So I want to download an app, but it won’t let me because supposedly I need to add a payment method. I do not have a credit card or anything like that so I can’t, What do I do?? I’ve tried looking it up on google but nothing works.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone 11 Pro Max
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."
I had the same problem but checked off none when asking for a payment method and just filled out the rest information then I pressed get again and managed to install it. I don't know if that will work for you but I recommend you try that first and if that doesn't work you can follow step 2 of Heinminthu's suggestion.
JBTY wrote:
Are you sure? Because not only am I required to add a payment method, but my phone has allowed me to download an app without a payment method before. So I don’t understand why suddenly I can’t do that anymore. The weird thing is, the rest of my family does not need a payment method to download an app. Can you explain what the change was for my iPhone?
There is no guidance from Apple on when it is triggered that a payment method is required. For some users it was required when they previously had a charge that was not paid. If you are the Family Organizer and using Purchase Sharing then the payment method is required. Currently I am able to do download apps without a payment method, but have never had a subscription or used a free trial on this phone. The only thing that has been true is that if you are given the message to provide a payment method, then you will need to do that. This is noted in step 2 of the Support Article. It would be interesting to know if you added a payment method if it would attempt to charge it for a previous purchase, free trial, or subscription, that had not yet been paid for.
Vaaaaleeee wrote:
I can’t download any app without asking for a payment
As you would know if you read almost any part of the thread you posted to, there are several reasons that you may need a payment method for a free app:
You can try to remove any payment methods on your account→If you need to change or update your Apple ID payment method - Apple Support and If you can't choose None when you edit your Apple ID payment information - Apple Support
romee522 wrote:
I want to download a few games for my niece and nephew and I need to download an app that controls my led lights and I never ever used to pay for them and all of the sudden I do and I don’t have any money to that!
You don't need to pay for free apps. However, you do need to have a valid payment method on the account. If you don't have a credit card, you can try adding an iTunes gift card.
Rbmorris0925 wrote:
Why am I being forced to have a payment method on file
Does this free app contain a:
While these types of apps are free to download, the developers offer these options to give you a chance to see if they would be useful for you instead of paying to download the app. They hope you would find value in the app to either continue with the free trial or use one of the in-app purchases that are provided. Developers have to pay each year to have the apps available to download and it also costs them money and time to produce along with continual updates. Without a payment method there is no chance for them to recoup their costs.
If you have any unpaid charges currently from the App Store, you will need to take care of those before you are allowed to download anymore apps.
If it wants a card then you need a card. Find somebody who has one who will let you use theirs. Get a debit card from a bank. Become a member of a Family Sharing group. Live without that particular app.
This is a user-to-user forum, you are not addressing Apple.
Apple is not asking you to pay for anything. They are asking that you have a payment METHOD on your phone to be able to use the App Store. Here are your options→Add a payment method to your Apple ID- Apple Support.
TatoChip wrote:
I have no credit cards at all there is no ‘None’ option for payment and I’m trying to get Instagram on the Apple Store which is a FREE app.
You can try adding an iTunes gift card.
tanika264 wrote:
It won’t let me download anything without me having a payment method and I don’t have one how can I download things?
You can try adding an iTunes gift card.
ShawnM447 wrote:
So I want to download an app, but it won’t let me because supposedly I need to add a payment method. I do not have a credit card or anything like that so I can’t, What do I do?? I’ve tried looking it up on google but nothing works.
You should be able to add an iTunes gift card to the account.
Merari10 wrote:
I can't download anything because it keeps asking me to put in a payment method but I'm not allowed to
Without any more information on what is stopping you from adding a payment method, your best option is to contact Apple directly as we have no access to your account to resolve any issue if it is account related.
Why I need a credit card to download my app I no longer have access to cards because of these apps
Apple requires it without providing any explanation. In my opinion only I can come up with a few reasons:
You do not say why you no longer have access to cards because of the apps, but it is important to note that if you did sign up for a subscription then you are obligated to pay for it. To stop the subscription you would need to cancel it. If you do not like subscriptions, then do not sign up for them. If you don't think you will remember to cancel a free trial 24 hours before it expires, then don't download them.
Yo_itsdeeeee wrote:
I’m tryna download this app for work it’s a free app but it’s not allowing me
to download the app bc it wants a payment method I’m not ok to have a payment method on my App Store how can I get it to download THIS FREE APP WOTH OUT PAYMENT
Does this free app contain a:
While these types of apps are free to download, the developers offer these options to give you a chance to see if they would be useful for you instead of paying to download the app. They hope you would find value in the app to either continue with the free trial or use one of the in-app purchases that are provided. Developers have to pay each year to have the apps available to download and it also costs them money and time to produce. Without a payment method there is no chance for them to recoup their costs.
Vainikolo wrote:
I JUST BOUGHT A NEW PHONE THINKING THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE RESOLVED BUT NO MTF ITS DOING THE SAM F THING AS BEFORE ASKING FOR MY BILLING INFO FOR A FREE F APP. Good lord I’m abt to change to a different brand phone
The type of phone you have makes no difference, when all you needed to do was add a valid payment method.
If you can’t download or update apps - Apple Support
Developers do not spend money every year to make their apps available to you, as well as spend time and money to create the app, without some means to recoup their costs. You will find that most apps will either have a free-trial or in-app purchases. These apps do not cost anything to download, but the intent of the developer is that you will find their apps useful enough that you will also use one of these methods to support their efforts. Without a payment option, there is no chance of that happening.
Franonoka wrote:
And I remember when I was setting up my App Store I saw somewhere where it says add payment method or None so I made a mistake to put credit so help me now how I can find those settings so that I put none payments please
You can remove your payment methods as long as you do not have any subscriptions, but that is no guarantee that you will be able to use the App Store to download apps even if they are free. See step 2 of this support article.
If you can’t download or update apps on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support
How to download apps without payment method?
