Prevent App Store from making me put in a credit card for a free app?

Since so many apps offer in-app purchases, Apple normally requires a payment method to be on file. You will not be charged unless you purchase something. But if you want to download apps, you should enter a payment method.

So whenever I’m trying to download any game it doesn’t matter if it is free or not he keeps asking me for my credit card information and I don’t really want my card information to be on my phone, so why does it keep asking me this even if it’s a free app

You said you "removed my payment method." Then it sounds like you put the information in. Which is it? If you do not have a payment method on record, then see the other posts. Otherwise, let us know the situation.

in 20 years I’ve never purchased an app or purchased any in app items in apps. Yet I’m forced to put a card on file just in case lol. It’s a scam. 🤡 you really shouldn’t be required to enter personal information that just around unused and primed for hacking. It’s insane

ragolise wrote:

Me too why Is that happen?

As state many times in this thread, even though an app may be free to download, most will also have one of these options:

• Free Trial
• In-App Purchase
• Subscription

Developers have to pay every year to have their apps in the store for you to download. The apps also take time and cost money to produce. The options above are used to give you a chance to see if you would like the app. Developers hope you will find it useful and will either continue with the free trial or choose one of the in-app purchases. Without a payment method there is no chance that the developer will ever be able to recoup the money they have spent.

sumeya144 wrote:

Stop asking for my credit card number, every time I try to download an app that is free Apple always ask me for credit card information, how do I remove this from my phone?

Why are you asking anissa46 to do anything? Anissa46 isn't Apple. No one on this user to user only forum is Apple. You don't have to have a credit card on your account if you don't want to. You'll simply HAVE to accept you won't be able to download apps or update apps. That is entirely your decision. If you don't want to abide by the rules of engagement, you don't get to play at all.

Angel_fly21 wrote:

I wanna download apps without having to put my credit card info in

You may "wanna [sic] download apps" without having a valid payment method on file, and I may want someone to give me a winning lottery ticket worth $1 billion USD.

But as others have repeatedly explained, if Apple's requirement is that you have a valid payment method on file to download apps, and you refuse to provide a payment method, you won't be downloading any apps. That may be fair or not, but it's not something that us fellow users have any control over.

Ecalamuneca wrote:

How can I stop this from happening I do t want to put my credit card number for a free app

There are only 2 choices:

• Add a valid payment method and you can download apps. There is no charge for free apps.
• Don't add a payment method and do not download any apps.

I’m having this same issue. Every time I try to download an app that is on my cloud and that is free it keeps prompting me to put in my card information and stating there are no cards in my apple wallet even though I have 3 different cards in my apple wallet.

[Edited by Moderator]

Klee1203 wrote:

I’m having this same issue. Every time I try to download an app that is on my cloud and that is free it keeps prompting me to put in my card information and stating there are no cards in my apple wallet even though I have 3 different cards in my apple wallet. It’s really starting to p*ss me off.

Are the cards in your Apple Wallet valid payment methods? Valid as in they could actually be charged if you chose to purchase something?

Authorization of approving an in-app purchase is made by double clicking the side button with the amount appearing on the screen, followed by verification using FaceID/TouchID or Passcode. You are responsible for those charges whether you have funds to cover them in your Apple Account or not. You will probably find that you are now required to have a valid payment method on file to download any app from the App Store. If you sign up for a free trial, it needs to be cancelled at least 24 hours before the trial period ends. Was the subscription cancelled on a website or from your device as shown here:

If you want to cancel a subscription from Apple - Apple Support

ParisYvonne00 wrote:

I’m tired of it keep on making me bout a card and I don’t even have a card so why is it doing this

Because you are REQUIRED to have a payment method on your account, even for free apps, that's why. Either have a payment method or don't use the App Store.

Owanxter12B wrote:

I can’t download without putting making me put my credit card for free apps

That's correct. You CAN'T download apps from the App Store unless you have a valid payment method tied to your account.

Owanxter12B wrote:

I can’t download without putting making me put my credit card for free apps

Your statement is true. You can't download apps without a credit card, even if the app is free to download.

BarbHayes1962 wrote:

I donot own a credit card.. how can i possibly download free apps

First and foremost the App Store is a Store. Developers are not spending their own money and time to create apps without any means for them to make money. Most apps on the store are free to download, but also have options such as In-App Purchase, Free Trial, and Subscriptions that require this payment method. Without these developers making money, there wouldn't be any apps in the store.