iPhone XS Max Apple tap to pay not working.

Hi there tarnya-1977,

From what we can tell, you're having difficulty making in-store Apple Pay transactions successfully. We're glad you've joined us in Apple Support Communities, and we can provide some guidance.

To begin, have you successfully added your card to Apple Pay? If not, and you’re having difficulty adding it, work through the suggested steps here:

If you can't add cards to Wallet to use with Apple Pay

If you have added a card to Wallet, and you’re still having issues making in-store transactions, you’ll want to be sure you’ve tried restarting your iPhone and try using Apple Pay again afterwards. Learn more about restarting iPhone here:

Restart your iPhone

If restarting doesn’t seem to help, let’s go to Settings > General > About to ensure the most recent iOS version is installed, which is iOS 14.6. If needed, learn how to update your iPhone here:

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

You’ll also want to make sure that you’re holding your iPhone very close to the terminal so that it almost touches. Also, if you’re using a protective case with your iPhone, try removing it to see if that helps. Learn more about using Apple Pay for in-store purchases here:

How to use Apple Pay

We hope this information is helpful. Don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any more questions.

Cheers.

tarnya-1977,

Thanks for following up with us. We'd like to learn more to see how we can help. Is this happening when trying to make in-store transactions with Apple Pay at multiple different stores? Even though you may see a contactless payment symbol, it's possible the store may not accept Apple Pay. You can try asking if the store accepts Apple Pay and if the store is having issues with Apple Pay transactions.

Also, have you tried holding your iPhone near other parts of the terminal to see if that helps? We ask because the sensor may not be located in the same area as the Apple Pay sticker on the terminal. Also, try using another point-of-sale terminal, if the store has one available.

Let us know how it goes.

Take care.