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

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?


[Edited by Moderator]

iPhone 13

Posted on Jun 16, 2023 6:42 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 16, 2023 6:55 AM

Apple asks for your payment information when you create a new Apple ID or try to download an app that is not available in your country or region. However, you can remove your payment information from your phone by following these steps:


1. Open the 'Settings' app on your iPhone.

2. Tap on your Apple ID at the top of the screen.

3. Tap on 'Payment & Shipping'.

4. Tap on your payment method, and then tap 'Remove Payment Method'.

5. Confirm that you want to remove your payment method.


Once you have removed your payment information, you should be able to download free apps without being asked for your payment information.


I hope this helps!

63 replies

Feb 13, 2024 2:03 PM in response to ragolise

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.

Mar 28, 2024 2:04 PM in response to sumeya144

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.

Mar 30, 2024 10:08 AM in response to Angel_fly21

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.

Apr 30, 2024 3:47 PM in response to Ecalamuneca

If you don't want to put a payment method on your account you won't be able to use the App Store to download or update apps. There is no way around this. Free apps are indeed free, but they offer In-App Purchases, which is the ONLY way app developers make ANY money for providing their apps for free. You don't EVER have to make an In-App Purchase, which will be easy as you won't be able to download any apps anyway, unless you put a payment method on your account.

May 10, 2024 11:29 AM in response to Klee1203

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?

May 13, 2024 2:07 PM in response to terryfaye5

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

Jun 27, 2024 10:39 AM in response to BarbHayes1962

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.

Jul 4, 2024 12:26 PM in response to anissa46

For me everytime I try to download anything from the App Store it says I need some sort of verification. After I put in my Apple ID password it then asks me for my credit card information and after I put it in all it says is that I already have that payment method. When I back out it has my credit card in red letters saying that I need verification somehow even though there is nothing wrong with my card at all. It’s not a funds problem either because it’s mostly free games. I have even deleted this payment method and added it back but somehow it still says this

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

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