JustSomeOldGuy

Q: Does Apple Pay actually work without an internet connection?

Apple has made a big deal about how none of your banking information is stored anywhere but on your device.  So why does Apple Pay require an internet connection to make a purchase?  (Apple support told me it does, no matter what.)  So if you're out of range or some other computer glitch keeps your device from accessing the internet, you're stuck using more reliable methods...which work just fine without an internet connection.

 

Can someone please clarify whether an internet connection is always required to use Apple Pay, and if so, why? This doesn't seem rational to me.  If no information is stored elsewhere about me or my card, what could they possibly be checking?  Furthermore, what information of mine is my iPhone/Apple Watch sending when making a purchase?  What is being verified by Apple that requires an internet connection at time of purchase?  Cell and wifi connections can be monitored and hacked.  Apple Pay doesn't sound so secure to me!

Apple Watch, watchOS 1.0.1

Posted on Sep 24, 2015 2:46 PM

Close

Q: Does Apple Pay actually work without an internet connection?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Previous Page 2
  • by Soniq2,

    Soniq2 Soniq2 Jun 20, 2016 6:20 AM in response to JustSomeOldGuy
    Level 1 (43 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 20, 2016 6:20 AM in response to JustSomeOldGuy

    I don't believe an internet connect is required for ApplePay to operate. (It is required, however, during setup, but not during purchase transactions).

     

    My wife can place here 6S+ into airplane mode (which should shut off the Cellular, WiFi and Bluetooth radios) and still make purchases via ApplePay.

    This tells me two things.

    1) Airplane mode shuts off all radios on the device except the NFC radio.

    2) Internet connection via Cellular or WiFi is not needed for ApplePay transactions.

     

    -Mike

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jun 20, 2016 6:36 AM in response to Soniq2
    Level 7 (30,218 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jun 20, 2016 6:36 AM in response to Soniq2

    Hi Mike

    Soniq2 wrote:

     

    I don't believe an internet connect is required for ApplePay to operate. (It is required, however, during setup, but not during purchase transactions).

     

    This question was answered 9 months ago:

     

    Jonathan UK wrote: (Sep 25, 2015)

     

     

    Your Apple Pay equipped device does not need to have an internet connection at the time of purchase. For example, you can use Apple Pay on Apple Watch without having the paired iPhone with you (leaving the watch without access to Wi-Fi or cellular data).

     

    The merchant will need a means of transmitting data to the payment network, but that is entirely on their side. ..

     

    JustSomeOldGuy wrote: (Sep 26, 2015)

     

     

    Thanks so much!

     

    I called Apple support again to get a definitive answer, and this time was told their documentation says it should work just like you described--no internet required.

     

    When reviewing old threads under the new forum design, you may find it helpful - on the first page of the thread - to click on "Read all replies >" under "There's more to the conversation" before replying, in order to avoid duplicating effort and repeating answers that have already been provided.

Previous Page 2