Can’t update apps on App Store because of “payment fail” though I have no subscriptions

If you are being asked to enter a payment method, Apple has multiple criteria* requiring the presence of a payment method, even for free items. Since you may be encountering one of those situations, you have no option but to enter a valid payment method if you wish to continue downloading. Read the support article Add a payment method to your Apple ID - Apple Support about how to do that. The payment method may not be charged if you also have account balance or the item is free, but the payment method has to be present. This next article lists valid payment methods for different countries but note that in this situation Apple Account balance alone apparently may not meet the requirement and you need to use another payment method until you find one that satisfies Apple's requirement (often a credit or debit card): Payment methods that you can use with your Apple ID - Apple Support .

If you have already entered a payment method, use the first link above to check it. If a message appears in red there is a problem with it. If the information is still correct and current, contact your financial institution.

* Ref.:

Add a payment method to your Apple ID - Apple Support

"To make purchases from the App Store and use subscriptions like iCloud+ and Apple Music, you need at least one payment method on file."

If you can’t download or update apps on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

- "You might need to have a payment method on file, even if the app that you want to download is free."

Remove a payment method from your Apple ID - Apple Support

- If you have any active subscriptions, you must have at least one payment method on file other than Apple ID credit.

- You might not be able to remove a payment method if you have a balance due.

Sign in with your Apple ID - Apple Support

- "When you sign in to the App Store and other media services for the first time, you might need to add a credit card or other payment information."

How apps, content, and subscriptions from Apple are billed - Apple Support

- You can’t charge gifts to your Apple ID balance. If you send a gift or gift card, your primary payment method is charged.

- Some subscriptions might not be charged to your Apple ID balance.

What you can buy with your Apple Gift Card or Apple Account balance - Apple Support

"Some purchases might require that you have a credit card on file, even if you use your Apple Account balance to make the purchase."

You may need to have a valid payment method on file, even if the app you want to download is free.

You can have a credit card / debit card on file and an Apple Account balance.

If you have set your Apple Account balance as your default payment method, your default payment method will be used first by Apple when you need to make a payment.

Free apps has also In-app pruchase.

See -> If you can’t download or update apps on your iPhone or iPad

If you can’t download or update apps on your iPhone or iPad – Apple Support (UK)

scroll to point 2  ⤵️

Add a payment method

You may need to have a valid payment method on file, even if the app you want to download is free.

Add a payment method

•  If you want to change your card, you need to add first the new card, then remove the old card.
• or if you want to use your Apple Account balance, you need to set your Apple Account balance as your default payment.

If you're still unable to update your payment method, Contact Apple Support.

See also the following Apple articles:

Payment methods you can use with your Apple ID

Payment methods you can use with your Apple ID – Apple Support (UK)

fyi: Not all credit & debit cards seem to work with App Store / iTunes Store, try a different one, or preferably a credit card.

If your card is not accepted as a paymenf method, you need to contact your bank.

What you can buy with your Apple Gift Card or Apple Account balance

What you can buy with your Apple Gift Card or Apple Account balance – Apple Support (UK)

and ⤵️

• You can't use your Apple Account balance to send gifts or gift cards.
• If you use Family Sharing, your family members can't spend your Apple Account balance. Funds that you add to your Apple Account balance are only available to you. Find out more about how purchases are billed to your Apple Account balance.
• Some purchases might require you to have a credit card on file, even if you use your Apple Account balance to make the purchase.

Remove a payment method from your Apple ID -> Remove a payment method from your Apple ID - Apple Support

⤵️

If you can't remove a payment method

If you have subscriptions like iCloud+, have an unpaid balance, or you use purchase sharing, you must keep at least one payment method on file.

• Do you have a subscription? You can cancel iCloud+ and cancel other subscriptions from Apple. When your subscription period is over, remove your payment method.
• If you're in a Family Sharing group and you use purchase sharing, the family organizer must have a payment method on file. If you're the family organizer, turn off purchase sharing, then remove the payment method.
• If you have an unpaid balance, you might not be able to remove a payment method. Instead, change your payment method.
• If you still can't remove a payment method, contact Apple Support.

If you have followed all the steps and instructions and if you still need help, get support from Apple directly -> Get Support or call Apple in your region see -> Contact Apple for support and service or check -> here for more support and assistance.

Idk if it works for everyone but what I found works is delete the app once you cancel the subscriptions for the app then redownload the app. I just did it and it worked so hopefully it works for you guys too. I’m pretty sure it’s bc it clears all the data for the app once you delete it. MAKE SURE THE SUBSCRIPTION IS CANCELED OR THEN IDK WHAT TO TELL YOU

Alyssa know I’m not the only one going through this thing I literally thought I was maybe Apple will see all of this and fix the situation because I’m telling you I feel like what homeboy said freaking going into the S 23 just because this is so frustrating I’m literally usinga old iPhone just to freaking use apps that I can’t download so it is pretty irritated having to work off of two phones and I am going to try the recovery key thing. I forgot all about that I just don’t know where the first recovery key is OMG there’s got to be somewhere around this you guys I mean all the stuff people be hacking and people be doing and figuring out and breaking down payrolls and all the crap people do there’s gotta be way to bypass This.

I have subscriptions but all are paid but I still can’t update or load an app on both my IPhone 13 Pro Max and IPad Pro max M2 using the same Apple ID. If I try to remove payment methods it refuses saying there is an active subscription. Am stuck my apps have not updated in a while now. I would need a reset here bacause am losing out on a business application.

Did not help in my case I tried but thank you very much for trying to help! Guess I can’t comment on a comment directly my bad a user here is attempting to help in the comments. As they got theirs to work.

I can’t download the app because I don’t know my recovery keys

im havin the same thing happen and it doesnt even let me set my apple card as default payment

This didn’t help at all and my card is already valid

me too

My idea is in my mind

Can’t update apps on App Store because of “payment fail” though I have no subscriptions why

I can’t update my golf game, it keeps saying previous billing problem

I can’t update my apps on my phone because of the payment

I had the same thing happen but when i added a new payment method it still didnt work apple might not be the better choice