Scroll the Settings sidebar and click Wallet and Apple Pay.
3. Choose your Apple Cash Card then click Card information.
4. tap Set virtual card number,then click continue.
5. Verify your identity using Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.
6. tap complete Your virtual card number should be ready.

How to use your virtual card number

It works just like a regular credit card

Once you create your virtual card number, the primary way to use it is to view the information in the Wallet application (wallet > Apple Cash Card > three dots icon > card number) and copy and paste it into the payment information field on a website that doesn’t use Apple Pay.

Your virtual card number and expiration date will remain the same unless you request a new one. However, the security code changes every time you open the Wallet app or use Safari’s autofill feature. This is an anti-fraud feature used by Apple on Apple Card.

However, if you use Safari on iPad and iPhone, you can use the Safari Autofill feature to make the process easier. Your phone or tablet may have prompted you to set this up when you first make a payment on Safari, but here’s how to make sure you’re prepared.

1. Open set up app.
2. tap Safari.
3. scroll down to General partial sum Click on autofill.
4. switch credit card arrive.
5. Check Saved credit card Check to see if Apple Cash is available and add any other cards.
6. Once you’ve done this, you should be able to use Apple Cash as an autofill option when you make a purchase in Safari.